FEATURE EALs


REGULATION


Navigating a Changing Regulatory Landscape in the Industrial Lubricants Industry


Driven by global regulatory changes, environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) are becoming increasingly prominent to better protect the natural environment. Here’s what you need to know about EALs and their impact.


Stringency Is Increasing The lubricants industry has experienced increasing stringency across numerous eco-friendly labels and standards in re- cent years, which have spurred signifi- cant growth potential for environmen- tally acceptable lubricants (EALs). EALs, as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are fluid formu- lations that meet certain standards for biodegradability,


non-bioaccumulative


By Martin Birze, Director of Industrial Products at The Lubrizol Corporation


it is via incorrect disposal, spillage or ma- chine seepage, significant volumes of flu- ids are leaked into the environment each year—and mitigating the impact of such spills is increasingly critical. Greater awareness at all levels about


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environmental protection has been paired with new regulatory and labeling stringency that demands fluids improve their biodegradability and other ecologi- cal traits. So, there is a good reason for all lubricant manufacturers to improve the eco-friendliness of their products. Let’s explore how the convergence of global trends has created challenges for lubri- cant manufacturers—and new opportu- nities.


round the world, the in- dustrial lubricants market is seeking new ways to pro- vide better protection for the environment. Whether


potential and minimal toxicity to aquatic life compared to conventional lubricants. According to research from Kline & Com- pany, demand for biolubricant products is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% in the coming years. A few of the most notable labels con- tributing to EAL growth potential in- clude:


The European (EU) EcoLabel. This widely recognized label certifies prod- ucts that demonstrate independently verified low environmental impact. The EcoLabel sets limits on how many hazardous ingredients can be included in final formulations. It also evaluates how biodegradable the finished fluid is, and whether it contains components that are persistent and bioaccumula- tive. Blue Angel. Blue Angel is the Ger- man Ecolabel. Like the EU EcoLabel, it also certifies environmentally friendly products, and is comparable in strin- gency. However, Blue Angel places a few additional requirements on how to properly dispose of labeled formu- lations, placing a greater emphasis on cradle-to-grave environmental friend- liness. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Vessel General Per- mit (VGP). This standard will soon be


replaced with the Vessel Inci- dental Discharge Act (VIDA). VIDA will establish a new framework for the dis- charges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel under a new Clean Water Act.


How to Define Environmental Friendliness As EAL demand increases, it can be useful to define how they live within the broad- er backdrop of sustainability concerns. There are effective methodologies to establish a lubricant’s baseline sustain- ability. One of them is to evaluate the for- mulation’s comprehensive effect on the environment throughout the entirety of its life cycle. This approach evaluates the product’s impact while in use; the steps taken and resources used in the product’s creation; and how the product can and will be disposed of. Making these calcu- lations is known as a life cycle analysis, which helps to grant a fuller picture of a product’s overall impact. The life cycle analysis framework helps


us better understand and establish an industrial lubricant’s environmental im- pact. For example, EALs are held to ex- plicit standards: • They must be biodegradable, mean- ing that they can be decomposed by microorganisms over time into sim- pler by-products, carbon dioxide and water.


• They must be minimally toxic to aquatic organisms according to tests defined by the Organization for


LUBEZINE MAGAZINE | JUNE 2023


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