Developing a legislative framework for green lubricants in a Safe and Sustainable by Design perspective

Lubricants are indispensable for reducing friction and wear in countless applications. However, the lubricant industry faces critical challenges, including the environmental impact of waste lubricants, the urgent need to adopt circular practices, and the growing demand for sustainable alternatives that maintain high performance. Traditional lubricant formulations often rely on hazardous substances such as PFAS, chlorinated paraffins, and critical raw materials, which pose significant risks to both human health and ecosystems. The SiToLub project offers a transformative solution by introducing a cutting-edge virtual platform that integrates computational models and AI to accelerate the development of safer, high-performance, and sustainable lubricants. SiToLub redefines industry standards by enabling businesses to: • Reduce R&D costs and time through predictive modeling, cutting development times by up to 75%; • Replace hazardous substances like PFAS and critical raw materials with sustainable alternatives, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations; • Customize solutions to meet specific operational and environmental needs, fostering adaptability in a dynamic market. By addressing the entire lifecycle of lubricants, SiToLub offers a tangible pathway toward a circular and sustainable economy, ensuring that performance, safety, and sustainability converge into practical and viable innovations. The project is guided by the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, which serves as a comprehensive methodology for developing chemicals and materials. SSbD emphasizes hazard reduction, environmental compatibility, and long-term viability. By embedding safety at its core, it ensures that innovative products like SiToLub’s lubricants not only meet regulatory requirements but also align with broader sustainability objectives, such as those outlined in the European Green Deal. Together, SiToLub and SSbD demonstrate the power of innovation and regulation in achieving meaningful sustainability goals. SiToLub’s rapid technological advancements, combined with SSbD’s guiding framework, set a new benchmark for the lubricant industry. This collaboration showcases the feasibility of creating products that are not only high-performing but also environmentally and economically sustainable.