Driving sustainable progress means leveraging the best technologies

This article is sponsored by Lubrizol.

What do the automotive and beauty industries have in common? Seemingly nothing on the surface. Yet, if you take a closer look, you’ll realize that they — and all markets and industries — are responding to the demand for more sustainable products. Sustainability is driving shared progress in companies across the globe, and we at Lubrizol are privileged to be in the middle of it all.

As a specialty chemical manufacturer, Lubrizol occupies a unique place in the value chain. We formulate chemistry that leverages raw materials upstream to enhance the performance of our customers’ finished products downstream. For close to 100 years, we’ve been doing this successfully for a broad range of industries and markets, from transportation and fuels to paints and coatings, medical devices, building materials, personal care products and more.

We’ve learned that delivering sustainable solutions requires collaboration through the value chain and an open, inclusive approach to technology. By working together, old technology can be made better, and new technology can drive efficiency and innovation. Both are needed to achieve our sustainability ambitions. 

More: Lubrizol’s Sustainability Report

Let’s look at some technologies we’ve revisited to make progress on our sustainability goals. 

Decarbonizing transportation means progressing all technology

As efforts advance to decarbonize transportation, it’s essential to enhance all technology platforms. Achieving our goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and enhancing the range and efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen vehicles requires a conscious, continual investment in innovation. We can’t wait for a single technological advancement to ferry us toward our goals either, as evidenced by the lagging infrastructure for new EVs. Reducing emissions means providing cleaner fuels, better engine efficiency and greater durability to extend vehicle life today.

Hybrid and fully electric vehicles require advanced lubricants and fluid technology. They also need safer batteries that charge faster and provide longer range. Because not all transportation is easily electrified — heavy-duty and marine transport, for example — modern society will continue to benefit from additives that reduce emissions from internal combustion technology. This presents an opportunity for the value chain to mobilize behind a collective effort.

Energy demand requires a range of solutions

More EVs will require more electricity. So will the rise of AI, and the increased demand for temperature control, such as air conditioning and refrigeration with low global warming potential. Generating more energy from renewable and zero-carbon resources to meet these growing demands will require advances in material science that support plastics and composite materials. From blades for wind turbines and solar panels to safe solutions for energy storage, innovation in durable goods plastics will deliver the technology and infrastructure we need to generate electricity to meet the growing demand. The delivery of electricity will require innovation and new technology for these same materials, whether the power is delivered through power lines, batteries or EV charging stations. Polymer-based surface protection, such as water- and mold-resistant paints and coatings, will be in high demand to protect this critical infrastructure from the harsh elements.

Durable plastic materials reliably deliver improved health and safer structures

The elimination of plastic pollution is a sustainability goal most of us share. Pushing for even more investments in polymer science will be necessary to fully leverage the unique characteristics of polymer technology in high-value applications. Polymer- and plastic-based medical devices, for example, are uniquely biocompatible and enable less intrusive interventional medical treatment, such as stents that deliver medication inside a vein and multi-lumen catheters that can deliver multiple medications with a single port.

Plumbing and fire suppression made from resin-based CPVC pipes deliver clean water and uniquely effective fire suppression to homes and office buildings. Unlike steel and copper, CPVC is lead free, bacteria-resistant and has a lower lifecycle assessment. Plastics are easy to transform and improve, agreeable to the integration of bio-based and recycled content without compromising performance. 

Examples of sustainably produced plastics abound, such as adhesives that are renewably sourced and made with bio-based ingredients. Even the shoes on our feet can be made with bio-based, renewably sourced or post-industrial recycled materials. Sustainable materials such as these can be used for applications from the footwear sector to automotive, industrial, consumer electronics and sports/recreation.

How we’ll get there

Creating a more sustainable future will take all of us, across industries and borders, working with intensity and driven by the belief that we are up to the challenges ahead. We will achieve change by using a wide range of solutions made possible by leveraging every tool on the table to its full potential. Working together with open minds and an inclusive approach will drive us to innovate in both old and new spaces, accelerating our shared sustainability journey.

Lubrizol’s latest Sustainability Report gives a fuller picture of how we are delivering on sustainability and what’s ahead. Explore the full report, which includes a Q&A with Lubrizol leaders and more details on our mission to lead in this important space.