Lubricants

Green purchasing guidance for lubricants, including:

Lubricants (other than motor oil)
Air tool lubricants
Chainsaw bar and chain oil
Hydraulic fluid
Penetrants

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

RCW 39.26.310 and DES’ Purchasing Preference for Products that Do Not Contain Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (DES- 310-00) direct state agencies to offer a preference of at least 5% to vendors that bid products (e.g., aerosol lubricants) that contain either (1) no HFCs or (2) HFCs with a relatively low global warming potential (GWP) if HFC-free products are unavailable. It also directs state agencies to purchase products that have been awarded a preference under this law.

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

RCW 39.26.310 and Purchasing Preference for Products that Do Not Contain Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (DES- 310-00) direct state agencies to offer a preference of at least 5% to vendors that bid products (e.g., aerosol lubricants) that contain either (1) no HFCs or (2) HFCs with a relatively low global warming potential (GWP) if HFC-free products are unavailable. It also directs state agencies to purchase products that have been awarded a preference under this law.
RCW 39.26.280: Preference—Products and Products in Packaging That Do Not Contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls authorizes state agencies to develop policies that offer a bid preference for PCB-free products and packaging. In addition, DES’ Procurement Preference for Products and Product Packaging that Do Not Contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) (POL-DES-280-00) establishes a minimum 5% bid preference authorized in RCW 39.26.280 for bidders that offer products and packaging contain the lowest concentration of PCBs, when tested. The intent of this policy is to incentivize the state’s contract suppliers to provide products and packaging that do not contain PCBs.

Things to avoid

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

EO 04-01: Persistent Toxic Chemicals directs the state to make available for purchase and use by state agencies equipment, supplies, and other products that do not contain persistent and bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals, unless there is no feasible alternative.
- All lubricants must be free of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and other PFAS chemicals, which are PBTs. unless needed for safety or performance.
In accordance with EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP), purchasers should avoid, to the greatest extent practicable, lubricants:
- With a Prop 65 warning that it “contains a chemical known to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm.” Such chemicals of concern in lubricants include chlorinated solvents such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane, ethyl benzene, methylene chloride, and toluene. (Full list of Prop 65 chemicals.)
- Packaged in aerosol containers, which can increase exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Products or products in packaging containing polychlorinated biphenyls above the practical quantification limit except when it is not cost-effective or technically feasible to do so.”
RCW 39.26.280: Preference—Products and Products in Packaging That Do Not Contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls prohibits state agencies from knowingly purchasing “products or products in packaging containing polychlorinated biphenyls above the practical quantification limit except when it is not cost-effective or technically feasible to do so.” In such cases, they must identify all products and packaging in their offering that contain PCBs.
Purchasers should include on their bid/market basket list lubricants that are USDA Certified Biobased products listed in the USDA BioPreferred Catalog.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

These laws, rules, and executive orders must be included in the contract language:

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

Contract 02418: Lubricants and diesel exhaust fluid

End of life

Surplus goods that still can be used

Use surplus disposal to get rid of items you no longer need. Keep materials out of landfills and make funds for your agency.

Recycling and disposal

Hazardous waste disposal guidelines and options:

Department of Ecology: Dispose, recycle, or treat dangerous waste
Washington Recycles