Sustainability

Sustainable processes have long been decisive quality criteria for our customers, partners and employees as well as an integral part of public opinion. This is now also reflected in laws and regulations, which are being tightened up with regard to energy-saving measures and sustainable environmental protection.

Our values - Our duty

AGROLAB's investigations and services are of enormous importance for the control of living conditions in soil, water and air. Therefore, we ourselves attach great importance to the economical use of energy, water and other resources, to waste reduction and many other details of sustainable management

Code of Conduct

Quality, integrity, and reliability are fundamental principles that form the core of our corporate values. Compliance with laws and regulations is just as important as adherence to our own rules of conduct ( pdf Code of Conduct (600 KB) ).

Code of Conduct for Suppliers

We place great importance on ensuring that our suppliers and business partners respect fundamental human and labor rights. Our commitment extends to compliance with our Supply Chain Code of Conduct ( pdf Supplier Code of Conduct (268 KB) ), which guarantees fair working conditions and prohibits forced and child labor. We are dedicated to adhering to these principles throughout the entire supply chain to ensure ethical and sustainable cooperation.

Principles of the Human Rights Strategy

Our   pdf Principles of Human Rights Strategy (484 KB) not only refer to the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) but apply to the entire business area of the AGROLAB GROUP.

AGROLAB GROUP continuously strives for a safe and trustworthy environment. Feedback from employees and business partners is crucial to identify potential risks early and take appropriate measures. To this end, we offer a complaints procedure in accordance with the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinwSchG) and LkSG to be informed of any concerns.

AGROLAB invests in environmental protection

In addition to fast and reliable analysis at the best possible price-performance ratio, we show commitment and responsibility for far-reaching environmental protection.

Environmental analytics must be sustainable

Even when strictly standardised testing methods leave little room for manoeuvre, we manage to work as efficiently and sparingly as possible with chemicals and to optimise production conditions.

The AGROLAB GROUP wants to significantly reduce its ecological footprint. We are replacing fossil fuels step by step and will thus contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions. Two laboratory sites (Bavaria  and Austria)  are already heated by a wood chip heating system using wood by-products from peasant farming. This raw material is crisis-proof and sustainable. In our two laboratories in Kiel (north Germany), the production halls and offices are also heated independently of gas using district heating from the thermal recycling of residual waste.

Solar power for environmental analysis

This year, photovoltaic systems will go into operation on the roofs of five AGROLAB GROUP laboratory sites. With this solar power generation, it is possible to cover on average about 38 % of a laboratory's energy needs. Quick charging stations for electric vehicles (bicycles and cars) are of course also part of the concept at these locations. In the near future, all other AGROLAB locations that meet the structural requirements will be equipped with photovoltaic systems. An investment sum of 2 million euros is available for PV systems alone.

In addition to producing its own electricity, AGROLAB is also committed to saving electricity. This is achieved, for example, through the group-wide conversion of light sources to long-lasting and economical LEDs. In addition, the brightness adjusts as needed in relation to daylight, and presence detectors ensure that no lamp is lit when no one is in the room. Electricity is no longer wasted after work.

Already in 2019, when the AGROLAB headquarters moved from Bruckberg to Landshut, care was taken to equip all offices with long-life LED lamps. The Kiel laboratory for environmental analysis is already fully equipped with LEDs. AGROLAB LUFA, the group's food laboratory in Kiel, is currently being upgraded with an investment of € 260,000 for the lighting concept. This will reduce the electricity required for light by significantly more than two thirds.

„Save Energy By Design“

AGROLAB also invests in modern ventilation concepts. These are heat recovery systems that feed process heat into the ventilation circuit. These sophisticated ventilation systems use waste heat from "hot" analytical equipment or the coolness of the used air to preheat fresh air for the winter or to cool it in the summer. In this way, the primary energy consumption of the buildings was also minimised in accordance with the current state of the art. The modernisation of the ventilation system at AGROLAB's Kiel LUFA site enabled energy savings of around 826,000 kWh per year - documented in the efficiency analysis of the energy management system.

Of course, all new buildings are equipped with these ventilation systems, lighting concepts, PV systems and other energy-saving measures according to the current state of the art.

Every little bit helps. AGROLAB has been developing into a "paperless laboratory" for many years. All processes, from sampling to sample preparation and analysis, to invoicing, are digitalised. In addition, the paper-based work instructions have been transferred to a document database. This means that all documents can be accessed digitally at all workstations, eliminating the need for printouts. Thus, considerably fewer printers, toner and, of course, paper are necessary.

AGROLAB's contribution to environmental protection with certificate

For AGROLAB, "environment" has long meant more than just analyses. As a system-relevant testing laboratory, the group is aware of its responsibility.

All areas of environmental management are organised and documented in compliance with the standards. Seven AGROLAB GROUP sites are already certified according to ISO 14001:2015. Four AGROLAB sites have systematically improved their energy monitoring and the efficiency improvement measures based on it and are certified with their energy management system according to ISO 50001:2018. The environmental and energy management systems are subject to a continuous improvement process. Here, too, we keep pace with the progress of technology and continue to work on improvements.

Everything at a glance

Continuous consumption monitoring takes place at seven AGROLAB sites and is evaluated annually. In particular, key figures such as chemical consumption, separation of recyclable residues and non-recyclable waste, electricity consumption or even the energy consumption of company vehicles are systematically observed, documented and evaluated here in order to be able to make effective decisions. So far, AGROLAB has been able to demonstrate significant improvements every year. When the optimum is reached, the goal must be redefined: by no means worsen!