Novo Nordisk hosts sustainability conference in Rio

Novo Nordisk has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development by hosting a side-event on the topic during the recent Rio+20 UN conference.

The Next Generation Living event involved members of the global health and sustainability communities and discussed new ways to integrate the advancement of sustainability and the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Speakers included EU commissioner for climate action Connie Hedegaard, director emeritus of the Pan American Health Organization Sir George Alleyne and Dr Nicholas Alipui, head of Unicef programmes.

The event gave Novo Nordisk the opportunity to foster debate on matters such as the link between non-communicable disease and economic, social and environmental development, as well as the role urban design, workplace wellness and health literacy can play in this.

Lise Kingo, executive vice-president for corporate relations at Novo Nordisk, said: "Health and sustainability go hand in hand, but are rarely discussed in the same room. We want to change that."

Earlier this month, the company announced a new collaboration with diabetes research organisation JDRF on the development of new type 1 diabetes therapies.