SUSTAINABILITY
The energy transition and its impact on lubricating grease
Mark Wheeler, AXEL Christiernsson International A.B.
Environmental sustainability and the energy transition are changing a familiar, lubricant landscape in unprecedented ways. Yet for all the new challenges and additional complexity, it also feels like a time of immense opportunity and creative potential.
This article reflects on how the evolving expectations of an increasingly climate conscious world are asking questions of established traditions and encouraging new perspectives to reveal unexpected opportunities for sustainable change and progression.
Introducing the climate of change Looking at the big picture, the 20th Century saw unprecedented economic and social change around the world that has positively impacted many aspects of our lives.
Advances in science, technology and engineering have propelled us from the horse drawn carriage to space exploration whilst enabling us to live safer, healthier and longer lives.
However, population growth, rapid urbanisation and increased personal mobility have also deepened our dependency on the need for energy and fossil fuels to the detriment of our planet and its natural resources. Increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels as well as the destruction of sensitive, life sustaining habitats and eco-systems are some of the unsustainable consequences we are all too familiar with.
The positive is that with heightened awareness has come a greater clarity of the issues which in turn fuels the urgency for action.
As far back as the middle of the last century, growing environmental and climate concerns have been a focus for activists and policy makers alike.
Since the first United Nations (UN) Conference on the Human Environment in 1970 collaborative efforts of the International Community has gathered momentum with nations, governments and industries setting increasingly ambitious climate targets that, most recently resulted in the United Nations Paris Agreement of 2015.
Once clear connections were made between emissions, environmental pollution and climate change during the last century, the need for impact reduction initiatives and increased regulation targeting heavy industry and the automotive sector became a priority.
From here we will explore specifically how the efforts of the automotive industry to reduce its environmental impact continue to influence change for the next generation of lubricating greases.
However, firstly a quick reminder as to the fundamentals of grease technology:
• Based on 3 Core components: - Base Oils - Additives - Thickener
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.188 AUGUST 2025 21
Figure 1: Core Components of a Lubricating Grease
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