Tribology meets sustainability

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to present a comprehensive perspective on how tribology and sustainability are related and intertwined and are linked to CO2 emissions. This paper emphasizes on how tribological aspects affect everybody’s life and how tribological research and progress can improve energy efficiency, sustainability and quality of life. Design/methodology/approach Based upon available data and predictions for the next 50 years, the potential of tribological research and development is addressed. Findings The effects of tribological design can significantly increase energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions. Taking advantage of tribological technologies and applying them to current infrastructure would have the largest energy savings coming from the transportation and power generation at 25% and 20%, respectively. Implementing these technologies can also cut down global CO2 emissions by about 1,460 megatons of CO2 per year in the immediate future and 3,140 megatons of CO2 per year in the long term. The extraction and processing of resources inevitably generates CO2. Doubling the lifetime of machine components and the use of circular economy reduces the material footprint with associated reductions in CO2. Originality/value This perspective summarizes concisely the interrelation of tribology and sustainability with CO2. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-09-2020-0356/