At a time when industrial sectors account for roughly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, SKF’s presence at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, underscores a pivotal shift toward embedding circularity into the fabric of heavy industry.
The Swedish engineering group, best known for its bearings and rotating equipment solutions, plans to spotlight a portfolio of technologies aimed at accelerating industrial decarbonization and strengthening supply chain resilience.
SKF’s showcase centers on the premise that emissions reductions in industry must come not only from renewable energy adoption but also from resource efficiency and product lifecycle extension. The company’s approach combines clean technology with operational circularity, an increasingly important axis in the global net-zero transition.
Among the initiatives featured are remanufacturing programs and RecondOil, two technologies that exemplify closed-loop principles in industrial operations. Remanufacturing allows bearings to be restored to their original performance standards with a fraction of the carbon footprint required to produce new ones. According to SKF, the process maintains identical quality and lifespan while delivering lower costs and shorter lead times—a critical factor as industries face mounting pressure to reduce both emissions and operational risk.
Meanwhile, the RecondOil double separation technology (DST) aims to decouple industrial lubrication from linear consumption. By continuously regenerating oil to a reusable state, DST prevents oxidation and degradation, effectively transforming lubricants into a circular asset. This not only minimizes waste and emissions but also improves equipment efficiency, reducing downtime and maintenance frequency—key cost drivers in manufacturing environments.
SKF’s industrial decarbonization strategy extends beyond its customer offerings. The company has committed to science-based net-zero targets, integrating carbon reduction across its own operations through renewable energy sourcing, materials innovation, and transparent supply chain governance.
The company’s efforts have earned it recognition at COP30, where SKF’s Remanufacturing Solutions will be honored among Sustainable Business COP (SBCOP) Best Cases, an initiative spotlighting verifiable progress in sustainability implementation. The acknowledgment comes as manufacturers face increasing scrutiny over claims of circularity and carbon neutrality, with industry watchdogs calling for measurable outcomes rather than broad commitments.
Beyond the award, SKF’s COP30 presence serves a broader strategic purpose: to align industrial decarbonization with scalability and profitability. Solutions such as energy-efficient HVAC systems powered by magnetic bearings, industrial heat pumps utilizing ceramic and magnetic technologies, and tidal power drivetrains form part of a broader framework designed to electrify and optimize industrial systems while reducing lifecycle emissions.
The company’s message at COP30 reflects a pragmatic stance: decarbonization must be technologically grounded, economically viable, and systemically integrated.
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