Knauer – the GreenLab Award

Best sustainability initiative
– the GreenLab Award

Knauer, a liquid chromatography manufacturer based in Berlin, set sustainability and reducing their impact on the environment as a standard a couple of years ago and redesigned their methods around these principles. 

Their manufacturing base in Germany utilises renewable energy via local purchasing agreements with local energy providers. Knauer have also implemented water and waste reduction strategies over the last five years. 

As part of their ISO 14001 manufacture of the AZURA HPLC systems  they have ensured that all of their HPLC systems comply with EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU and use no substances of high concern.

Distribution with worldwide delivery is reduced to a minimum with hubs in the UK, through Verulam Scientific and Ramsey, MN in the US.

Packaging has been sourced with minimum impact the intention with FSC-certified cardboard and 80 % recycled materials used in the overall packing system. Packaging is eligible for take back by all distributors throughout Europe, the UK and the US.

The Knauer Azura 862 bar HPLC with and RID uses 1.5kWh during typical use scenarios and has a lifetime rating with servicing and maintenance of 20+ years.

The systems have been developed to be used with minimum plastic accessories and consumables where possible. 

Having put these campaigns and objectives together the systems have been assessed for an ACT Ecolabel and has achieved the lowest overall impact score of any HPLC on the system with a score of 12.5 (UK) for the HPLC/RID system and 13.3 (UK) for the HPLC UV with the nearest rival scoring around 18-20 (as of March 2025). These approaches have set a new bar for the equipment used in the Green laboratory

Driving the sustainability message, Kate Monks, Head of Quality & Regulatory, explains, “The longer a system is in use, the less environmental impact its shipping incurs. This is why we focus not only on sustainable operations but also on the longevity and repairability of our instruments. KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Geräte GmbH develops and manufactures high-tech laboratory instruments, including HPLC systems, used for analyses and the purification of valuable substances such as active pharmaceutical ingredients. 

Their sales network extends to over 70 countries and  Alexandra Knauer, who co-manages the company with Carsten Losch, emphasizes the importance of corporate responsibility towards their 200 employees as well as the environment and society.
 
Verulam Scientific are the UK distributor for Knauer. As they continue to expand their reach, they remain committed to providing sustainable solutions without compromising on performance or reliability. By providing local engineering and maintenance the systems have an extended and more sustainable lifetime than standard LC systems.

Knauer impress their policies and sustainable ways of thinking upon their distributors to ensure a worldwide dedication to environmental stewardship By prioritising eco-friendly practices, KNAUER not only aims to lower their carbon footprint but also seeks to inspire others in the industry to adopt similar measures.

Furthermore, continuous innovation is at the heart of KNAUER's operations going forwards. The company invests heavily in research and development to enhance the efficiency and versatility of their products. This commitment ensures that their instruments remain at the cutting edge of technology, providing scientists and researchers with the tools they need to make groundbreaking discoveries.

The initiative which was started a couple of years ago has so far delivered a second to none set of HPLC systems which will still be in operation in 20+ years saving the environment and money for the consumers and by instilling a mindset in their employees and distributors will only serve to drive the thinking of protecting the environment first and reducing the impact science is having on the environment.

Supporting Link - https://www.knauer.net/corporate-social-responsibility