Sustainability Spokesman 2025

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY

https://www.nlgi.org/sustainability/

We Need Your Participation!

We’re launching a Sustainability Survey to gather critical data that will help guide the future of our industry.

Please take a few minutes to share your input:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R8WMCD5 Deadline to respond: April 30, 2025 What kind of data are we collecting?

• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data • Carbon footprint data • Insights on what matters most in sustainability for the grease industry Your feedback will help identify key challenges and opportunities— and inform our path forward.

Leadership in Sustainability Award at 2025 Annual Meeting In an industry increasingly focused on environmental stewardship and innovation, the Leadership in Sustainability Award celebrates individuals and companies championing a sustainable future. This prestigious honor recognizes those who go above and beyond to ensure that the grease industry evolves toward greater sustainability and responsibility.

Stay tuned to see the first recipient of this new award at the 2025 Annual Meeting!

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Amber Dzikowicz, Chair | Dwaine (Greg) Morris, Co-Chair Craig Bay | Casey Budd | Chad Chichester | Andreas Dodos | Cassie Fhaner | Gareth Fish Muibat Gbadamosi Ph.D. | Joe Kaperick | John Kay | Siri Kore | Constantin Madius | Joshua Sheffield | Yingdi Yuan Staff Liaison: Crystal O’Halloran - 87 NLGI Spokesman | VOLUME 89, NUMBER 1 | March/April 2025

https://www.nlgi.org/sustainability/

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

Q1 Is your company continuing to invest in sustainability as a strategic initiative?

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY 2025 RESULTS NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1

Q1 Is your company continuing to invest in sustainability as a strategic Is your company continuing initiative? to invest in sustainability as aYesstrategic initiative?

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1 No

Yes

Not sure

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

No ANSWER CHOICES

Not sure

0%

10%

NSWER CHOICES

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

82.98%

No

12.77%

6

Not sure

4.26%

2

TOTAL

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

47

82.98%

o

12.77%

39

Q2 Does your company issue a sustainability report or publicly report on ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance)?

RESPONSES NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

es

RESPONSES

Yes

39

6 Does your company issue a sustainability report or publicly report onESG Q2 Does your company issue a sustainability report or publicly report on 2 4.26% ot sure (Environment, Social,Social, and Governance)?

ESG (Environment, and Governance)?

OTAL 47

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1

Yes

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1 No

Yes

Not sure

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

No

Yes

Not sure

No

70%

80%

90%

100%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Answered: 48

8.51% Skipped: 0

4

TOTAL

47 Identifying/mea suring footprint,...

Energy efficiency/savi ngs (within...

15 Offsetting carbon emissions 28 Environmental/H ealth/Safety impact 4 Forum for 47 discussion (working group) Education on handprint, footprint, l...

Regular updates from experts in t...

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

ANSWER CHOICES

RESPONSES

31.91% Q3 What areas would you like NLGI to focus on around sustainability?15 59.57% 28 Check all that apply.

Not sure

0%

No

60%

1 / 20

ANSWER CHOICES

Yes

50%

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

RESPONSES

Q3 What areas would you like NLGI to focus 31.91%on around sustainability?

What areas would youalllike to focus on around sustainability? Check all that apply.

Check thatNLGI apply.

59.57% Answered: 48

Not sure

Skipped: 0 8.51%

1 / 20

TOTAL Identifying/mea suring footprint,...

Energy efficiency/savi ngs (within...

Offsetting carbon emissions Environmental/H ealth/Safety impact Forum for discussion (working group) Education on handprint, footprint, l...

Regular updates from experts in t...

0%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

ANSWER CHOICES Identifying/measuring footprint, lifecycle analysis

RESPONSES

2 / 20

Energy efficiency/savings (within your own operations)

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Offsetting carbon emissions

31.25%

15

47.92%

23

Forum for discussion (working group)

37.50%

18

Education on handprint, footprint, life cycle analysis (from a grease specific view)

64.58%

31

Regular updates from experts in the field focused on sustainability - webinars, publications, etc.

62.50%

30

Total Respondents: 48 OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)

- 160 - Knowing which topics within ESG are most crucial to focus on when starting out 2 Working groups ELGI STC NLGI Spokesman | VOLUMERESPONSES 89, NUMBER 2 que| asMay/June 2025

ANSWER CHOICES

2 / 20

34 25

Environmental/Health/Safety impact

#

Identifying/measuring footprint, lifecycle analysis

70.83% 52.08%

3 70.83%

I 34 think there are already a lot of working groups, webinars and more about carbon footprint and the "theoretical" side of sustainability. It would be more interesting, in my opinion, to discuss and share ideas on how to increase efficiency in plants, reduce the amount of residual waste,

DATE 4/10/2025 6:42 AM 4/10/2025 5:23 AM 4/10/2025 12:01 AM

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

Q4 What is the most important aspect of sustainability for your company?

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY

Answered: 48

Skipped: 0

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY 2025 RESULTS Customer demands

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

Efficiency improvements Public perception

Q4 What is the most important aspect of sustainability for your company?

What is the most important aspect of sustainability for your company?

Answered: 48

Corporate strategy

Skipped: 0

Regulations Corporate social responsibility

Customer demands

Other (please specify)

Efficiency improvements

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Public perception ANSWER CHOICES

Corporate strategy Regulations Corporate social responsibility Other (please specify) 0%

10%

NSWER CHOICES

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

ustomer demands

80%

90%

100%

27.08%

13

Efficiency improvements

25.00%

12

Public perception

0.00%

0

Corporate strategy

16.67%

8

Regulations

10.42%

5

Corporate social responsibility

18.75%

9

Other (please specify)

2.08%

1

TOTAL

48

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

#

OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)

1

I do no manufacturing, shipping, or use of products so this is moot for me except as an interest item.

DATE 4/10/2025 11:15 AM

Q5 Does your company provide product carbon footprint information to your customers?

13

RESPONSES 27.08% 25.00%

fficiency improvements

RESPONSES

Customer demands

Answered: 47

12

Skipped: 1

0.00% Q5 Does your company provide product carbon footprint information to 0 Yes Does your company provide product carbon footprint information to your customers?

16.67% 8 orporate strategy your customers?

ublic perception

10.42%

5

orporate social responsibility

18.75%

9

ther (please specify)

2.08%

egulations

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1

1

Yes

OTAL

48 DATE 4/10/2025 11:15 AM

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

RESPONSES

Yes

40.43%

19

No

51.06%

24

Not Sure

8.51%

4

TOTAL

47

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

51.06%

o

20%

Q6 Does your company receive product carbon footprint information from your suppliers?

19

RESPONSES 5 / 20 NLGI Sustainability Survey40.43% 2025

NSWER CHOICES

es

10%

ANSWER CHOICES

Not Sure

10%

Not Sure

0%

OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY) I do no manufacturing, shipping, or use of products so this is moot for me except as an No interest item.

0%

5 / 20 No

Answered: 47

24

Skipped: 1

8.51% Q6 Does your company receive product carbon footprint information from4 Yes Does your company product carbon footprint information from your suppliers?

47 yourreceive suppliers?

ot Sure

OTAL

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1 No

Yes

Not Sure

0%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

6 / 20

No ANSWER CHOICES

Not Sure

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

ANSWER CHOICES

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

29.79%

14

No

53.19%

25

Not Sure

17.02%

TOTAL

6 / 20

17.02%

8 47

29.79% - 61 - 14 53.19% 25 NLGI Spokesman | VOLUME 89, NUMBER 2 | May/June 2025

No

RESPONSES

Yes

RESPONSES

Yes

Not Sure

10%

8

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY 2025 RESULTS

Q7 If NLGI gathers grease product carbon footprint information to create a grease product carbon footprint calculator, would this information be useful to your company?

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

Q7 If NLGI grease grease product carbon footprint information create a If gathers NLGI gathers product carbon footprinttoinformation to create agrease product carbon grease product carbon footprint calculator, would this information be useful Yes footprint calculator, would this information be usefulto your company? to your company?

Answered: 47

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1

Skipped: 1 No

Yes

Not Sure

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

No ANSWER CHOICES

Not Sure

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

NSWER CHOICES

RESPONSES

es

85.11%

100%

85.11%

No

4.26%

2

Not Sure

10.64%

5

40

TOTAL

47

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

40 2 Q8 Would your company provide product specific carbon footprint 5 information in the 2025 Grease Production Survey?

4.26%

o

NLGI Sustainability Survey 10.64% 2025

Would your company provide product specific carbon47footprint information in the 2025 Grease Q8 Would your company provide product specific carbon footprint Production Survey?

ot Sure

OTAL

90%

RESPONSES

Yes

Answered: 47

information in the 2025 Grease Production Survey?

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1

Yes

Skipped: 1 No

Yes

8 / 20

Not Sure

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

No ANSWER CHOICES

Not Sure

0%

10%

20%

30%

50%

8 / 20

NSWER CHOICES

s

t Sure

40%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

RESPONSES

Yes

25.53%

12

No

29.79%

14

Not Sure

44.68%

21

TOTAL

47

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

Q9 What is your role regarding sustainability efforts within your company?

RESPONSES 25.53%

12

29.79%

14

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

Answered: 47

Skipped: 1

44.68% 21 What is your role regarding sustainability efforts within your company?

Decision Maker

Q9 What is your role regarding sustainability efforts within your company?47

OTAL

Answered: 47

External influencer of strategy wit...

Decision Maker

Other (please specify)

Internal influencer of strategy wit...

0%

External influencer of strategy wit...

0%

10%

20%

30%

9 / 20

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

ANSWER CHOICES

Other (please specify)

NSWER CHOICES

ecision Maker

Internal influencer of strategy wit...

Skipped: 1

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

RESPONSES 21.28%

10

Internal influencer of strategy within your company

57.45%

27

External influencer of strategy within the industry

2.13%

1

Other (please specify)

19.15%

9

TOTAL #

47 OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)

- 62 - Potential influencer but mostly a keenly interested party, I guess largely due to potential impact on the business from Government regulation and competitors.

NLGI Spokesman | RESPONSES VOLUME 89, NUMBER 2 | May/June 2025 21.28%

100%

Decision Maker

1

9 / 20

90%

DATE 4/28/2025 6:27 PM

2

Sales and Marketing - so need to send to regulatory members

4/23/2025 10:41 AM

3

10 marketing

4/23/2025 9:49 AM

Q11 What NLGI membership category does your company fall under?

Answered: 48

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY

Skipped: 0

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY 2025 RESULTS Lubricant Manufacturer

NLGI Sustainability Survey 2025

Lubricant Marketer/Distri butor Supplier - raw materials, additives,...

Technical consultant, testing lab,...

What NLGI membership category does your company fall under?

Q11 What NLGI membership category does your company fall under?

Answered: 48

Skipped: 0

Consumer OEM, other Academic

Lubricant Manufacturer

Not sure

Lubricant Marketer/Distri butor Supplier - raw materials, additives,...

Technical consultant, testing lab,...

Other (please specify) 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

ANSWER CHOICES

Consumer OEM, other Academic

Not sure Other (please specify) 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

70%

80%

90%

100%

RESPONSES

Lubricant Manufacturer

68.75%

Lubricant Marketer/Distributor

2.08%

1

Supplier - raw materials, additives, instruments, packaging, production equipment

22.92%

11

Technical - consultant, testing lab, media

4.17%

2

Consumer - OEM, other

2.08%

1

Academic

0.00%

0

Not sure

0.00%

0

Other (please specify)

0.00%

TOTAL

100%

33

#

0 48

OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)

DATE

There are no responses.

NSWER CHOICES

RESPONSES

ubricant Manufacturer

68.75%

ubricant Marketer/Distributor

2.08%

33 1

upplier - raw materials, additives, instruments, packaging, production equipment

22.92%

11

echnical - consultant, testing lab, media

4.17%

2

onsumer - OEM, other

2.08%

1

cademic

0.00%

0

ot sure

0.00%

0

her (please specify)

0.00%

0

OTAL

20 / 20

48 OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)

DATE

There are no responses.

20 / 20

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Amber Dzikowicz, Chair | Dwaine (Greg) Morris, Co-Chair Craig Bay | Casey Budd | Chad Chichester | Andreas Dodos | Cassie Fhaner | Gareth Fish Muibat Gbadamosi Ph.D. | Joe Kaperick | John Kay | Siri Kore | Constantin Madius | Joshua Sheffield | Yingdi Yuan Staff Liaison: Crystal O’Halloran - 63 NLGI Spokesman | VOLUME 89, NUMBER 2 | May/June 2025

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY

https://www.nlgi.org/sustainability/

Sustainability Survey: A Deep(er) Dive, Industry Dialogue, and the Road Ahead

The NLGI Sustainability Committee extends its sincere thanks to all who participated in the second iteration of the Sustainability Survey, published in the previous issue of The Spokesman. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping a clearer picture of where the lubricating grease industry stands on sustainability—and where it’s headed.

Unpacking the Survey Results While many survey responses offered clear-cut answers, the accompanying comments revealed a more nuanced landscape. For instance, 83% of respondents reported that their companies are actively investing in sustainability as a strategic priority, yet only 32% currently issue public ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports. This suggests that while sustainability is gaining traction internally, external transparency remains limited.

The survey also highlighted that efficiency improvements (27%) and customer demands (25%) are the primary drivers of sustainability initiatives. In contrast, corporate strategy, social responsibility, and regulatory compliance were cited as secondary motivators. This underscores a pragmatic, performance-driven approach to sustainability across the industry.

Industry Priorities: Four Key Focus Areas

Respondents identified four critical areas where they believe NLGI can provide the most value: • Product Carbon Footprint and Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) • Energy Efficiency and Savings • Education on Handprint, Footprint, and LCA Concepts • Regular Updates from Industry Experts These focus areas reflect a desire for both practical tools and deeper understanding—especially as companies navigate the complexities of sustainability in grease formulation, manufacturing, and application.

The Case for a Standardized Carbon Footprint Tool

One of the most compelling findings: 85% of respondents support the development of a standardized tool to calculate the carbon footprint of grease products. However, only 41% currently provide product-level carbon data to customers, and 53% do not receive such data from their suppliers. This lack of consistency and transparency presents a challenge—and an opportunity.

To be effective, any carbon calculator must be credible, representative, and defensible. It must avoid becoming a tool for unsupported marketing claims and instead serve as a reliable benchmark for the industry.

- 50 NLGI Spokesman | VOLUME 89, NUMBER 3 | July/August 2025

NLGI SUSTAINABILITY Building the Model: Leveraging Existing Infrastructure

Fortunately, the foundation for such a tool already exists. For decades, grease manufacturers have trusted NLGI’s Annual Production Survey to handle sensitive data securely. By integrating sustainability-related inputs—such as raw material carbon footprints—into this existing framework, NLGI can help build a robust, anonymous dataset that reflects real-world conditions across regions.

In collaboration with the ELGI’s consortium efforts, this initiative can lead to the development of a realistic, industrywide model that supports both internal decision-making and external reporting.

Looking Ahead

The path forward is clear: through collaboration, transparency, and education, the grease industry can take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future. The NLGI Sustainability and Production Survey Committees are working together to make this vision a reality—and your continued engagement will be essential.

Stay tuned for future updates, resources, and opportunities to contribute to this important work.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Amber Dzikowicz, Chair | Dwaine (Greg) Morris, Co-Chair Craig Bay | Casey Budd | Chad Chichester | Andreas Dodos | Mehdi Fathi-Najafi | Cassie Fhaner | Muibat Gbadamosi Ph.D. Joe Kaperick | Siri Kore | Constantin Madius | Ravi Menton | Joshua Sheffield | Yingdi Yuan Staff Liaison: Crystal O’Halloran - 51 NLGI Spokesman | VOLUME 89, NUMBER 3 | July/August 2025