Shell introduces a portfolio of carbon neutral lubricants in Europe

26 March, 2021

Under the programme, Shell aims to offset annual the emissions of more than 200 million litres of advanced synthetic lubricants, expecting to compensate for 700,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e[1]) emissions per year which is equivalent to taking approximately 340,000 cars off the road for one year[2]. For Europe, this includes compensating for over 60 million litres of advanced synthetic lubricants, the equivalent of taking 130,000[3] cars off the road and aiming to compensate for around 280,000 tonnes of CO2e per year.

Parminder Kohli, Vice President Lubricants Europe, Russia and Africa at Shell says: “As the world’s largest lubricants provider we are well placed to meeting the changing needs of our customers. We are also working hard to avoid or reduce emissions by using more renewable power in the manufacturing of our lubricants, reducing waste and increasing energy efficiency of our operations. In addition, we are helping our customers take action today and offsetting the emissions from their lubricants purchases is one of the many ways we can do that.

This represents a key milestone in Shell Lubricants’ multi-year strategy to help customers manage their sustainability needs and its ambition to reduce the carbon intensity of its products by avoiding, reducing, and offsetting emissions. Since 2016, Shell has reduced the carbon intensity of its lubricants manufacturing by over 30%[4], and over 50% of electricity used in its lubricant blending plants now comes from renewable sources4. Shell is also reducing packaging waste from lubricants products at scale by increasing the use of recycled materials and exploring more sustainable packaging solutions across its supply chains.

Shell’s carbon neutral lubricants will be available in key markets across Europe, spanning the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Turkey. They will also be available via Shell’s distributors in all countries of operation. Shell will offset the emissions from a mix of advanced synthetic lubricants in these markets, including: Helix for passenger cars, Rimula for heavy duty diesel engines and a wide range of industry lubricants, such as Shell Omala in the wind sector, Shell’s range of eco-label products ‘Shell Naturelle’, and selected Shell Gadus products for the wind sector.

This programme will contribute to Shell’s own target to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner, in step with society. Becoming a net-zero emissions energy business is a huge task and the business plans we have today will not get us there. So, our plans must change over time. While measures to avoid and reduce emissions offer the best way to tackle emissions in the long term, until scalable solutions are deployed, carbon offsetting programmes provide an immediate solution for balancing CO2e emissions across Shell’s portfolio and value chain. Shell’s portfolio of nature-based carbon credits will compensate CO2e emissions from the entire lifecycle of these products, including: the raw materials; packaging; production; distribution; customer use; and product end of life.

The term ‘Carbon Neutral’ indicates that Shell has engaged in a transaction where an amount of carbon dioxide equivalent associated with the acquisition and pre-processing of raw materials, lubricants production, packaging, distribution, and the subsequent use and end of life treatment of the used materials in relation to the Shell Lubricants products, has been removed from the atmosphere through a nature-based process, or emissions saved through avoided degradation of natural ecosystems. Actual emissions from driving are sensitive to underlying assumptions.

[1] CO2e (CO2 equivalent) refers to CO2, CH4, N2O

[2] Actual emissions from driving are sensitive to underlying assumptions.

[3] The CO2e lifecycle emissions of this product have been offset with verified Nature-Based Carbon Credits

[4] Shell Internal Analysis

For more information

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