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Bürkle Bio-PE Disposable Samplers with ACT Label
Laboratories play a crucial role in research and the development of new technologies. However, they also consume
a significant amount of resources and energy. For instance, according to the non-profit organization My Green Lab,
water consumption in laboratories is four times higher than in office spaces, and energy consumption is 5—10 times
higher. Furthermore, laboratories generate approximately 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually.
Especially in sectors like pharmaceuticals and research, large global companies are increasingly recognizing their
responsibilities towards environmental sustainability. They aim to reduce their ecological footprint by introducing sustainability reports and programs. In the context of laboratories, where even minor contamination can have
substantial effects and where disposable products are often unavoidable, sustainable procurement plays a pivotal role in achieving these ecological goals.
Addressing this demand from scientists and procurement specialists, the non-profit organization My Green Lab has
developed the ACT Label. This label provides transparent, independently verified information (Sustainable Management Management and Strategy Collaborative) regarding the environmental impact of laboratory products, making it easier for labs to source environmentally friendly products.
The ACT Label criteria, also known as the Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) criteria, were developed with input from industry experts and external stakeholders. Scientists, sustainability officers, procurement specialists, and manufacturers all provided valuable feedback on the EIF criteria, resulting in a comprehensive product labeling program for laboratory products.
How to Interpret the ACT Label?
The ACT Label criteria were developed with input from industry experts and external stakeholders. Scientists, sustainability officers, procurement specialists, and manufacturers all provided valuable feedback on the criteria, resulting in a comprehensive product labeling program for laboratory products.
Scores on the ACT Label range from 1, indicating the lowest environmental impact, to 10, indicating the highest environmental impact. For equipment, the values for energy and water consumption represent the actual daily consumption and may exceed a value of 10.
Bürkle Disposable Samplers
SteriPlast® and LaboPlast® Bio
Bürkle ACT Label Scoring Factors
Below, you’ll find detailed information about the individual scoring factors, ranging from the manufacturing process to
product disposal, and how Bürkle implements them.
Reducing the Manufacturing Impact
A critical step towards sustainable production involves minimizing the environmental impact of the manufacturing
process. Bürkle employs various measures, including transitioning to energy-efficient production models and employing a modern heating system. For example, the heating system is fed from a deep well through a heat exchanger, with process heat being recirculated.
Additionally, smaller measures within the value creation process contribute to achieving overarching goals. An example of such measures is the internal reuse of cardboard packaging initially used for transporting items to Bürkle. These process optimizations lead to more efficient operations, reducing energy consumption and waste.
My Green Lab assesses practices and initiatives at production sites that contribute to reducing environmental impacts, rating them on a scale of 1 to 10.
Use of Renewable Energies
The utilization of renewable energies is another crucial step towards sustainability. Bürkle has firmly integrated this approach into its production strategy. All products are manufactured at the Bad Bellingen production site, exclusively relying on renewable energies. Bürkle combines the purchase of green electricity with a company-owned photovoltaic system.
With over 1240 hours of annual sunshine, Bürkle’s 1000 m2 of solar modules on its company building’s roof in Bad Bellingen helps reduce annual CO2 emissions by over 136 tonnes. By combining green electricity (100% hydroelectric power from the High Rhine) and self-generated electricity, Bürkle achieves 100% emission-free electricity consumption. This demonstrates the feasibility of resource-saving production.
My Green Lab evaluates this factor with a “YES” if a corresponding green electricity contract exists for the company location.
Responsible Shipping
Shipping products can significantly impact the environment. Bürkle demonstrates considerate action in this
regard. The development, production, and distribution of Bürkle Bio-PE samplers all take place at the same location
in Germany. This setup enables short transport routes within the European market and eliminates the need for cargo
planes, leading to reduced CO2 emissions.
My Green Lab’s Shipping Impact assessment evaluates product transportation from the production place (e.g.,
Germany) to the destination (e.g., USA). The concept focuses on shorter shipping distances and applies to many
products, also considering the type of transport.
Lifetime of Product and Packaging
The fact that Bürkle Bio-PE samplers are disposable products contradicts the desired longevity and sustainability associated with Bürkle’s high-quality products. Sterile items, for instance, have a limited shelf life of two years from their manufacturing date. In line with the transparency principle of the ACT label, this limitation is evident in the rating and is unavoidable in this product category.
Sustainable Raw Materials
Bürkle adopts innovative approaches when selecting materials for its products. The LaboPlast® and SteriPlast® organic disposable samplers are made from organic PE derived from sugar cane. This choice constitutes a more sustainable alternative to fossil raw materials like petroleum. The bio-PE content, amounting to at least 94%, significantly
surpasses the industry average.
Innovation
In addition to the aforementioned categories, Bürkle goes beyond and actively participates in various programs aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. These include the GLS Climate Programme and forest conservation projects, which have already offset an impressive 17.339 tonnes of CO2. The company is also certified as climate-neutral.
With this factor, My Green Lab encourages companies to make sustainable commitments that extend beyond the previously mentioned categories.
Summary
Overall, Bürkle proves with its Bio-PE range that sustainability in the industry is more than just a buzzword and that
even disposable products can have sustainable aspects. From production to shipping, the company is committed to
acting in an environmentally conscious way. This example shows how a holistic approach to sustainability can be
successfully implemented.
My Green Lab‘s View of Bürkle
"Their efforts and achievements show that more sustainable products are viable whatever the size of the company.“
“ACT promotes a life cycle approach to product sustainability, so I am pleased to see wider efforts to reduce product impact reflected in Buerkle’s first ACT labels.
Their efforts and achievements show that more sustainable products are viable whatever the size of the company.
We look forward to working further with Buerkle in the coming years, as we all collaborate to drive down supply chain impact in science.”
RAJ PATEY, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, MY GREEN LAB
LaboPlast® Bio and SteriPlast® Bio products
Ladle, long handle, disposable Bio
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The ladle is suitable for taking samples of liquids and viscous media as well as powders and granulates. The ladle has a very smooth bottom and rounded corners. This makes it possible to reach into any corner of a container or to take medium directly from the bottom of the container.
A long handle with indentations for fingers ensures a firm hold and precise work.
Single-use powder funnel Bio
Single-use powder funnel Bio made of white bio polyethylene, produced in clean room class 7 (10,000) and individually packaged for disposable use.
LaboPlast® Bio spatula
The disposable spatula made of green PE is produced in our clean room of class 7 (10,000) and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene and can be completely recycled but is manufactured from renewable raw materials.
As a result of the long, ergonomically-shaped, stable handle and a sharp blade, it is possible to even penetrate directly into containers such as paper or plastic sacks.
Sampling palette knife spatula, disposable Bio
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The sampling palette knife spatula can be used to apply, distribute or evenly spread viscous media such as pastes and creams. The palette knife spatula reaches easily into the corners and curves of various containers and is suitable for scraping out bowls, removing residue or wiping off Bürkle's volumetric and dosing spoons.
The dimensionally stable long edge of the plastic scraper is ideal for cutting viscous media. A small tip on the long edge can be used for ripping, for example packaging film. The scraper is also suitable for stirring and blending.
LaboPlast® Bio scoop
The Bio sample scoop made of green PE is produced in our clean room of class 7 (10,000) and individually packaged for disposable use.
Sampling scoop, long handle, disposable Bio
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged for disposable use.
Sampling spoon, long handle, disposable Bio
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The sampling spoon with long handle can be used to remove powders, granulates, pastes or liquids.
The long handle makes it easy to reach the bottoms of larger containers as well and allows for sampling of drums, jerrycans and bottles with small opening diameters. Thanks to the indentations on the handle, the disposable spoon rests comfortably and securely in the hand.
Sampling spoon curved, long handle, disposable Bio
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The spoon with curved spoon bowl is suitable for a wide range of different media including powders, granulates, pastes and liquids. The angled spoon shape is also good for reaching into the corners of a container. The long handle of the plastic spoon makes it possible to empty residue from large containers easily and can also reach into places that are hard to reach such as jerrycans with narrow necks.
LaboPlast® Bio spoon
The disposable spoon made of green PE is produced in our clean room of class 7 (10,000) and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The disposable spoon is available in two sizes, 2.5 ml (similar to a teaspoon) and 10 ml (similar to a tablespoon).
Single-use liquid funnel Bio
Single-use funnel for liquids Bio made of white bio polyethylene, produced in clean room class 7 (10,000) and individually packaged for disposable use.
Narrow-necked bio-bottles PE
Single-use liquid funnel Bio, sterile
Single-use funnel for liquids Bio made of white bio polyethylene, produced in clean room class 7 (10,000), individually packaged for disposable use and then sterilised.
SteriPlast® Bio sample spoon
The disposable spoon made of green PE is produced in our clean room of class 7 (10,000) and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The disposable spoon is available in two sizes, 2.5 ml (similar to a teaspoon) and 10 ml (similar to a tablespoon).
Sampling spoon curved, long handle, disposable Bio, sterile
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The spoon with curved spoon bowl is suitable for a wide range of different media including powders, granulates, pastes and liquids. The angled spoon shape is also good for reaching into the corners of a container. The long handle of the plastic spoon makes it possible to empty residue from large containers easily and can also reach into places that are hard to reach such as jerrycans with narrow necks.
Sampling spoon, long handle, disposable Bio, sterile
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The sampling spoon with long handle can be used to remove powders, granulates, pastes or liquids.
The long handle makes it easy to reach the bottoms of larger containers as well and allows for sampling of drums, jerrycans and bottles with small opening diameters. Thanks to the indentations on the handle, the disposable spoon rests comfortably and securely in the hand.
Sampling scoop, long handle, disposable Bio, sterile
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room, sterilised and individually packaged for disposable use.
SteriPlast® Bio sample scoop, sterile
The SteriPlast® Bio sample scoop made of green PE is produced in our clean room of class 7 (10,000), individually packaged in bio-PE film for disposable use and then sterilised by gamma rays.
Sampling palette knife spatula, disposable Bio, sterile
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The sampling palette knife spatula can be used to apply, distribute or evenly spread viscous media such as pastes and creams. The palette knife spatula reaches easily into the corners and curves of various containers and is suitable for scraping out bowls, removing residue or wiping off Bürkle's volumetric and dosing spoons.
The dimensionally stable long edge of the plastic scraper is ideal for cutting viscous media. A small tip on the long edge can be used for ripping, for example packaging film. The scraper is also suitable for stirring and blending.
SteriPlast® Bio sample spatula
The disposable spatula made of green PE is produced in our clean room of class 7 (10,000) and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene and can be completely recycled but is manufactured from renewable raw materials.
As a result of the long, ergonomically-shaped, stable handle and a sharp blade, it is possible to even penetrate directly into containers such as paper or plastic sacks.
Single-use powder funnel Bio, sterile
Single-use powder funnel Bio made of white bio polyethylene, produced in clean room class 7 (10,000), individually packaged for disposable use and then sterilised.
Ladle, long handle, disposable Bio, sterile
The sampler made of Green PE is produced in our class 7 (10,000) clean room and individually packaged for disposable use.
Green PE bio-plastic has all the suitable properties of conventional polyethylene but is manufactured from renewable raw materials and can be completely recycled.
The ladle is suitable for taking samples of liquids and viscous media as well as powders and granulates. The ladle has a very smooth bottom and rounded corners. This makes it possible to reach into any corner of a container or to take medium directly from the bottom of the container.
A long handle with indentations for fingers ensures a firm hold and precise work.