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In the UK, The Oil Recycling Association (ORA) promotes, protects and assists the interests of its members within the hazardous waste industry [10]. According to ORA, predicts that there are around 350,000 tons of collectible waste oils per annum in UK [11].
The majority of the waste oil in the UK is still burned as a heavily polluting fuel [12].
Application of re-refined oils Although many people are skeptical about the quality of re-refined base oils, Mercedes-Benz 228.3, Volkswagen 500.00 and 505.00, and API SN and CJ-4 quality approvals have been obtained by several leading lubricant and additive manufacturers [13].
Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Fiat, Ford and MAN all accept high quality re-refined oils. In addition, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen stated successful results that re-refined oils are achieving the same performance as new oils.
Impact of waste oil on sustainable production of lubricants Circular economy is a new production and consumption model that ensures sustainable growth over time. With the circular economy, we can drive the optimisation of resources, reduce the consumption of raw materials, and recover waste by recycling or giving it a second life as a new product. A circular economy significantly impacts sustainability by promoting resource efficiency, reducing waste, and minimising negative environmental impacts.
The circular economy in the context of base oil focuses on extending the life cycle of used lubricants through re-refining, reducing waste, and minimising environmental impact. One of the most promising solutions regarding lubricant industry, involves re-refined base oils.
In the EU, 5.5. metric tons of lubricants were produced during 2023 [14]. As mentioned above, engine oils which are used in automotive, marine and industrial sectors represent up to half of oil lubricants placed on the market.
The re-refining of waste engine oils is great example of circular economy. Waste engine oils are collected at the end of their life and then re-refined to fuel oil,
22 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.187 JUNE 2025
base stocks and used as raw materials for petroleum industry. Re-refined base stock is then used in blending of new engine oils, which at end of there life can be collected and re-refined again. In Figure 5, an example of circular economy regarding engine oils is given.
Figure 5: Circular economy in action
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The characteristics and quality of the base stock produced depends on the feedstock and production process methods used. Generally, Group I and Group II products are being produced. However, the improvement in quality of automotive engine oils is impacting the quality of used oil, making re-refineries a potential new source of Group III and Group III+ base stocks.
Conclusion
It can be easily seen that re-refining approach has several sustainability benefits. Secondly, according to the American Petroleum Institute, it uses 50-80% less energy than is required for refining crude oil to produce base oil [15]. In addition to this, re-refining also helps to reduce the significant outlay and well head emissions created in extracting crude oil.
Given the various collection, transportation, and processing methods, the carbon footprint for every re-refined base oil will be different. However, overall re-refined base oils will have a significantly lower carbon footprint than crude derived base oil; anywhere from 50-90% being reported.
At the end it can be concluded that using re-refined base stocks in lubricant formulations has demonstrated significant CO2
savings in the finished lubricant vs lubricants formulated with conventional
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