Shell Lubricants supports new API document for Life Cycle Assessment
API document defines an industry-specific methodology for the life cycle assessment of lubricants.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has published , Lubricants Life Cycle Assessment and Carbon Footprinting 鈥� Methodology and Best Practice, which defines an industry-specific methodology for life cycle assessment of lubricants and specialty products.
The purpose is to promote harmonisation and consistency in the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon footprints of products (CFP) across the lubricants industry. This publication will help to enhance customer confidence with product benefit claims related to sustainability.
Shell Lubricants chaired the industry LCA subject matter expert panel which developed the new methodology, and it welcomes the initiative as it encourages global harmonisation on LCA and CFP methodology for lubricants, responding to customers鈥� demand for data to be shared by suppliers in a uniform manner.
鈥淎s sustainability has become a global focus across all industries, there is a need for the lubricants industry to have a clearly defined, consensus-based document capturing the broadly accepted terminology and methodology for life cycle assessment of lubricant products,鈥� API Senior Program Manager, Engine Oil Licensing & Certification System (EOLCS) Jeffrey Harmening said.
鈥淟ubricant customers are increasingly asking lubricant marketers for sustainability metrics; developing guidelines for calculating metrics became a critical area for API to focus on as the industry seeks to reduce and evaluate greenhouse gas emissions.鈥�
Life cycle assessment and carbon footprints of products are established methodologies used to quantify the environmental performance of products, processes, or services, and are increasingly being used as a basis for environmental decision-making along the supply chain. LCA includes multiple impact categories while CFP focuses specifically on the impact category of 鈥渃limate change,鈥� which is associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions/removals.
Developed with lubricant鈥檚 supply chain alignment and industry experts鈥� input, API TR 1533 addresses the need for clear and accepted guidelines and terminology which will instill confidence in the reported metrics coming from oil marketers who will be better equipped to substantiate their own data and sustainability reporting.
This lubricant-focused methodology will not only provide guidance for the lubricant producers but also give their customers additional confidence in the data they receive. The document will also help to move toward harmonised practices and to reduce individual requirements across global markets.