1
Compiled by Dr. Joe Herbertson
June 2001
Sustainable Resource
Processing
Case
Study: Conoco
Conoco, an American manufacturer
of lubricants and oils from petroleum, became concerned that
customers, particularly in the mining industry, would discontinue use of lubricants
containing chlorinated solvents
A chemical bi-product stream
from a Du Pont plant was identified as an opportunity
The market is growing
steadily as concerns grow about oil spillages from open gear boxes in heavy earth moving
equipment
The two companies
developed a new line of greases
•with comparable
performance
•without chlorinated
solvents
•with high
bio-degradability
1. See, J.Ehrenfeld in Journal of
Industrial Ecology, 1998