ATIEL & UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee
• Utilizing biodegradable base oils and additives that meet environmental regulations (e.g., EU Ecolabel23
).
• Focusing on low-toxicity formulations and improved recyclability to reduce harm to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
• Marketing EALs effectively to sectors with high environmental sensitivity, such as marine, forestry, and agriculture.
• Implementing additive refurbishment strategies to support fill-for-life concepts. 4.1.2 Encouraging Sustainable Raw Material Sourcing
Sustainable raw material sourcing is crucial for minimizing upstream environmental impacts. Companies can: • Use certified raw materials, such as RSPO24
responsible sourcing.
• Incorporate closed-loop raw materials, such as re-refined base oils25 based feedstocks, reducing reliance on virgin resources.
4.1.3 Promoting Energy-Efficient Lubricants Energy-efficient 26
(RRBOs) and bio-
• Engage suppliers in sustainability initiatives, encouraging them to lower their carbon footprint and enhance transparency in material sourcing.
lubricants contribute to overall sustainability by reducing energy demand and emissions during equipment operation. Best practices include:
• Developing lubricants with low viscosity and high thermal stability, improving energy efficiency in industrial and automotive applications.
• Formulating friction-reducing additives to enhance equipment efficiency and extend maintenance intervals.
• Collaborating with end-users to demonstrate energy savings and sustainability benefits, strengthening market adoption.
4.1.4 Decarbonizing Lubricant Blending and Manufacturing
Manufacturers can significantly lower the carbon footprint of lubricant production by adopting low-energy blending technologies and renewable energy sources:
• Alternative, modern low energy consuming blending and mixing techniques which reduces the need for heating, decreasing energy consumption.
• Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar,wind or water power, to operate blending facilities.
-certified raw materials, to ensure
23 European Commission, EU Ecolabel for Lubricants, accessed February 2025,
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/circular-economy/eu-ecolabel/product-groups-and- RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil). 2025. "What is RSPO?" Accessed February 2025. GEIR (European Waste Oil Re-refining Association). 2025. "Re-refined Base Oils and Circular Economy." European Commission, Energy Efficiency,
https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency_en
criteria/lubricants_en 24
https://rspo.org/ 25
Accessed February 2025.
https://www.geir-rerefining.org/ 26
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