EuroWire September 2021

Corporate News

Metalube cuts emissions and commits to carbon neutral policy

UK-based manufacturer Metalube Ltd has committed to carbon neutrality by offsetting emissions that cannot currently be avoided from its manufacturing and operations. The company first started its carbon neu- tral policy in 2019 and has since imple- mented a series of efficiency upgrades to its manufacturing processes around the world. To offset carbon this year, the company is planting native trees in the Yorkshire Dales, which will be validated and verified under the Woodland Carbon Code – a quality assurance standard for woodland creation projects in the UK. The aim is to continue with tree planting while reducing the carbon footprint within the organisation through efficiency projects. At the end of 2019, with help of a resource efficiency advisor and an energy efficiency grant, the company installed a new steam boiler that has improved efficiency by providing steam and heat for its manufacturing process. The project has delivered an estimated reduction in CO 2 emissions of 73 tonnes per year. In lubricant

addition, Metalube has installed a 50kW solar panel system, and has switched from heating barrels with electric heat jackets to a more efficient gas-powered “hot box”. Metalube has also upgraded its forklifts from gas to an eco-electric fleet, which is charged overnight when electricity is not being used. Brown said, “The ‘corporate carbon footprint’ is an important component for the development of our climate protection strategy. We have analysed and identified reduction potentials and subsequently defined our goals. The procedure for calculating the footprint is carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the GHG [greenhouse gas] Protocol. We’re also constantly looking at what is the right thing to do in terms of raw materials and developing lubricants that are safer for the environment without compromising performance. We’re doing some quite innovative things such as soluble products that you add water to, which means less product needs to be shipped.” Managing director Robert

▲ Metalube is aiming for carbon neutrality

In the area of waste packaging, Metalube is moving away from plastics, where possible, and has also investigated using recycled barrels, though this is proving difficult. Mr Brown added, “It’s important that offsetting is used in the right way. It should be an incentive to drop your own emissions, not something you just pay for and forget about; that’s the wrong thing to do in my opinion. It’s about getting your manufacturing right first. Looking at your raw materials and managing your stockholding efficiently. Investing in our own plant and improving our manufacturing process. Those things all have an environmental impact.” Metalube Ltd www.metalube.co.uk

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September 2021