Change and challenge characterize the pace of life today. The world population is growing and the implications of the planet’s limited resources are hitting home at every level from the political and economic to the personal.

This is putting pressure on the industry from various directions. The cost of raw materials has long been on the rise and continuous efforts are being made to use fewer raw materials as well as less energy. Improvements in performance efficiency offer companies an opportunity to redress the balance while keeping costs down.

At the same time, the focus on health and wellness has put the spotlight on natural products. Consumers today are increasingly demanding responsibly produced products using natural ingredients and that also means tougher legal and regulatory requirements. Using sustainably manufactured products represents a longer-term investment, but one that can help companies gain a competitive edge.

Clariant, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, recently unveiled its portfolio of EcoTain® products, including Emulsifiers, Corrosion Inhibitors and EP/AW additives for Metalworking Fluids. The EcoTain lifecycle and labeling system clearly identifies Clariant products that offer “sustainable excellence at every step.”  Clariant components for industrial lubricants that carry the EcoTain label fulfill a broad range of requirements that safeguard the health of the people who produce them as well as those that use them.