Main additive types and roles are [6]:
• Surface Protective Additives – As their name suggests surface protective additives are those that protect the metal surfaces of engines. Those are anti-wear agents, anti-corrosion additives, detergents, dispersants, and friction modifiers.
• Performance-Boosting Additives – The primary role of these additives is to enhance the features that already exist in the lubricating oil. Those are Pour Point Depressants, seal swell agents and viscosity index improvers.
• Lubricant Protective Additives – They reduce the negative effects of the base oil or minimise the changes that occur during the service life of the lubricant. Those are antioxidants, metal deactivators, antifoaming additives
As you could conclude from the examples provided above, numerous chemical processes are going on during the machinery lubrication process. Given that, it is not surprising that additives within the lubricating oil start to weaken over time.
Figure 3:
Additives get consumed and degrade in multiple ways. Some simply break down. Others get absorbed into metal, particle, or water services. Some additives get separated due to filtration.
The EU Ecolabel “Flower” [9]
Besides EU Ecolabel other popular ecolabels in EU are Blue Angel and Nordic Swan.
Blue Angel Figure 2: Biodegradable lubricants – General Information [5]
Biodegradable lubricants These type of lubricants are an eco-friendly alternative that runs off soybean, rapeseed, canola or sunflower oil. So, in the event of oil leaks, biodegradable lubricants pose less risk while performing similarly to a mineral blend fluid [6]. Below, general information about biodegradable lubricants is given.
Ecolabel certification system The EU Ecolabel [7] system represents a voluntary labelling system that promotes and identifies “green products“. Based on EC No. 66/2010[8] of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25
The Blue Angel has been introduced in 1978 by federal government of Germany and it represents the first ecolabel in EU [10]. It is an independent and credible label that sets stringent standards for environmentally friendly products and services.
Nordic Swan Nordic Swan has been established in 1989 as the official ecolabel of the Nordic countries [11]. Each country has its ecolabelling secretariat, which is responsible for its activities. The secretariat handles license applications, inspection visits and marketing in their respective countries. Each country is also responsible for its position in product groups and criteria issues.
November 2009 the EU Ecolabel can be used on products and services as well as their associated promotional material, exclusively during the validity period of the EU Ecolabel awarded license.
Current criteria for awarding EU Ecolabel license to lubricants is defined by COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2018/1702 of 8 November 2018. The product group ‘lubricants’ shall comprise any lubricant falling within one of the following sub-groups [9]:
• The Total Loss Lubricants (TLL) • The Partial Loss Lubricants (PLL) • The Accidental Loss Lubricants (ALL)
Lubricants that are awarded with EU Ecolabel license can put EU Ecolabel logo and license number.
Figure 4: Blue Angel – The German Ecolabel [10]
Figure 5: Nordic Swan Ecolabel [11]
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.188 AUGUST 2025
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