FUCHS has been continuously promoting its sustainability strategy as a contribution to climate protection in the lubricant industry for more than 10 years.
In contrast to the currently prevailing 'cradle-to-gate' approach, which only evaluates the part of the product life cycle up to the manufacture of a product, the evaluation of various hydraulic fluids was carried out with a 'cradle-to-grave' approach. In this, the ecological and economic aspects of the products under review were assessed over their entire life cycle, from the procurement of raw materials to production, use phase and disposal. Taking a holistic view of the entire life cycle of products related to use in a crawler excavator, The results of the EEA study clearly showed the lower environmental impact and the lower overall costs - especially when using the investigated premium HLP fluid (high-performance multi-grade hydraulic oil) compared to a standard HLP fluid (single-grade hydraulic oil). The main benefit is improved diesel fuel efficiency throughout the entire usage phase. This is achieved primarily through an improved volumetric efficiency of the fluid, lower friction and a lower mass circulation ratio of the liquid and thus more than compensates for the somewhat higher environmental influences of the products in the 'cradle-to-gate' phase.
'With this study, we are doing pioneering work together in evaluating sustainability aspects in the lubricant industry,' said Dr.
'Sustainability is a core element of our business,' added Dr.
The study is just one example of the extraordinary relevance of a 'cradle-to-grave' compared to a 'cradle-to-gate' evaluation on the one hand and the positive influence of a specially developed multigrade hydraulic fluid with a high VI (viscosity index) on one such a 'cradle-to-grave' analysis on the other hand. The fluids examined were all hydraulic fluids of different quality levels based on mineral oil. Further positive effects on the EEA can be expected when using ester-based hydraulic fluids, so-called biodegradable hydraulic fluids based on esters (HEES). Such liquids are known that they have inherently highly shear-stable VIs and also lead to less friction compared to standard mineral oil-based liquids. Another advantage for the environment is its biodegradability. Studies with such ester-based liquids could be a next step.
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About BASF Fuel and Lubricant Solutions
The global Fuel and Lubricant Solutions business unit is a leading supplier to the transportation and petroleum industries worldwide and part of the BASF Performance Chemicals division. The product portfolio includes fuel and refinery additives, polyisobutenes, coolants (Glysantin ) and brake fluids as well as lubricant additives, fully formulated lubricants, synthetic base oils and products for metal processing. The main locations of the business unit are Ludwigshafen,
www.basf.com/fuel-lubricant-solutions .
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