ATIEL & UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee 3.2 Circular Economy
Sustainable end-of-life management of waste is essential for reducing environmental impacts, protecting human health, conserving resources, and complying with European Union regulations. The Waste Framework Directive4
and the Circular Economy Action Plan5 outline the
EU’s objectives toward a more circular economy, which is a critical component of fostering a sustainable and resource-efficient society. The ultimate goal of circular economy principles in waste management is to create a closed-loop system,maximizing material reuse and preserving resource value. These principles are particularly relevant to the lubricants industry, where circularity can significantly reduce environmental impact and enhance resource efficiency.
Within the lubricants industry, a circular economy approach encompasses the entire life cycle of lubricants, from design and manufacturing to usage, waste oil generation, collection, and re- refining, ultimately producing new base oils and closing the loop. In this process, waste oil is transformed into a valuable resource, enabling materials to remain in use for extended periods.
The following figure illustrates how the concept of a circular economy applies to lubricating oils.
Figure 1: The Circular Economy concept for the management of waste oils
4Waste Framework Directive, Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament,
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-framework-directive_en 5
Circular Economy Action Plan,
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy-action- plan_en?
Version 11.06.2025 © ATIEL and UEIL Lubricants & Greases End of Life, Sustainable Best Practices Page 7 of 42
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