The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study enables us to determine and verify the impact of products on human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. This includes assessments of Carbon Footprint (CFP) and Water Footprint (WFP), conducted in accordance with the globally accepted ISO (International Standards Organization) standards. Moreover, ongoing studies focus on specific sectors. The American Petroleum Institute (API) introduced its new methodology for LCA and CFP (Technical Report 1533, May 2023). Meanwhile, the Union of the European Lubricants Industry (UEIL) and the Technical Association of the European Lubricants Industry (ATIEL) jointly announced a calculation and reporting method they developed. Shell was the first to publicly support the API methodology.
Lubricants and their packaging hold significant importance not only due to their inherent properties but also because of the environmental impacts they cause at the point of consumption. Consequently, an increasing number of lubricant consumers are requesting Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results from their suppliers. To make Carbon Neutral and Green Product declarations in the market, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is required. Achieving a “Carbon Neutral” or “Green Product” status is not straightforward. Obtaining an EPD necessitates compliance with relevant legislation. Greenwashing, which involves providing false, incomplete, or misleading information and claims in marketing, advertising, visibility, and labeling, is strictly prohibited. Greenwashing is defined as activities by a company or an organization that are intended to make people think that it is concerned about the environment, even if its real business actually harms the environment.
Reliable, comparable, and verifiable information is crucial for consumers. In March 2023, the European Union (EU) proposed the “Directive on the Substantiation and Communication of Explicit Environmental Claims (Green Claims Directive).” Green Claims, also known as Environmental Claims, Environmentally Friendly Claims, or Sustainability Claims, refer to assertions that a product, service, brand, or organization provides an environmental benefit or is less harmful to the environment. Only substantiated and truthful statements can be presented to the public as Green Claims. It is important to note that if the relevant information is false, concealed, misrepresented, or taken out of context, the claims become misleading and false. This has resulted in numerous instances of Greenwashing fines, where companies have experienced significant brand and reputation damage. Ensuring the accuracy of environmental claims is essential to avoid such pitfalls.
The term “Green” has gained three notable definitions: Green Criminology, Green Crime, and Green Cause. Green Criminology addresses primary crimes involving environmental damage, secondary crimes related to environmental disasters, and the urgent need for innovative policy solutions to industrial capitalism and contemporary environmental challenges.
Türkiye’s Eco-Label Regulation came into force on October 19, 2018, and in 2022, Türkiye became a full member of the Global Eco-Label Network (GEN). In the European Union, Commission Decision (EU) 2018/1702 of 8 November 2018 establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for lubricants is being extended until 2028. Additionally, there are national Eco-label applications such as Ecomark, Blue Angel, and the Korean Eco-label. Following a meeting between the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center on September 2, 2024, it was announced that national criteria for lubricants would be established through the LCA study. Industry opinions would be gathered via surveys, and the applicability of these criteria would be tested in pilot facilities. This is a crucial project, as there must be no Greenwashing of lubricants and their packaging in our country. Green Crime is entirely incompatible with the strength and integrity of our sector.
It would be beneficial for both local and global brands in Türkiye to begin disclosing the environmental impacts of their products through LCA studies. Our brands should also encourage their packaging suppliers to do the same. We need to take action now. The industry’s priority for addressing urgent issues like Biodiversity Loss, Environmental Pollution, and Climate Change is Green, Digital, and Circular Transformation. The crucial role of carbon management in this triple transformation is undeniable. We must accelerate our journey towards decarbonization with the best carbon management practices. What is the stance of Petrol Ofisi’s Technology Center (POTEM) on this matter?
We invite our stakeholders to join us at our Ayazağa Campus, recognized as the 38th most sustainable campus in the world, 22nd in Europe, and the leading campus in our country for the past eight years, according to the 2024 UI GreenMetric ranking. The summit, titled “Sustainable Solutions on the Path to Decarbonization and the Power of Green Money,” will be held on April 14-15, 2025. At this 10th Istanbul Carbon Summit, our chemical and energy sectors will showcase their strong commitment to sustainability. We are delighted to welcome our guests with a selection of coffee and chocolate treats. Let’s come together to applaud the Green Claim achievements of our distinguished brands.
