ATIEL &UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee


2. Why thismatters for the lubricants sector Lubricants and greases are non-combustion products that enable efficiency, durability, and reduced environmental impact across transport, industrial, and energy systems. Their role spans legacy internal combustion engines (ICEs), transitional systems such as hybrids and combined heat and power (CHP), as well as future-aligned technologies including electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy assets.


Efficiency improvements enabled by lubricants contribute directly to lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption. Friction-related losses are reported in the range of approximately 20–30% 4 of global primary energy demand in tribology literature. Several studies suggest that tribological improvements, including those associated with advanced lubricants and grease technologies,may contribute to reductions in a portion of these losses, with estimates of up to 30–40% 5 under specific operating conditions. These efficiency improvements can, depending on system boundaries and energy sources, contribute to reductions in associated greenhouse gas emissions. Excluding these improvements from avoided emissions frameworks risks undervaluing amajor source of near-termmitigation potential and weakening incentives for innovation in technologies that will remain dominant during the transition period.


3. Handprint vs. avoided emissions The industry recognizes the importance of clearly distinguishing between “handprint” and “avoided emissions” to ensure credibility and prevent misinterpretation of claims.


Handprint refers to the broader set of positive environmental effects associated with product use. For lubricants, this includes reduced wear, extended equipment lifetime, extended fluid service intervals, improved circularity, reduced waste generation, and efficiency gains across a wide range of applications, including internal combustion engine (ICE) systems, hybrid systems, and electrified powertrains, without differentiation based on energy carrier or fuel type within the handprint concept.


Avoided emissions, by contrast, are defined as quantified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions relative to a clearly defined reference scenario. They require robust system boundaries, conservative assumptions, traceable data, and transparent methodologies aligned with recognised frameworks such as WBCSD guidance.


4 Holmberg, Kenneth &Erdemir, Ali. (2017). Influence of tribology on global energy consumption,


costs and emissions. Friction. 5. 263-284. 10.1007/s40544-017-0183-5. 5Woydt, M., Bock, E., Hosenfeldt, T., Bakolas, V., Luther, R., & Wincierz, C. (2023). Tribology in Germany: Effects of tribology on CO₂ emissions in the use phase of products—Contributions of tribology to defossilization (Version 1). Gesellschaft für Tribologie e.V.


Version 15.09.2026©ATIEL andUEIL Avoided Emissions & Handprint in the Lubricants and Greases Sector


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