From world-leading manufacturers like Shell and Mobil to respected UK brands like Millers Oils and Morris, lubricant makers are increasingly concerned with the issue of sustainability. Oil producers take their role in environmental protection seriously and are now helping enterprises in the industrial sector to fulfil their obligations to the planet through the creation of more sustainable products.
In the following sections, we’ll look at the key questions companies across the globe are now looking into regarding industrial lubricant sustainability and the benefits that come as a by-product of this greener approach.
Can advanced lubricants help companies reduce their total emissions and make savings on fleet costs?
Expert research has uncovered that advancements in lubrication are having a significant effect that is not only helping the environment, but is also saving companies money. Along with cutting emissions, the use of more effective engine oils and other lubricants equates to considerable reductions in fuel costs for firms with fleets of company cars and heavy trucks.
What benefits do biodegradable oils have for the natural world?
Far less flammable than conventional lubricants, biodegradable oils are also much less harmful to animals and plants. These sustainable lubricants can use either vegetable or synthetic oils, but are designed to be far more considerate to our environment. Their formulation has been engineered to reduce their toxicity to both animal and plant life. A wider number of biodegradable lubrication solutions for different specifications, like hydraulic fluids, are now being developed with broader biodegradability and far less toxicity, so they can operate safely in areas that have been designated environmentally sensitive.
How much energy does the production of biodegradable materials require?
Modern bioplastics can be constructed from natural substances like corn starch. Biodegradable plastics used for lubrication containers require half the energy used for non-biodegradable plastics, allowing firms to make significant savings on energy costs at no expense to product quality.
Without correct disposal, will lubricants end up impacting the environment?
Unless they are disposed of properly under strict guidelines, it is assumed that 50 per cent of all lubricants employed worldwide will ultimately end up within our environment. The key cause of this lubricant loss is typically spills or accidental release, which results in toxic products contaminating fields, forests and waterways, which often goes undetected. The use of biodegradable lubricants ensures that any lubricant accidentally released into our environment can easily be broken down in water and soil, negating the negative impact of chemicals and toxins on the natural world.
How can sustainable lubricants help companies meet environmental laws and consumer expectations?
Customers around the world are increasingly requiring the businesses they purchase products and services from to take responsibility for important environmental issues like climate change. Utilising biodegradable lubricants and other products within manufacturing enables consumers to feel at ease when purchasing, safe in the knowledge that waste from the products they buy are biodegradable and will not harm the planet.
Today’s environmental regulations have been established to hold companies accountable for environmental harm to natural habitats, endangered species, water or land.
