Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Transparent Reporting
Environmental impact, ethical standards, and global initiatives.
Reporting
Comprehensive Reporting on Sustainability, Ethics, and Global Responsibility.
CO2 Emission
The basis for an effective climate protection strategy is an accurate calculation of CO2 emissions and a precise understanding of the various emission sources. What cannot be recorded, localized and measured, cannot be managed.
Scope 1 emissions are emissions from sources for which KNAUER has direct responsibility or control. These include emissions from energy sources at your site, such as natural gas and fuels.
Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from purchased energy such as electricity, steam, district heating or cooling that is generated outside the KNAUER system boundaries but consumed by KNAUER.
Scope 3 includes all indirect emissions that occur along your value chain, which can be described as emissions "resulting from activities of facilities that KNAUER does not own or control, but that directly impact these activities within its own value chain". The following tables and figures show the different scopes and their emissions for the year 2023.
Mobility Survey
A mobility survey was conducted in 2022 as part of the annual projects "Expansion to Scope 3 and first reduction projects are defined" and "We reduce our CO2 emissions at the site by 25% by 2025 and are known for our diverse commitment to sustainability". A report was prepared and showed that a positive trend towards the 2017 data was noted.
The use of less internal combustion engines and an increase in electric mobility as well as bicycles/public transport was the outcome. The total distance traveled by KNAUER employees was extrapolated for the current number of employees. Based on this survey, measures were taken for 2023. For example, the number of charging stations at KNAUER will be increased and company bicycles will be purchased.
UN Global Compact
The UN Global Compact is the world's largest and most important initiative for responsible corporate governance, involving more than 12,800 companies and organizations from over 160 countries, including 454 from Germany. The vision of this United Nations-led initiative is a sustainable and inclusive global economy based on ten universal principles, including human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption.
KNAUER signed the letter of commitment in February 2018 and adheres to the ten principles of the Global Compact.
Human Rights
Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
Principle 2: Businesses should ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labor
Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4: The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor;
Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labor; and
Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
Principle 9: Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption
Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Previous Sustainability Reports:
KNAUER earns EcoVadis badge
At KNAUER, our commitment to sustainability continues to drive us forward, and we are proud to announce that we have earned an EcoVadis badge. This achievement underscores our dedication to improving our environmental, social, and ethical performance.
EcoVadis, a globally recognized sustainability rating platform, provides valuable insight into key areas such as environmental impact, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable sourcing. With over 150,000 companies rated worldwide, earning an EcoVadis badge reflects our efforts to align with industry standards and transparency expectations.
This milestone is just the beginning. We are focused on further enhancing our sustainability practices and aim to increase our EcoVadis score through targeted initiatives and continuous improvement. In doing so, we are strengthening our relationships with customers, partners and stakeholders while contributing to a more sustainable future.
Together, we are advancing KNAUER's mission to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our business.
Sustainability – KNAUER for Future
Together for a Greener Future.
Dear friends of KNAUER,
We are pleased to report that sustainable and environmentally friendly concepts and methods have become firmly established in all our departments at Knauer. In fact, many of our employees have come up with interesting ideas that we have taken to heart over the years and together we have been able to make continuous improvements.
Environmental awareness has changed our workplace. It is our passion.
As a customer, supplier or distributor, we encourage you to join us in an exchange of ideas on sustainability and environmental protection. After all, the question: "How should we live and work in the future?" affects everyone.
Yours sincerely,
Alexandra Knauer
Five questions for ...
CEO Alexandra Knauer
KNAUER's CEO, Alexandra Knauer, faces unknown questions. An interview about sustainability, our organic garden and bees.
"Nature conservation is an investment in the future. That´s why KNAUER is so commited to the environment and nature." - Excerpt from Mrs Knauer's speech on the occasion of the 56th company anniversary, when the new walnut tree was planted in the award-winning organic garden
Our Sustainability Week 2024
From 23 to 27 September 2024, KNAUER and its employees once again organized a Sustainability Week with a series of exciting and effective activities related to social responsibility and environmental sustainability. The charitable organization "The Hand Project" was also a guest and provided a moving experience. Under professional guidance, KNAUER employees from various departments assembled four mechanical prosthetic hands to be donated and fitted to people in need in countries such as Uganda and Nepal.
knauer.net is powered by 100% renewable energy
Our website is hosted in Germany by Hetzner Online, a company committed to protecting the environment. Their German data centers use 100% hydroelectric power - one of the greenest sources of electricity with the longest tradition. They have also been choosing the most energy efficient hardware for years.
KNAUER has been using green energy (water, wind, sun) for several years. In addition, the company's own photovoltaic system was expanded this year, increasing our annual production capacity by 13,030 kWh. The motivation to change not only the energy source of the company, but also the energy source of all employees to green energy was a topic in 2021/22. For this reason, a presentation by Simone Schütz from Greenplanet Energy was held in 2021 to inform employees about good energy alternatives. In 2022, KNAUER provided each employee with 50€ to change their current electricity provider to a greener version and we decided to continue the program in 2023 to support the transition to green energy.
Sustainability & Environmental Commitment
We are committed to protecting the environment for ourselves and our children. KNAUER contributes to the preservation of a healthy environment by implementing an environmental management system according to DIN EN ISO 14001. The KNAUER Quality Management System according to DIN EN ISO 9001 ensures that our products are of the highest possible quality. As a family business with about 190 employees, KNAUER is committed to sustainability and takes responsibility for our future.
Some of our environmental activities:
- The regular preparation of an input/output balance sheet to identify and evaluate energy and resource flows
- Environmentally friendly product development, energy efficient manufacturing and shipping with biodegradable packaging materials and reusable packaging with local suppliers
- Specifications for new product development based on environmental considerations such as low solvent consumption, repairability, and product longevity
- Complete modernization of the company building, including thermal insulation, new windows, electric blinds and a green roof, resulting in a 50% reduction in heating energy.
- 100% green electricity and solar power generation with our rooftop photovoltaic system
- Guidelines for business travel from an environmental, economic and social perspective
- Tips and instructions for customers to reduce the use of solvents when using equipment
- Environmentally friendly operation and manufacturing of HPLC instruments and accessories, e.g. by using energy-efficient equipment and reducing the use of solvents and hazardous substances
- A life cycle assessment to optimize the manufacturing process and focus on energy-saving components
Sustainable ACT Ecolabel Products
Certified by My Green Lab
Why sustainability is not a trend at KNAUER ... and why your choice makes a difference.
Selecting a laboratory instrument like an HPLC system can have a great impact on the success of your business. The choice affects the quality of your analysis, your productivity and the cost per sample. But your success and the success of your employees is not just related to these aspects.
You can make more sustainable and in the long term smarter purchasing decisions by choosing products from manufacturers who actively work to minimize the environmental impact of a device both during manufacture and during use. Purchasing HPLC systems with lower energy consumption, longer product lifetimes and reduced environmental impact during manufacture will also have a positive impact on the success of your business and determine your contribution to the wellbeing of the planet.
Challenge and a solution
Data for these aspects and costs are often hard to find and to consistently compare among the different manufacturers.
The ACT label (Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency) allows scientists and purchasing professionals to compare and choose products based on their sustainability around manufacturing, energy and water use, product lifetime, packaging, and end-of-life. ACT-labeled products are independently audited by SMS Collaborative, LLC (SMSC) and published by My Green Lab. To date more than 1300 laboratory product are in the ACT database.
The environmental impact factor (ACT-EIF) makes the products comparable. It is comprised of twelve individually evaluated criteria for each product.
KNAUER has also subjected its best-selling HPLC systems to independent assessment by “My Green Lab”. We are pleased to present the ACT Ecolabel that we have been awarded.
Top score for KNAUER HPLC
KNAUER's best-selling HPLC systems received the lowest environmental impact factors compared to any other HPLC product currently (July 2024) in the ACT database — implying its products set a new benchmark for sustainability in the industry. The instruments’ energy-efficient design, sustainable production, and years of efforts to create short and resilient supply chains are paying off.
There are three different labels for each of the evaluated products, depending on the region it is delivered to (US/EU/UK), because the shipping impact is also calculated.
KNAUER HPLC systems are Made in Germany, manufactured in Berlin. The KNAUER AZURA® 862 bar HPLC system with diode array detection scored an ACT-EIF of 13.3 for the EU label and the AZURA® 862 bar HPLC system with refractive index detection scored even lower at an ACT-EIF of 12.5 only for the same region. The ACT-EIFs for the US labels were 21.8 for the DAD version and 21.0 for the RID version respectively.
“Sustainability is not a trend at KNAUER. Since the start of the company in 1962, every decision, such as for example the selection of the suppliers or the design of the products, is driven by offering to the user long lasting products, with a minimal impact on the environment. The longer a system is in use, the less environmental impact does its shipping have", says Dr. Kate Monks, Head of Quality & Regulatory.
More info about the ACT label at: act.mygreenlab.org
Sustainability as a commitment
Your requirements must be fulfilled by a lab instrument that you work with – that's a fact. But above that, your choice of devices and methods can have a huge impact on the environment.
Download the leaflet about the sustainability of the AZURA 862 bar HPLC systems.
#KNAUERforFuture
- Ecologically managed, award-winning company garden. The beautiful, spacious organic garden on the company premises is a place where people, plants and animals can truly feel at home. Because KNAUER is such a high-tech company, the garden was designed under the guidance of organic farmer Olaf Hempelmann. No pesticides or insecticides and only selective intervention - this is the philosophy of the beautiful organic garden in Zehlendorf. In addition, some beehives live in the KNAUER garden and produce honey.
- No plastic bottles in the company, free glass bottles for all employees and a drinking water filter for high quality water.
- Rewards for employees who commute by bicycle, public transportation, or carpooling
- Employee bike station with covered bike parking, bike pump and bike repair tools
- Leasing of a "business bike"
- Supporting the community, such as donating 40 trees for street plantings
- Conserving paper, preferring recycled paper, and recycling single-sided printed paper. Read the article in Robin Wood magazine
- Participation in European Sustainability Week
Other Initiatives
Highlighting Additional Efforts for a Better Future.
KEK – KNAUER Explorer Club for Kids
In cooperation with the "Kinderforscher" (Children's Researchers) study group at the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH), we have converted a room at KNAUER's headquarters into an experimental laboratory for children to get them excited about science. In this Explorer Club (called "KEK"), children can conduct hands-on experiments and learn how to test beverages for harmful substances, rivers for pollution, or athletes for doping.
KEK is designed for classes of up to 30 students aged 11-14. Before starting, each student is given a laboratory notebook with the tasks for each experiment. Students work in small groups on the experiments, which explain basic scientific principles.
We look forward to welcoming more and more students to our KNAUER Explorer Club (KEK)!
Please note: KEK activities have been suspended until further notice due to staffing issues.
