Industrial machinery manufacturer Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems’ (HIES’) recently launched plant-based Green Screw Oil lubricant, developed for oil-flooded screw air compressors, delivers reliable performance while reducing environmental impact.

As oil-flooded screw air compressors use a pair of screw rotors rotating at high speeds to compress air, lubricants are required to prevent component wear and provide cooling. However, conventional lubricants derived from crude oil generate significant CO₂ emissions throughout their manufacturing process and disposal.

In contrast, Green Screw Oil uses plant-derived raw materials which absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis during growth, while also reducing manufacturing-stage CO₂ emissions by about 90%. Accounting for the full product life cycle, including disposal, total CO₂ emissions are reduced by about 40% compared with conventional synthetic oils, says HIES.

Additionally, Green Screw Oil delivers equivalent performance to conventional synthetic lubricants and can be used in a two-year replacement cycle.

Japanese multinational conglomerate Hitachi Global plans to extend the initiative to industrial compressed air manufacturer Hitachi Global Air Power's oil-flooded screw air compressors, which fall under Hitachi Global’s Sullair brand, as well as to HIES' oil-free air compressor range, which includes screw compressors and scroll air compressors.

Given the significant global market share held by Hitachi Group air compressors, the company estimates that replacing all lubricant across the group's air compressors with plant-based alternatives could reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 2 000 t a year.

Broader Connection
The Green Screw Oil’s development and use connects to Hitachi’s broader digital and sustainability strategy PLEDGES, which was introduced in June 2025 as part of the company's Inspire 2027 management plan, which promotes decarbonisation across Hitachi's operations and products.

By reducing the carbon footprint of a widely used industrial lubricant, Green Screw Oil enhances the environmental value of Hitachi's digitalised asset base and supports the creation of more sustainable industrial sites.