Innovation in sustainability governance at Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, has a video in its Sustainable Business section that features each member of the Sustainability Advisory Council breaking down the company’s ESG goals. 

The video includes contributions from members of the Council as well as the CEO discussing the importance of listening to patients and their mission to raise diabetes awareness worldwide.  

Prominent figures such as Seth Schultz, CEO of Resilience Rising, call out the pharmaceutical industry, a bold and highly effective move in a conversation facilitated by Novo Nordisk itself. “I don’t think the industry is doing enough. Not enough people are aware of some of the staggering numbers that we see happening globally in terms of diabetes”, he says, openly holding the industry to account.  

Former US Secretary of Health Donna E. Shalala is another prominent voice in the video. She reiterates that “[Patients are] looking for a company that is economically, ethically and environmentally progressive”. Including statements like these is unusual in a corporate video, and refreshingly bold, brave and effective.

This approach not only proves that the company prioritises transparent communications, but also that it is using its primary ESG decision-making body to foster healthily robust debate.