Demant joins climate committee

An ambitious climate policy formulated by the Danish government offers an opportunity to con-tribute to the definition of a more climate friendly future for the medtech and healthcare sector. Demant takes an active part in the dialogue and presentation of solutions.

The Danish government has set an ambitious climate goal: To reach a target of 70% greenhouse gas reduction in 2030. A new climate law has just passed with a wide majority in Parliament to support the reduction programme and following the announcement of the ambition, the Danish business community, hereunder the industry organisation Dansk Industri*, has committed to fully support the reduction programme.

The entire Danish business community has been invited to take part in prioritising initiatives to deliver on the ambitious 70% reduction, and Demant has decided to take an active role in the climate dialogue.

Spearheaded by Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard, Danish pharma, medtech and biotech companies have established a climate committee (Klimapartnerskab) under the joint industry cluster “Grønt Erhvervsforum” (Green Industry Forum). Along with 11 other prominent companies, Demant participates represented by CSR responsible and VP of Corporate Communication and Relations,Trine Kromann-Mikkelsen backed by the Group’s CEO Søren Nielsen:

“I am very pleased with Demant joining the climate committee and we do it with a commitment to act. Even if the Group’s core business – the production of very small hearing devices – is neither intense on energy nor on the use of materials, Demant still acknowledges that there are areas to improve and that the Group can contribute. Demant’s value chain does contribute to emission of greenhouse gasses, and the company has an opportunity to raise awareness of where it can do better and – even more importantly – how it can to contribute to the definition of a more climate friendly future for medtech and healthcare companies, both in the local and international community,” says CEO and President Søren Nielsen, Demant.

The first milestone for the climate committee is 19 February 2020, where it will present its preliminary suggestions for how the life science sector can contribute to the 70% reduction. The proposal can include suggestions for 1) local reductions (in Denmark), 2) contributions to reductions in other sectors and 3) international reductions particularly looking at the international value chain of the companies. The reductions should be seen in relation to the growth expected for the sector towards 2030, and most importantly focus on concrete initiatives and potential barriers for reduction.

“There is no “green products” stamp in hearing healthcare and this offers an opportunity for the sector to define a green stamp and to be frontrunner in showing customers and user complete transparency of product and service environmental footprint,” says Søren Nielsen.

* Danish Industries, where Demant is a member and currently holds the chair of the committee for healthcare companies.

About Demant
Demant is a world-leading hearing healthcare group that offers solutions and services to help people with hearing loss connect and communicate with the world around them. Demant employs more than 14,500 staff in more than 30 countries and distributes hearing healthcare and intelligent audio solutions to customers in more than 130 countries. Demant is majority owned by The William Demant foundation through the investment company William Demant Invest that also invests in green energy with an ownership of 19 % of the windmill park, Borkum Riffgrund 1. The park delivers electricity to an equivalent of 320,000 households.

* * * * * * *

Further information:
Phone +45 3917 7300
www.demant.com

Other contacts:
Trine Kromann-Mikkelsen, VP Corporate Communication and Relations
Christian Fomsgaard Johansen, Senior Communication Consultant