Transitioning to Biodegradable Lubricants in Saudi Industry
The client lacked internal expertise on biodegradable or non-toxic lubricant alternatives. Most equipment was running on conventional mineral-based fluids, with no centralized lubricant monitoring. Field operators were not trained on handling or storing ester-based or food-grade lubricants. Moreover, there were concerns about the cost, availability, and performance of environmentally friendly alternatives, especially under high-stress operating conditions typical in the Middle East’s extreme climate zones.
We delivered an end-to-end sustainability transition program focused on lubricant use. This included identifying bio-based, biodegradable, and minimally toxic lubricants that met or exceeded equipment manufacturer standards. We benchmarked products with EU Ecolabel and OECD 301B biodegradability standards, introduced a pilot trial program, and helped restructure inventory management to phase out traditional products. The transition roadmap was designed to align with the client’s ESG reporting metrics and operational performance KPIs.
Mapped all equipment lubricant applications and environmental risk profiles.
Benchmarked 18 eco-lubricant products for hydraulic systems, gearboxes, and chains.
Designed cost-performance simulations to compare total lifecycle costs.
Developed handling and storage SOPs compliant with eco-label standards.
Trained 80+ field operators on application and emergency spill control.
Established supplier agreements with three certified eco-lubricant brands.
Use bio-based hydraulic fluids in environmentally sensitive job sites.
Set up dual inventory to maintain fallback options for high-load conditions.
Engage clients in co-branding efforts to promote eco-switch as a value-added service.
Quantify carbon savings per project to include in ESG reports.
Partner with local regulators to become a preferred supplier for green procurement tenders.
The transition reduced oil-related environmental incident reports to zero within a year. Client scored two major tenders that required green procurement compliance, adding $3.8M in new contracts. Operating cost increases were offset by extended lubricant change intervals and reduced cleanup liability. Estimated annual savings and new business gains combined to deliver a 3.9x ROI from the consulting engagement within 14 months.
