Novozymes Sustainable Use of Waste and Good Community Relations

Novozymes is the biotech-based world leader in enzymes and microorganisms. They aim to use nature’s own technologies, to expand biological solutions to improve industrial performance everywhere. Novozymes’ 600+ products are a key factor in the production of thousands of products in everyday life – from textiles to clothes to food. In more than 40 different industries and 130 countries their biological solutions improve industrial performance and quality while at the same time saving water, energy, raw materials and waste.

Novozymes has been in China since 1972 and its business there has grown steadily over the years. 1997 was a landmark year, heralding the opening of the production plant in Tianjin, 150 km southeast of Beijing, where Novozymes has its Chinese headquarters. In recent years production has been stepped up to match the rates of growth typical of China’s eastern regions.

From the outset Novozymes has concentrated on having a good and open relationship with the local authorities and on having a well trained and dedicated workforce. “Denmark and Danish companies generally have a good reputation in China, and at Novozymes we’re working hard to maintain good relations with representatives of the city councils in Beijing and Tianjin,” says Peder Holk Nielsen. In fact, the company was awarded a prize in June 2003 when Tianjin Environmental Protection Bureau made Novozymes China number one of a total of ten winners of its prestigious new environmental prize for “Circular Economy Demonstration Unit & Environmental Friendly Enterprise”, which recognizes the businesses in the province with the best environmental performance.

Tianjin Municipality decided to award this prize to businesses in Tianjin following the decision in 2002 by the Chinese government to urge all businesses to combine the development of a circular economy with their own environmental management. The purpose of both programs is to ensure cleaner production and more recycling.

Novozymes relies on its Triple Bottom Line approach when formulating new environmental projects including and Novozymes China’s NovoGro