The lubricant industry has started its sustainability journey toward decarbonization and carbon neutrality. To help achieve these goals and make a tangible difference in the industry, Evonik Oil Additives is focusing its sustainability strategy on innovation and on close cooperation with its partners and customers to create possibilities for a sustainable world.
This is the basis of its sustainability commitment, which supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Most relevant to the lubricant industry are goals 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The lubricant industry operates at the end of the process and value chain. This means that about 90% of a lubricant’s product carbon footprint (PCF) is generated by its raw materials. Lube manufacturers need to partner up with selected suppliers when it comes to assessing and reducing their cradle-to-gate emissions.
Most importantly, as the main impact of a lubricant occurs during the use-phase in the actual application, the industry is increasingly taking a full life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to ensure the most sustainable solutions are developed and implemented accordingly.
This holistic life cycle approach is reflected in Evonik Oil Additives’ sustainability strategy, which is based on three pillars:
- Footprint – As a credible foundation, Evonik Oil Additives became carbon neutral gate-to-gate in 2021 by switching to green electricity at all its production sites; carbon offsets through investment in high-quality compensation certificates as a short-term lever; and a long-term plan to minimize any remaining unavoidable carbon emissions at its sites. Regarding the footprint of its products, Evonik Oil Additives’ plan is to reduce its specific PCF by 30% by 2025 cradle-to-gate, as well as via partnerships with suppliers, such as the “Together for Sustainability” initiative.
- Handprint – As an enabler, Evonik Oil Additives provides transparent data through cradle-to-grave and avoided emissions LCAs of its products to actively develop and drive its product portfolio toward more sustainable oil additives. This is accomplished by phasing out so-called challenged products, fostering innovation and growth of leading products, and commercializing new sustainable products.
- Beyond – As leverage, Evonik Oil Additives’ aim is to engage and support its customers in portfolio sustainability assessments. One such assessment framework developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development enables a comprehensive view of the entire product portfolio’s sustainability performance. This ultimately drives the development and growth of more sustainable lubricants.
Denis Sepoetro, Sustainability Manager at Evonik Oil Additives, sums up: “The lubricant industry must play an important role in creating a sustainable future. This will only be achieved by involving all participants in the value chain. Our pledge at Evonik Oil Additives is leading beyond and taking action as a partner to our customers to drive growth of sustainable lubricants.”