Types of Biolubricants

Lubricants are used in various ways and for many different applications. Depending on the technical specifications and whether it is used in an open (loss lubrication) or closed system (circulation), it is possible to choose from a wide range of oils and greases. For this reason, different types of lubricants are defined when ecolabel criteria are drawn up.

Regional or national ecolabels (such as The Blue Angel, Swedish Standard and Nordic Swan) are in general developed for the following lubricant types: hydraulic fluids, greases, chainsaw oil and concrete release agents. The European Ecolabel for Lubricants defines the following types of lubricant (after the 2010 revision):

• Hydraulic fluids and tractor transmission oils;
• Greases and stern tube greases;
• Stern tube oils, chainsaw oils, concrete release agents, wire rope oils and other total loss lubricants;
• two-stroke oils (for application on land and water);
• Industrial and marine gear oils.