Other information

Principle 6

Businesses should uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

Novozymes' management system – including values, relevant policies, etc.

Novozymes' actions and results in 2006

Reference to GRI indicators

The Novozymes Touch

Vision, values and fundamental principles
Support for the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Support for the United Nations Global Compact

Social responsibility policy

People policy

Position on human rights

Position on diversity and equal opportunities

Global minimum standards
Novozymes' business units undertake annual self-assessments to document compliance with a number of social minimum standards based on international conventions on human rights and labour standards. The self-assessments cover freedom of association, non-discrimination, working hours, salary and benefits, disciplinary measures, child labour and forced labour. They are undertaken using web-based tools and include an account of relevant management systems. In 2006 self-assessments made it possible to improve actions at local level by identifying good practice in a number of areas and sharing experience among business units.

Social audits
Audits of business units' compliance with internationally recognised human rights and labour standards became an integrated part of the internal auditing programme in 2006. This means that, as part of the audit planning, Novozymes’ internal audit panel now selects business units which will also be audited with regard to their compliance with human rights and labour standards. The audit panel has been trained in the special challenges involved in performing these audits.

See Financial, environmental and social discussion.

Focus on diversity
Diversity and equal opportunities were a special focus area for Novozymes in 2006. A number of activities took place throughout the year, for example seminars and courses for various groups of managers. Tools were also developed, as well as communication with employees on the opportunities for working with diversity as a business asset.

See Financial, environmental and social discussion.

Evaluation of suppliers
Again in 2006 80% of suppliers of raw materials for enzyme production (measured in purchasing value) carried out self-assessments to document compliance with a number of social minimum standards based on international conventions. These are the same minimum standards which form the basis for internal self-assessment at Novozymes' business units (see Global minimum standards).

See Report of the Board of directors.