SECTOR FOCUS: SUSTAINABILITY


Life-cycle thinking: chemistry’s role in a


sustainable future


Colin Morton, Senior Director, Lubrizol


In the last three years, the lubricant and fuels industry has had a heightened discussion on the global trend of sustainability. It is clear that oil marketers and additive companies have a role to play in a more sustainable future. Yet the industry lacks a clear, shared vision of how that more sustainable future is achieved.


The days of “greenwashing” are over; true sustainability is the goal. Consumer demand and the forecasted requirements of regulatory bodies around the world make it clear that sustainable practices are essential for the future success of our industry. The challenge is for companies to view sustainability as a core operating principle, aligned with other partners throughout the entire value chain.


To tackle the sustainability challenge head-on, our industry must embrace two things: a shared, science- based, holistic life-cycle assessment (LCA) model, and


innovative chemistries as enablers of more sustainable solutions. One without the other threatens long-term growth.


Driving toward shared definitions of sustainability


A collective, industry-wide effort to substantively address sustainability depends on a shared language and definition of key terms. First—the term “sustainability.” This entails more than developing recyclable or “eco-friendly” products. It encompasses how organisations conduct their business from top to bottom. That includes how a business sources its raw materials, how it manages its supply chain, and how it powers its operations.


The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) provides a thorough framework for understanding the various sources of emissions, which are organised as Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions.


Continued on page 36 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.169 JUNE 2022 35


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