BIOLUBRICANTS FOR CLEAN SOILS
Agriculture is an industry in which lubricants are used in machinery which are in close contact with the environment. Activities such as logging, soil preparation and harvesting see machinery come into direct contact with the environment and in some cases the parts of these machines which have direct contact can be coated in a lubricant for its functionality. This usage of oil as well as accidental leakage is a source of pollution in the environment. For this reason Biolubricants have been developed.
The term Biolubricants applies to all lubricants which are both rapidly biodegradable and nontoxic for human and aquatic environments. They may be based on;
- Plant oils (such as rapeseed oil)
- Synthetic esters manufactured from modified renewal oils.
As well as the usual functions and advantages of regular lubricants, Biolubricants have added advantages including;
- Rapid biodegradability
- Low Toxicity
- Environmental friendliness
- Good lubricating properties
- High viscosity index
- Longer equipment life
Biolubricants should be preferred for all applications that may present risks for the environment, and are particularly relevant to certain environments in which environmental protection is a constant concern. This is particularly true of aquatic, mountain, agricultural and forest environments.
How to recognise Biolubricants
Biolubricants will have an extra label to the oil manufacturer’s ordinary labels. There are several Ecolabels designed to differentiate Biolubricants from the conventional lubricants. The European Ecolabel seen above is the most widely accepted and is identified by the daisy symbol. This label can only be used on products which satisfy strict criteria for low environmental impact. It is a label that provides a guarantee of good performance and differentiates genuine Biolubricants from oils that are simply biodegradable.
TOTAL Lubricants, Biolubricants range carries the Ecolabel, and TOTAL is an active participant in research and awareness-raising programmes conducted by EU institutions. TOTAL is increasingly aware of environmental protection and sustainable development issues and this is why they have developed this range of Biolubricants for industries such as Agriculture which are in direct risk to the environment through accidental leaks or spillages. TOTAL’s Biolubricant range includes Hydraulic Oils, Transmission Oils, Chain & Chainsaw Oils, Engine Oils, & Greases. For more information on this advanced range of lubricants, you can contact us through any of the numbers on our contact page.
