Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews

Enhancing Sustainable Tribology – A Cornerstone of a Green Industrial Transformation

Sustainable tribology is an evolving discipline that addresses one of the greatest challenges of our time – the global climate crisis – by rethinking how friction, wear, and lubrication are managed. It aims to minimize energy consumption, reduce emissions, and extend the lifespan of technical systems through environmentally responsible engineering. This includes developing lubricants from renewable and biodegradable sources (defossilization), exploring alternative
fuels with lower overall carbon footprints (decarbonization), and designing tribological systems that require fewer critical raw materials over their lifetime. Equally important is the integration of digital tools such as Safe and Sustainable by Design frameworks and advanced data-driven development methods that accelerate innovation while lowering costs and environmental impact. By combining scientific research with sustainable design principles, sustainable tribology not only improves technical performance but also actively contributes to resource conservation and climate protection—making it a cornerstone of a greener industrial future.

Traditional tribological solutions often rely on petroleum-based lubricants and resource-intensive manufacturing. This article collection aims to present pathways for sustainable approaches to the R&D community, supporting and advancing research in this field. It will cover the major pillars of sustainable tribology research and development. The latest findings on sustainable lubricants from renewable, biodegradable, or high-performance synthetic sources; alternative fuels; resource-efficient tribosystems; and circular economy principles for durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable systems may lead to further research requests and enhance the importance of sustainability in tribology. Together, these challenges illustrate how sustainable tribology merges engineering excellence with environmental responsibility to meet the demands of a changing world.

Priorities include sustainable lubricants from renewable, biodegradable, and high-performance synthetic sources; alternative fuels and their role in decarbonizing transport and industry; and resource-efficient tribosystems using wear-resistant materials, optimized surfaces, and smart maintenance. We also address digital transformation in tribology through Safe and Sustainable by Design principles, simulation, and data-driven innovation, alongside circular economy requirements for durable, repairable, and recyclable systems. Possible contributions may include, among others:
• Eco-friendly lubricants based on renewable components
• Alternative fuels and their impact on tribosystems
• Extending the operational life of components to reduce resource consumption
• Circular economy integration
• Digital tools enabling predictive maintenance and efficient material design

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 15 May 2026.

Please contact Agnes Zhou at Agnes.Zhou@taylorandfrancis.com with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.