SUMMARY ✎
Novo Nordisk believes that a healthy economy, environment and society are fundamental to long-term business success, and that all their activities must always be conducted with the aim to consider their responsibility within these three conditions. The Blueprint for Change Programme aims to enhance others’ understanding of how the company creates value through its ‘Triple Bottom Line’ business principle by identifying the drivers of value creation, measuring realised benefits for society and the organisation, and sharing this information with their stakeholders. In this way, the company optimises its value creation and inspires others to make sustainability-driven business decisions. .
SCALE ✎
International
LANGUAGE ✎
English
COUNTRY ✎
Denmark
Gender diversity is a part of the company’s policy. Though social diversity was not considered in the programme’s development, stakeholders from different groups were represented. The programme’s case studies have focused on social diversity by working within different ‘types’ of countries – rich and poor, with different health problems and very different understandings of diabetes.
The programme’s goal is to create transparency and to communicate Novo Nordisk’s values and working process. The company website provides a clear and understandable explanation of the programme and the process leading to it. Information about all cases studies is also available for stakeholders as short pamphlets, short movies and more thorough reports.
Novo Nordisk believes that the company’s actions affect society; therefore it has a responsibility for those effects. Reflection and awareness are key to promoting ethics and sustainability. Stakeholders are included very early in all processes so that strategies are designed according to local needs, cultures and challenges.
The programme fuels collaborations, developments and innovations in health. It aims to identify potential fields for business/markets and for societal improvements. It is vital that the company and the programme are very adaptable to changes in laws and other external factors.
STAGE ✎
Development, Exploration, Implementation
OUTCOMES ✎
The programme has facilitated eight case studies, all of which are described on its webpage. The case studies focused on solutions to diabetes-related challenges, analysis of how focusing on creating shared value has improved diabetes prevention and care, and exploration of the interrelationship between climate and health, specifically regarding how CO2 reduction strategies can generate value for business and society.
LESSONS ✎
This programme exemplifies how RRI standards in business practices can promote sustainable, profitable business as well as benefits for society. If businesses understand how their practices influence and create value for society, they will be able to identify how to create more value (economically, environmentally and socially). This lesson can be easily used by other businesses, which is one of the purposes of the programme – to inspire more shared value creation.