Environment and sustainable development: Meeting new challenges

Respecting persons, safety and ecosystem protection is central to Total Lubricants' preoccupations.

As a global player in the energy and chemicals industries, Total is fully engaged with these developments and issues.

At Total Lubricants, sustainable development finds its application through Product Life-cycle Analysis. From manufacture to collection of used oils, our lubricants are examined and monitored in terms of their environment impacts using ISO 14001 standard procedures.

Biolubricants: Environment protection and effectiveness.

Environmental protection and sustainable development rank high among public concerns.

Total's awareness of these issues has led it to develop a range of biodegradable lubricants for use mainly in applications where product leak or accidental spill could cause a direct environmental impact (as in foresty and agriculture, mountain, water, public works and  industry...)

The main feature which makes these products unique is their ability to self distruct, leaving virtually no trace of pollution.

Total Fuel Economy: Lower fuel consumption for a better environment

The - Fuel Economy - lube oil range is designed with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions through limiting engine friction. Indeed, frictional contact at metal/metal surfaces generates power losses and wastes fuel.

Used oils

Used oils are divided into two categories:

  • So-called clear oils, of industrial origin and little deteriorated in use, which can easily be regenerated through a simple purification process (filtering and/or centrifugation).
  • So-called dark oils, mainly originating from automotive lubrication, which have been subject to severe thermal and mechanical conditions, under which they have been loaded with metals and combustion residues and oxidized. Neither of these oils should be confused with used soluble oils and other aqueous machining fluids, or vegetable frying oils, or water-hydrocarbon mixtures for which entirely different methods for collection and disposal are used.

Product life cycle

"Life Cycle Analysis methodology is used for identifying and reducing the impact of our lubricants on the environment. With this approach, respect for the environment may be built into the design of new consumer products, right from the start."

Olivier DAUTREBANDE Director for Sustainable Development

  • More (TOTAL International Website)

Wind power: Wind under Total's wings

One of Total's initiatives to promote renewable energy sources involves experiments with five wind turbines on a farm near Dunkirk in Northern France. The full-scale test-bed should lead to ther certification of lubricants which Total has engineered for this specific application.

  • More (TOTAL Industry)

Low SAPS lubricants

Global warming, and to a broader extent fight against pollution, has led an automotive industry revolution. Carbon dioxide or exhaust gaz decreases are becoming first priority challenges. Total Lubricants has been supporting this ecological trend from its very beginning and made numerous investments in Research and Development. Today the new generation of Low SAPS lubricants, compatible with post-treatment systems, is brought to market.