ATIEL & UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee 3.6.2 JRC Study (2023)
In 2023, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) published the report “Environmental and socio-economic sustainability of waste lubricant oil management in the EU”. 21
The study reaffirms that regeneration outperforms all energy recovery pathways from a climate
change perspective. Moreover, it underscores the need for policies that prioritize advanced regeneration technologies to maximize environmental benefits and promote a circular economy approach to waste oil management.
Both the IFEU (2022) and JRC (2023) studies underscore the considerable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, particulate matter, and resource depletion achieved through regeneration. However, these environmental benefits are influenced by various factors, including the virgin base oil used as a baseline (manufacturing process and crude slate selected), and the technology utilized in the regeneration processes. To optimize sustainability outcomes, the adoption of advanced regeneration technologies is essential.
3.7 Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Finished Lubricants through RRBOs
The use of Re-Refined Base Oils (RRBOs) is set to play an increasingly important role in the future of the lubricant industry, offering a meaningful opportunity to lower carbon footprints without compromising product quality. RRBOs have made significant advancements, with Group II and III RRBOs now largely comparable in quality and performance to their virgin counterparts, although limitations remain, particularly in meeting the most demanding latest-generation European OEM specifications and in achieving higher viscosity grades. While RRBOs enable sustainability gains and resource conservation, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. High-performance base oils, such as Group III+ and PAOs, will continue to be critical for applications where the highest performance standards are required. Additionally, the availability and cost impact of RRBOs must be considered. Importantly, life cycle assessments (LCAs) must be carefully interpreted to ensure that carbon footprint reductions do not come at the expense of fuel efficiency or overall lubricant quality. Balancing performance and carbon footprint will remain a key priority, and today's RRBOs offer a strong foundation for achieving both objectives in a wide range of lubricant applications.
Building on these developments, recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies highlight the significant environmental benefits of RRBOs and demonstrate how their use can meaningfully reduce carbon emissions compared to lubricants made from virgin mineral oils.
The availability of high-quality Group I, Group II and Group III Re-RefinedBaseOils has broadened their application across various lubricant formulations, including automotive lubricants (PCMO, HDEO), transmission fluids (ATF), industrial lubricants (AWHO) and marine lubricants. These formulations, developed in collaboration with additive suppliers, are subjected to thorough testing to ensure compliance with the stringent performance standards set by OEMs. Moreover, RRBOs can be incorporated in substantial quantities, even in low-viscosity products, delivering additional advantages such as improved fuel efficiency and extended drain intervals.
The quality and performance of RRBOs has greatly improved in recent years and they are treated the same as virgin base oils (VBO) with respect to API base oil group (defined by their physical and chemical properties) and base oil interchange rules. RRBOs are, for the most part, similar in quality and performance to standard group I, II and III VBOs, whichmeans that lubricants blended
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https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC133752 Version 11.06.2025 © ATIEL and UEIL Lubricants & Greases End of Life, Sustainable Best Practices Page 13 of 42
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