Novo Nordisk named world’s most sustainable company

Novo Nordisk has been named as the most sustainable company in the world in a new index published by business magazine Corporate Knights.

The pharmaceutical came top of the annual Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index, which lists the companies that take the most proactive stance on managing environmental, social and corporate governance issues.

Novo Nordisk was rated as the best in the world when assessing performance indicators such as energy productivity and greenhouse gas productivity, as well as the link between executive pay and sustainability performance.

Lise Kingo, executive vice-president of Novo Nordisk, said this underlines the company's commitment to sustainability that has been a key part of its identity for more than two decades.

She added: "It is an encouragement to continue to find new ways of growing our business in a way that is profitable, responsible and valuable for patients, employees and society."

Last November, the company achieved another major ethical milestone after successfully phasing live animal testing out of its quality control processes.