Klüber Lubrication introduces environmentally friendly lubricants
Customer: Klüber Lubrication GmbH & Co. KG
Category: Lubricants / Chemicals
Klüber Lubrication GmbH & Co. KG is a leading global supplier of specialty lubricants based in Munich. The company is part of the Freudenberg Group and supplies almost all industrial sectors – from food processing and the automotive sector to wind energy. As a technology leader, Klüber pursues an ambitious sustainability strategy that goes beyond product development to include the underlying processes.
As part of this strategy, the decision was made to introduce the REDcert² standard at the Belgian production site. The aim was to make the use of mass-balanced raw materials transparent, traceable, and verifiable—a key step toward credible, certified sustainability in the chemical industry.
Klüber chose DFGE – Institute for Energy, Ecology and Economy as its partner for the methodologically sound and practical implementation. With its many years of experience in sustainability consulting and the development of certifiable systems, DFGE accompanied the project from conception to successful auditing.
Katrin Bloch
Head of Global Systems & Product Affairs, Klüber Lubrication
“We wanted to ensure that our approach to using sustainable raw materials was based on a robust system. DFGE guided us through the REDcert² process with comprehensive expertise, structured methodology, and a strong practical focus.”
Challenges
New requirements, many stakeholders, and cross-border processes
The introduction of the REDcert² standard presented Klüber with various organizational, technical, and communication challenges. In particular, the large number of departments involved—including purchasing, quality assurance, production, IT, and sales—both in Germany and Belgium, required careful coordination.
REDcert² aims to credibly and verifiably document the sustainable origin of raw materials – especially bio-based and recycled raw materials – within the framework of voluntary sustainability certifications. The focus is particularly on the mass balance method, which allows sustainable raw materials to be tracked through the supply and production chain, even if physical separation is not always possible in the process. To this end, companies must establish robust processes to correctly record and balance the flow of sustainably certified raw materials and to verify this to third parties, such as auditors or business partners.
This includes setting up suitable verification systems, defining clear responsibilities, and integrating specific REDcert² requirements into existing management systems. Concepts such as mass balancing, traceability, and the systematic separation of sustainable and conventional raw materials were new to many Klüber employees and first had to be explained in an understandable way and integrated into existing processes.
The parallel implementation at two locations added to the complexity. While strategic management was carried out from the headquarters in Munich, practical implementation took place at the production site in Belgium.
Solution
Structured, practical, and interdisciplinary – working together for success
DFGE worked with Klüber to develop a rigorous project plan that involved all relevant departments and defined coordinated implementation steps. The project kicked off with an orientation workshop in which possible certification options were presented and compared. On this basis, REDcert² was chosen as the most suitable standard.
This was followed by several department-specific workshops, divided between the locations in Germany and Belgium. Responsibilities were clarified, processes defined, and employees sensitized. DFGE structured the workshops around the relevant topics and conducted them in a practical manner with the respective functional managers.
A comprehensive gap analysis formed the basis for further implementation. It showed where existing processes were already compliant and where adjustments were necessary. The identified gaps were documented and closed with targeted measures.
A key result of this phase was a custom-developed quality management manual that served as an implementation concept. In addition, DFGE created specific training materials for the Belgian plant to anchor the necessary knowledge for the practical application of the REDcert² standard there.
Result
Audit passed – with recognition for systematic approach and commitment
In July 2025, Klüber Lubrication successfully completed the REDcert² audit. The company was recommended for certification—clear evidence of its structured and sustainable implementation of the standard.
The auditors particularly highlighted the company’s in-depth understanding of the requirements, its interdisciplinary implementation, and its professional documentation. The intensive support provided by headquarters, the training measures developed, and the safe handling of sustainable and conventional materials were also expressly praised.
Thanks to the sound project structure, careful process integration, and active cooperation of all those involved, Klüber was not only able to achieve REDcert² certification, but also to implement it to a high standard.
Katrin Bloch
Head of Global Systems & Product Affairs, Klüber Lubrication
“DFGE provided us with outstanding support throughout the entire certification process. Thanks to DFGE’s structured and collaborative support, we were not only able to implement the REDcert² standard, but also to anchor it sustainably.”
Prospect
Further strengthening sustainability as a strategic field of action
For Klüber, the successful completion of the project is not an end point, but a starting point for further development. The integration of mass-balanced raw materials is to be expanded in the future and more closely embedded in the overall sustainability strategy.
In an official press statement, the company emphasizes: “Our goal is to continuously reduce the ecological footprint of our products—not sometime in the future, but right now. REDcert² helps us do this in a credible and verifiable way.”
REDcert² certification shows how regulatory requirements can not only be met, but also transformed into real competitive advantages through structured implementation.
