Traditionally, the plastics industry and the lubrication & grease industry haven’t had the best rap in terms of sustainability and “going green”. Both industries, largely driven by petroleum-based feedstocks, are often viewed negatively in terms of environmental impact, but we would like to take a moment to highlight how innovations in the industry are changing things for the better. The definition of “green” has been evolving. Now it does not just include products made from bio-based feedstocks, but considers a big-picture view of the overall sustainability in production from a smaller carbon footprint to conservation of energy and resources. The plastics industry in particular is picking up on this trend. While bio-based plastics resins are still catching steam, composite manufactures have found other ways to include materials that would otherwise be thrown into landfills as waste into plastic materials. These things include food industry byproducts such as eggshells and seashells which can be used to strengthen some plastic composites. In addition, reusable plastic parts that are currently being tested for shipping packaging would make a huge impact on reducing the waste of single-use packaging products. The same goes for the reduction of carbon foot print by light-weighting automobiles though use of plastic parts. While the plastics industry may have been a little quicker to gain momentum in the sustainability front, lubricant manufacturers are also searching for ways to “green” their products. Biolubricant use is on the rise, and formulators are making them to be nontoxic and designed to biodegrade quickly. These products place a focus on use of vegetable oil feedstocks rather than the mineral oils derived from crude oil that have been typically used in the past. Whatever the industry, we can all look forward to continued innovation on these fronts as manufacturers continue to find more sustainable ways to do business.