At Lubrizol, sustainability isn't just a buzzword; it's a core value and responsibility embraced by every function, business, and employee. Our corporate mission is clear: to deliver Sustainable Solutions that advance mobility, improve wellbeing, and enhance modern life.
We are committed to reducing our own impact on the planet while designing products that address the sustainability challenges faced by our customers.
Lubrizol Life Science: Pioneering Sustainable Solutions
Lubrizol Life Science (LLS) is dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that make a positive impact on the beauty and home markets without compromising performance. Our approach is built around four key pillars:
- Natural ingredients and biodegradability
- GHG reduction
- Eco-designed manufacturing process
- Sustainable supply chain
A Comprehensive Approach to GHG Reduction.
Focusing on the GHG reduction pillar, LLS takes a holistic approach to product development, considering impacts both upstream to suppliers and downstream to our operations, customers and end-use consumers. Our Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach provides transparency over our processes and products, identifying hotspots and opportunities for improvement. This enables us to make informed sustainability decisions.
Sustainable Solutions in Action
LLS has conducted LCA work on key product lines such as Carbopol® and Merquat™ polymers, and Glucamate™ thickeners. We aim to support our customers' environmental goals by collaborating to provide or develop LCA data on existing or innovative products. This contributes to our customers' global Scope 3 reduction targets and to the environmental impact assessment of their formulations.
Starch-supported copolymer that combines the exceptional performance of Acrylates Copolymer with an improved sustainability profile. The polymer meets the inherent biodegradability threshold in an OECD 301B biodegradation test. Its manufacturing process addresses all 12 principles of Green Chemistry and uses a renewable feedstock with good traceability. The carbon footprint of Carbopol® Fusion S-20 polymer, compared to an acrylate benchmark, demonstrates a 30% reduction, enabling lower-impact formulations.*
AlgaPūr™ High Stability High Oleic (HSHO) algae oil
Bio-based oil with unprecedented oxidative stability and sensory appeal, coupled with an excellent sustainability profile. The algae oil is natural (ISO 16128), readily biodegradable (OECD 301B), and fully traceable. It is produced through a clean fermentation process with low land usage, low water consumption, and a low carbon footprint. Comparative data shows a minimal carbon footprint versus standard commercial oils.
Phenobio™ Subcritical Water Extraction (SWE)
Eco-friendly technology for botanical extraction that uses water at high temperature and pressure to transform its characteristics. It offers a sustainable alternative to conventional and chemical solvents, providing a short extraction time, no thermal degradation, and a broader recovery range of phytoactives in higher concentrations from plants. This results in a less impactful process**, reducing the overall footprint of the product while delivering positive impacts without sacrificing performance.
At Lubrizol, we are committed to minimizing our global footprint and maximizing our handprint by providing products and solutions that meet or exceed our customers' performance and sustainability goals.
* The calculations have been conducted internally using various assumptions. Customers need to assess impact on their finished formulations based on the use rate of each ingredient.
** Data available on request