Activated carbon is a useful product that comes in many formats and is used in a huge range of industries including air and water filtration and purification, pharmaceutical production, healthcare, and in the food and drink industry too. The global activated carbon market in 2023 exceeded $4.5bn and it’s clear to see why.

When you need activated carbon regularly for your business, it’s important to choose a supplier who ticks all of your boxes when it comes to things like quality of product, competitive pricing, location of the production facilities and of course, a high level of customer service.

We’ve put together a checklist designed for procurement agents and sourcing managers who buy activated carbon so they know exactly what to look for when choosing the right supplier for them.

This simple checklist can help buyers make the best decision when it comes to buying activated carbon as a one-off purchase or on a regular, ongoing basis.

Product Quality

Above all, the quality of the activated carbon produced by the supplier should be excellent whether it’s powdered carbon for water purification or catalytic activated carbon for contaminant removal.

The quality of activated carbon varies from company to company, and it largely comes down to the expertise they hold and the quality of the equipment they use.

Look for a company that has implemented strict industry standards and regulations when it comes to quality control. They should know the exact parameters for all of their products including its purity, structure of its pores, its surface area, and its overall adsorption capacity.

Industry Certifications

As activated carbon is used in such a wide range of applications from industrial and pharmaceutical to food and drink production, it’s absolutely essential that any company you choose as your supplier meets the basic industry standards.

This ensures that they have been through testing by the relevant authorities and are fully compliant with the regulations not only of the country where they operate, but the country they’ll be exporting into.

For production units in China they need to meet various ISO standards, for example, ISO 9001 certification means they have met international quality standards whereas ISO 14001 focuses on how environmentally friendly they are.

Production Location

Logistics matters when it comes to importing large amounts of activated carbon if you are based in a different country from your supplier. Companies located abroad in countries like China may have to factor in things like delivery and shipping costs, but even then their product may be far cheaper than anything you can purchase in your home country.

If you’re an activated carbon purchaser based in America, Europe or Australia, the global supply chain is capable of delivering a fast, reliable supply of activated carbon wherever you purchase it from.

The language barrier also factors into your decisions, so look for a company with an English-speaking customer service department.

Tailored Support

It’s quite common for inexperienced activated carbon suppliers to produce just a few different kinds of product that can’t be tailored to suit your needs whether it’s pore size, ash content, or amount of iodine or methylene blue.

A company that is producing ten or more different products, each of which can be tailored to a variety of metrics, is a sign that they know what they’re doing.

What’s more, if your business needs a specific solution such as specially shaped activated carbon cloth or activated carbon paper to insert into their own product, the company should at least be willing to collaborate on such a project to deliver a bespoke activated carbon product.

Competitive Pricing

We’ve included this factor reluctantly as we don’t believe that price should be one of the main deciding factors, as the quality of the product should be the primary concern especially in industries like healthcare, water treatment and gas filtration.

However, it’s essential that you source a reliable partner who is willing to deliver a high standard of product at a price that fits with your business model.

Activated carbon suppliers offering rock-bottom prices might seem like a bargain, but they probably don’t invest in things like quality control of products or effective customer service. Aim for a good quality, long-term relationship with your supplier with appropriate compensation.

Choose The Right Activated Carbon Supplier For Your Business

So now you know all of the main things to look for when sourcing activated carbon for use in your business. Here at Asiacarb, we pride ourselves on the fact we not only meet but exceed all of these metrics.

We’ve developed a high level of expertise in the production of activated carbon in all its forms, and we have an excellent reputation for first-class customer service.

Get in touch with the Asiacarb team today and see how we can tick all of your boxes and deliver a high-quality product wherever in the world you operate from.