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- If Green Oil is biodegradable, will it break down quickly on my bike?.
- What is the shelf life of Green Oil's lubricant and other fluids? Does it biodegrade on the shop shelf?
- Is the Green Oil range suitable for vegetarians?
- Is the Green Oil range suitable for vegans?
- Are any Green Oil products tested on animals?
- Other brands say their products are recyclable, yours say RECYCLED, what's the difference?
- What's wrong with PTFE?
- I found another lube claiming to be biodegradable. Is it really biodegradable?
- Why does your bottle cap look similar to that of Weldtite and Juice Lubes?
- Is the 'Pure' range made by Green Oil?
- What is in the Green Oil range?
- Is the Drive Chain Brush made of badger hair?
If Green Oil is biodegradable, will it break down quickly on my bike?.
No. Warmth, moisture and bacteria are required for our products to biodegrade. Our lubricants last in excess of a month on the bike chain. Some oxidation (reaction with oxygen in the air) with occur, but this occurs with petrochemical products too. A plant based anti-oxidant N-toc reduces oxidation which occurred on in our first Green Oil chain lube formula. Green Oil fluids break down once they in the environment, not on your bike.
What is the shelf life of Green Oil's lubricant and other fluids? Does it biodegrade on the shop shelf?
More than 3 years. With the cap on, oxygen to feed any bacteria in the bottle is kept out. The products are stable for more than 3 years on a shelf, even in day light. This is based on an actual 3 year test, we've not tested beyond this. It's assumed the products will last beyond 3 years easily.
Is the Green Oil range suitable for vegetarians?
Yes. We don't use any animal by-products.
Is the Green Oil range suitable for vegans?
Possibly. We use bees wax. When bees are bred, the they are given more food than they need, to make extra wax and honey. So it's not cruel. Some vegans don't like bees wax, some do. Only our Dry Chain Wax and Ecogrease contain bees wax. And a tiny amount is used as a polish on the Ergonomic Drive Chain and Bicycle Brush. Other than, the products are all animal and animal by-product free. (We use oat milk in the office fridge you might like to know!)
Are any Green Oil products tested on animals?
None of the Green Oil range has been animal tested. The only animals we test on are you the rider. In the spirit of Anita Roddick, we are against animal testing.
Other brands say their products are recyclable, yours say RECYCLED, what's the difference?
'Recyclable' means a product can be recycled. This phrase is often misleading. For example, a polystyrene food packet covered in ketchup might say 'recyclable' on it. In reality, most recycling bins don't accept polystyrene, especially when dirty. Recycling it would contaminate a batch of plastic, meaning a load of plastic going to landfill or being incinerated - instead of being recycled. The word 'recyclable' is usually meaningless greenwash without recycling codes or proper recycling information. However, lots of plastics are recyclable - it's pretty standard. 'Recycled' means the plastic contains recycled content. This helps close the loop. We use 100% recycled plastic bottles. 80% from bins like yours at home, and 20% bottle factory off-cuts.
What's wrong with PTFE?
Firstly, PTFE makes a carcinogen in its production called PFOA. Secondly, PTFE is not biodegradable. It accumulates in the environment and body tissue. See the BBC's coverage of this issue. Thirdly, PTFE is a polyfluorinated chemical. Watch Greenpeace's video on the harm caused by polyfluorinated chemicals
I found another lube claiming to be biodegradable. Is it really biodegradable?
Under outdated but still in force rules based on OECD guidance, a lubricant only has to be 60% biodegradable within 28 days to be called 'biodegradable'. So the other 40% doesn't have to be biodegradable. One company even puts PTFE in their lube, and still claims that it's biodegradable. Green Oil Wet Chain Lube is 100% biodegradable. Learn more on the difference in this video. We use denatonium benzoate in our Dry Chain Wax and Agent Apple degreaser, an environmentally friendly molecule which tastes bitter - to stop people drinking the alcohol content in the product. This is not biodegradable, and is used at less than 10 parts per million. Our products are 100% biodegradable. With the exception of Agent Apple and Dry Chain Wax which are are over 99.99999% biodegradable. With the remainder being environmentally inert. We also use graphite which is biodegradable - it can be absorbed by plants as a nutrient and re-enters the carbon cycle. Graphite is a great ethical alternative to PTFE.
Why does your bottle cap look similar to that of Weldtite and Juice Lubes?
Because they copied our packaging. We're proud to be leading the way, but they didn't give us any money for the inspiration.
Is the 'Pure' range made by Green Oil?
No. Pure is made by Weldtite, a brand still producing PTFE petrochemical products which end up in our environment. They just created a 'green range' to steal our market share. They still actively market their non-green products.
What is in the Green Oil range?
Sustainably sourced plants. Over 27 different natural ingredients. Graphite is used instead of PTFE which is biodegradable. We use a small quantity of benatonium benzoate which is environmentally inert in Agent Apple and Dry Chain Wax to stop people drinking it. It's food safe and inert. Wet Chain Lube's formula for example is over 60% UK sourced by volume and Green Clean Bike Cleaner uses a sustainably sourced coconut oil based detergent, and an orange peel extract, a bi-product of the orange juice industry.
Is the Drive Chain Brush made of badger hair?
Happily, No. The Drive Chain Brush uses a plant based fibre bristle.