ATIEL & UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee


to establish systems for collecting, cleaning, and returning reusable packaging to remain compliant.


Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): The PPWR expands EPR schemes, making producers of lubricants responsible for the full lifecycle of their packaging, from production through to recovery and recycling. Lubricant manufacturers will be required to finance and manage the collection and processing of packaging waste, particularly focusing on harder-to-recycle industrial packaging like IBCs and drums.


For further details, please refer to the official PPWR documentation.


7.3 Packaging Challenges, Innovations and Best Practices This section outlines key characteristics, challenges, and innovations for various types of lubricant packaging, offering best practices to address these issues sustainably. The following table provides a comparison of plastic containers, metal drums, and Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), illustrating the specific attributes, challenges and solutions for each packaging type.


Plastic Containers Metal Drums • Lightweight


• Medium durability


Characteristics


• Convenience features like nozzles and handles.


• Contamination


• Often designed for single-use thus contributing to waste.


Challenges


• Multi-layer designs for barrier properties; can complicate recycling.


Innovations


• Transition to Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastic


• Contamination • cleaning costs


• Energy-intensive recycling


• End-of-life management issues if not part of reuse systems.


• Drum reconditioning programs


• High strength • Very high durability • Reusable


Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)


• Very high durability


• High volume efficiency


• modular design for part replacement.


• reusable


• Contamination • cleaning costs


• complex recycling of mixed materials.


• Closed-loop systems for reconditioning and reuse


Version 11.06.2025 © ATIEL and UEIL Lubricants & Greases End of Life, Sustainable Best Practices


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