Sampling Toward a Sustainable Future

Discover how maintaining proper machine lubrication by reducing contamination and increasing oil cleanliness through oil sampling, oil analysis and filtering can help you achieve machine efficiency and improve your facility's carbon footprint. Why? It's simple: Efficient machines consume less energy and oil.

- Bernie Hall

Introduction

Climate change is an important discussion in the news and on the financial pages. Earlier this year, the United Nations published a report that unequivocally recommended. rapid and significant changes in resource consumption. The report states that "observed increases in well-mixed greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations since around 1750 are unequivocally caused by human activities," and that "in 2019, atmospheric CO2 concentrations were higher than at any time in at least 2 million years [1]."

Increasing carbon dioxide and pollution levels have been identified as major contributors to these changes. Rising temperatures around the world have resulted in out-of-control forest fires destroying trees. Additionally, melting polar ice and rising water levels are causing erosion and threatening coastal towns and cities.

Public opinion and governments are responding. Corporate objectives are being rethought to align with investor and government objectives. For example, this summer, several environmental activists were elected through proxy votes to the board of Exxon Mobil. McDonald's is close to achieving its goal of sourcing all of its paper food packaging in restaurants from recycled or sustainable fiber, and A.P Moller-Maersk is gearing up to run its first carbon-neutral ship in 2023. These are just some examples of how major companies are setting goals towards reducing their carbon emissions.

How can companies move to both a more sustainable and profitable future? By creating a company-specific sustainability plan as a grassroots approach that would be welcomed by the community and investors alike. A great place to start is to revisit their lubrication program.