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Quality Standards: The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) has developed test standards that apply to re-refined base oils, ensuring they meet certain quality and performance requirements comparable to those of virgin oils. This helps create a market for re-refined products.
Supply and Demand: The percentage of re-refined base oils manufactured varies by region and market, but EU wise it’s estimated at 15% of the overall base oil capacity while globally it is about 6% with the United States also a leader. Factors such as government policies, industry standards, and consumer demand for sustainable products play a significant role in increasing the uptake of re-refined oils. As awareness of environmental sustainability grows, the proportion of re-refined base oils in the market is likely to rise.
As the demand for lubricants and their environmental impact grows, the re-refining of base oils has become a focal point in the quest for sustainable solutions, a concept increasingly embraced by traditional base oil suppliers. Two companies leading the charge in this sector are Slicker Recycling UK and AVISTA Green, both committed to promoting eco-friendly practices in oil production.
The partnership is focussed on a circulatory model of business, and how the quality of collected used oil can be improved, ensuring that the value chain starts from a high quality of feedstock.
Across Europe, AVISTA are leading the way in best practice to manage and monitor the highest quality of collected used oils produced. Collaborating with partners like Slicker in the UK, they are educating their collectors and regulators’ on how used oil is stored, and separated from other oils so they are confident that the oil collected is suitable for re-refining. A re-refined oil can be recycled numerous times representing a huge carbon saving, so it is in everyone’s interests that the waste oil collected is best suited for reuse. Slicker collect the oil and run it through their own quality checks here in the UK before it gets taken by tanker to the AVISTA Green site in Denmark. All collected oil will have undergone a thorough batch analysis before it even leaves the UK to ensure it is of sufficient quality to enter the re-refining process.
An average UK customer has a used oil output 10 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.185 FEBRUARY 2025
of 3000-4000 litres per year. Slicker has been collaborating with their customers to advise best practice in managing this used oil and is now testing telemetry technology to optimise collection volumes. It is in all parties’ best interest to ensure that this used oil is low in contamination, has been separated from unsuitable waste streams, and stored correctly. Important measurements are in place to assess the quality of the used oil comparing data to that of its original composition and performance.
Before shipping, collected used oil must meet a stringent specification ensuring suitability for re-refining. One of the more widespread problem contaminants is water, mostly brought about by the poor storage of used oil when subjected to an ingress of rain water. Amounts above 5-6%, impair the production process and lead to losses in both refinery efficiency and products. The better-quality feedstock received results in higher yields and quality of base oils outputted.
The importance of these factors ensures used lubricating oils can undergo a comprehensive recycling process. This process not only conserves natural resources but also minimises the environmental impact associated with oil extraction, refining, and disposal. Slicker Recycling UK has positioned itself as a market leader in the recycling of waste lubricants, offering comprehensive services that prioritise sustainability. The company operates state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to the collection by providing a quality re-refinery feedstock, ensuring minimal waste and maximum recovery of valuable materials.
Their joint commitment to reducing the carbon footprint and promoting environmental stewardship sets a benchmark for others in the industry. AVISTA Green complements the efforts of Slicker Recycling by providing high-quality re-refined base oils that cater to various industries. The company’s mission centres on offering sustainable lubricant solutions while striving to minimise environmental impacts associated with oil usage.
By partnering with Slicker Recycling UK, AVISTA Green can source quality feedstocks to produce eco-friendly base oils that not only perform excellently but also align with the increasing demand for sustainable finished products. Their growing portfolio of re-refined base oils is designed to meet the needs of
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