{"id":38239,"date":"2025-01-01T15:35:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-01T23:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/?p=38239"},"modified":"2025-08-04T17:06:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T00:06:03","slug":"sustainability-in-action-how-knauer-achieved-the-my-green-lab-act-ecolabel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/the-beaker-blog\/sustainability-in-action-how-knauer-achieved-the-my-green-lab-act-ecolabel\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability in ACTion: How KNAUER Achieved the My Green Lab ACT Ecolabel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n \n

Scientists and procurement specialists are placing greater emphasis on environmentally responsible purchasing decisions, and manufacturers are stepping up to meet the demand. For\u00a0KNAUER<\/a>, sustainability is not a new trend\u2013it\u2019s a tenet of the organization that is built into its processes and products. This commitment has earned KNAUER\u2019s HPLC systems the lowest Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) score in the My Green Lab\u00ae\u00a0ACT\u00ae\u00a0Ecolabel database (as of January 2025).<\/p>\n

The\u00a0ACT Ecolabel<\/a>\u00a0provides third-party verified information about the environmental impact of laboratory products, helping drive smarter and more sustainable purchasing. It enables manufacturers to demonstrate\u00a0A<\/strong>ccountability,\u00a0C<\/strong>onsistency, and\u00a0T<\/strong>ransparency (ACT<\/strong>) by evaluating materials, manufacturing process, recyclability, energy and water consumption, durability, and manufacturing location. With over 2,000 products currently listed, the\u00a0ACT database<\/a>\u00a0helps labs and procurement specialists make informed, sustainability-aligned choices while motivating manufacturers to enhance their products’ environmental performance.<\/p>\n\n <\/sc-rich-text>\n <\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n \n \n

Laying the foundation: KNAUER\u2019s sustainability goals<\/span><\/h3>\n

KNAUER\u2019s journey toward achieving ACT certification began with a strong foundation in sustainability practices. \u201cWe are proud to be part of the UN Global Compact and to have ISO 14001:2015 certification,\u201d said Clemens Buncher, Senior Quality & Environmental Manager. \u201cOur Quality Assurance (QA) department, which I am a part of, also handles certification and reporting activities for sustainability and quality. The ACT Ecolabel perfectly fit into the scope of our activities and provided opportunities for improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n

When KNAUER decided to pursue the ACT Ecolabel, their goal was to validate and enhance their sustainability efforts while gaining deeper insights into the environmental impact of their products. Soheil Shayesteh, Head of Service and Support, emphasized KNAUER\u2019s commitment to longevity and customer satisfaction: \u201cI see it as the responsibility of manufacturers to develop and produce clean and long-lasting products. This means minimizing the negative effect on the environment while at the same time providing the customer with excellent products.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur aim was to enhance our offerings and confirm that our efforts lead to positive outcomes,\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>said Buncher.\u00a0\u201cWith the ACT program, we were able to achieve all of these goals for our HPLC systems.<\/strong>\u00a0My Green Lab provided us with a standardized system to evaluate the sustainability of our products and verify the results to enhance customer trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

Navigating the certification process<\/span><\/h3>\n

The auditing process assessed key EIF categories, including materials, manufacturing, packaging, user impact, and end-of-life. Developed with input from industry experts and external stakeholders, these criteria were independently audited by My Green Lab\u2019s collaborator SMS Collaborative, LLC (SMSC). Ultimately, this comprehensive assessment determined the information and EIF score shown on KNAUER\u2019s ACT Ecolabel.<\/p>\n

KNAUER\u2019s HPLC systems received the lowest EIF score currently in the ACT database.\u00a0<\/strong>Throughout their journey to achieve the ACT Ecolabel, KNAUER worked closely with My Green Lab to assess the environmental impact of their HPLC systems, appointing an internal project manager from their QA department to lead the effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cResources from other departments were made available upon request and within reason to support and ensure the progress of the project. New test equipment was made available and our evaluation team in the lab was also involved,\u201d shared Buncher. Collaboration across teams was vital to meeting the rigorous certification criteria. \u201cThe longevity and reparability of our products greatly contributed to our score,\u201d noted Buncher. \u201cWe were also happy with the measured power consumption of the systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

The certification highlighted areas for improvement, as Buncher explained: \u201cThe energy consumption of KNAUER products has received more attention through the certification process. The weight of individual components was also highlighted, strengthening our efforts to reduce this in future developments.\u201d He added, \u201cThis point is now included in the standard requirement specification for KNAUER products.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo see the final results was a very special moment for us,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0said Dr. Christian Benkh\u00e4user, Head of Research & Development.\u00a0\u201cIt showed us that we are doing the right things, and it helps us to go this path even further and improve.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n <\/sc-rich-text>\n <\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \t \"act<\/picture>\n \n <\/sc-image>\n<\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n \n \n

Sustainability as a catalyst for innovation<\/span><\/h3>\n

The ACT Ecolabel\u2019s in-depth evaluation not only validated KNAUER\u2019s sustainability efforts but also spurred further innovation. \u201cIn the past, we didn\u2019t focus on using recycled materials,\u201d said Dr. Benkh\u00e4user. \u201cDuring the ACT certification process, this was a topic that came up, and we started to evaluate possibilities to exchange materials to the recycled versions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Benkh\u00e4user also noted several environmental topics that are now in their development process as a result of the ACT Ecolabel: \u201cCan we use other\/less material? How can we make the product more efficient (less material, less energy needed)? How can the device be serviced? That\u2019s maybe the most important point for us: Every device can be serviced very easily, we try to keep the assembly groups small, so that just a few materials are needed to repair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buncher elaborates:\u00a0\u201cThe certification process established a new standard for orientating our product development and management processes, while also reminding us of the importance of sustainability in our product decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Empowering customers through transparency<\/span><\/h3>\n

The ACT Ecolabel simplifies complex environmental data, empowering laboratories to make informed and sustainable purchasing decisions that align with their environmental goals. \u201cThe ACT Ecolabel helps to bring companies and customers with the same philosophy together,\u201d said Dr. Benkh\u00e4user. \u201cIt is nice to make it easier for customers to find products that match their sustainability philosophy.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the main goals of the ACT program is to provide laboratories with a database of third-party verified products, simplifying the process of choosing more sustainable products. \u201cThe program allows us to quantify our efforts and enables our customers to check our products for sustainability in comparison with competitors. Our sustainable programs and projects which lead to more sustainable products are made more visible,\u201d said Buncher.<\/p>\n\n <\/sc-rich-text>\n <\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \t \"scientists<\/picture>\n \n <\/sc-image>\n<\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n \n \n

Leading the way: a model for sustainability<\/span><\/h3>\n

The ACT Ecolabel enables KNAUER to align its sustainability goals with broader industry benchmarks. “KNAUER wants to provide long-lasting products and service them for as long as possible,” said Shayesteh. \u201cThe certification fits into achieving this goal, as it is important to get an external view and to compare with other manufacturers,”<\/p>\n

KNAUER\u2019s packaging further supports sustainability, with 80% recycled materials and take-back programs in the US, EU, and UK. These efforts, paired with energy-efficient production and life cycle assessments, demonstrate KNAUER\u2019s dedication to minimizing environmental impact.<\/p>\n

Raj Patey, My Green Lab’s Business Development Director, highlighted KNAUER\u2019s industry leadership: \u201cTheir exceptional EIF score sets a benchmark for the industry. We’re proud to support KNAUER in this journey toward greater accountability and transparency in lab product sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n

KNAUER\u2019s commitment to sustainability showcases how manufacturers can lead the way in responsible product development, setting a standard for others in the industry to follow.\u00a0Through continuous improvement and innovation, they are helping shape a greener future for laboratory science.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a lot to think about and to take into account when developing, producing, and maintaining sustainable products,\u201d said Kate Monks, Head of Quality and Regulatory. \u201cWe\u2019re proud of our ACT Ecolabel and the excellent score we got for the HPLC systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u200b
\nWant to learn more or adopt the ACT program? Browse\u00a0our website<\/a>\u00a0or reach out to us at\u00a0businessdevelopment@impactlaboratories.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/sc-rich-text>\n <\/sc-container>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KNAUER’s commitment to sustainability has earned it HPLC systems the lowest Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) score in the My Green Lab\u00ae ACT\u00ae Ecolabel database (as of January 2025).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39574,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Sustainability in ACTion: How KNAUER Achieved the My Green Lab ACT Ecolabel","_seopress_titles_desc":"Scientists and procurement specialists are placing greater emphasis on environmentally responsible purchasing decisions, and manufacturers are stepping up to meet the demand.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"category":[97],"topics":[110,111],"programs":[98],"lab_types":[],"class_list":["post-38239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-study","topics-purchasing","topics-waste","programs-act-ecolabel"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38239"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58304,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38239\/revisions\/58304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category?post=38239"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=38239"},{"taxonomy":"programs","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/programs?post=38239"},{"taxonomy":"lab_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lab_types?post=38239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}