Castrol is entering the biobased lubricants market with the launch of its Edge Bio-Synthetic motor oil, the companys first plant-based renewable product, which will be commercially available in the United States in January.
The lube manufacturer yesterday announced its new addition to the Edge product line during the Specialty Equipment Market Associations Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The product is 25 percent sugar cane oil and offers the same level of performance as other Castrol Edge products, Ame Cameron, head of U.S. brands and communications for Castrol, told a reporter. She did not mention what other types of conventional base stocks are formulated into the product.
Cameron said younger, college-educated drivers residing in urban areas are helping to shift engine oil demand toward more environmentally sustainable products. We see it as an opportunity to continue to grow our business with a new generation of consumers, she said. They are really looking for high-performance products that also allow them to feel like they can give back to the planet.
The new biobased oil meets the API SN and ILSAC GF-5 specifications, Cameron confirmed, and will be offered in 5W-30, 0W-20 and 5W-20 viscosity grades. 5W-30 is the largest OEM [original equipment manufacturer] spec on the market, so it makes the most sense to appeal to the people with that viscosity grade.
In addition to having a Certified Biobased label from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Castrol aims to have the engine oil qualified as carbon neutral, offsetting the carbon dioxide footprint from the production, packaging, distribution and storage process through parent company BPs Target Neutral program.
We want to do the right thing for the planet. We also see an opportunity not only from our consumer demand standpoint, but also as industry regulations change. Its a place that we need to move to, to deliver for the larger community as well as for the consumer, Cameron noted.
Edge Bio-Synthetic engine oils will be sold in one- and five-quart bottles on Amazon and through some authorized installers, such as Motorcars Honda in Ohio. Right now our focus is to launch in the U.S. in 2017, but we are working on more of a global launch in the future, said Cameron. In regards to price, she added that the product will be line-priced similar to Castrols Edge Extended Performance premium engine oil.
Castrol is part of BP Group and manufactures lubricants and greases for automotive, marine, industrial and energy production applications.