Carbon‑neutral supply chains are the endgame. Yet energy appetite is still rising: global demand grew faster than average in 2024, and near‑term outlooks continue to assume growth under current policies. Efficiency must therefore do more, faster. At COP28, governments pledged to double the global rate of efficiency improvement to >4% per year by 2030.
Focus where friction and wear create silent losses: motor‑driven systems, bearings, gears, compressors, conveyors. In the EU alone, electric motors in scope of current ecodesign rules consumed 1,326 TWh in 2020—53% of EU electricity—and tighter standards are set to avoid ~106 TWh/year and ~40 Mt CO₂/year by 2030. That is pure efficiency: less input for the same output.
Tribology and lubrication science attack these losses directly, cutting friction (lowering energy draw) and extending component life (lowering embodied‑carbon turnover). They are drop‑in, capex‑light levers that usually require no process changes, making them ideal for sites that must deliver results within annual budgets. Industry bodies underscore that proper lubrication and condition monitoring can deliver material GHG reductions and support the COP28 efficiency target.
Critically, end‑use savings avoid upstream emissions one‑for‑one: every kilowatt‑hour not consumed because friction is reduced is a kilowatt‑hour that does not need to be generated or transmitted. With electricity demand set to keep expanding through data centres, electrified transport and industry, this immediacy matters.
- Benchmark friction losses across your top motor‑driven assets (pumps, fans, compressors, conveyors) and align with EU motor‑system best practice and IE3/IE4 expectations.
- Upgrade lubrication strategies (right viscosity, friction modifiers, clean‑in‑place practices) as a first‑line measure before major capex; integrate online condition monitoring to extend service intervals and asset life.
- Pair tribology with system optimisation (variable speed drives, alignment/balancing) to lock in efficiency gains and document avoided emissions for ESG reporting.
- Operationalise the COP28 pledge by setting a site‑level target to double annual efficiency improvement and report progress in your CDP/CSRD narratives.
The outcome: lower electricity bills, measurable CO₂ abatement, longer asset life, without constraining operations or users. That is how you “get more out of the same.”
If you want a rapid, vendor‑neutral friction‑loss scan of your top 20 assets and a quantified abatement roadmap for your Benelux sites, Klüber Benelux can facilitate a 30‑minute executive benchmark and follow with a tribology‑led action plan aligned to EU motor‑system guidance.
