Gulf and the Environment

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Today Gulf's distinctive corporate orange and blue logo, recognized throughout the world remains a mark of quality, a symbol of excellence and a guarantee of professional service - a sign of all that is best.

Gulf's staff members are all are cognizant of the need to ensure that our practices and products do not endanger our customers or have a bad impact on the environment.

Renewable Energy

Although Gulf International is no longer active in the extraction and refining of crude oil, there is a strong interest in the development of alternative energy sources. Gulf is a keen supporter of the introduction of bio-fuels, providing they are made to the exacting quality required for modern engines. Already some Gulf fuel retail sites offer bio-fuels to motorists; both bio-dieseland gasolines containing bio-ethanol. There are also projects currently being developed to build new processing plants for the production of bio-fuels. The possibility of investing in wind turbine energy 'farms' is under evaluation. Gulf Oil International has a keen interest in these alternative fuels for the future.

Bio-Diesel Plant under construction in Turkey

Biodegradable Products

Furthermore, considerable energy has been focused on the introduction of biodegradable products, especially those used in applications where release into the environment is inevitable, or where the possibility of an accidental release are finite. In the product development programme care has been taken to select formulations and components to minimise the number of instances where a hazardous label must be carried on our oils. Following up on the historic original introduction of the poly-alpha-olefin molecule as a synthetic lubricant fluid, Gulf has developed several new synthetic low-volatility engine lubricants for long-life use, thus reducing further the volume of lubricant oil used per kilometre.

Gulf Green 3000, a biodegradable 2-stroke engine oil for outboard motors

Fuel Efficiency

There are also fuel-efficient lubricants in the Gulf portfolio. These can save a few percent of fuel per kilometre travelled, and less fuel means lower emissions, as well as a saving in fuel costs. Some of the latest passenger car and diesel engine oils have been formulated for use in vehicles fitted with the latest engine exhaust after-treatment devices, thus Gulf customers can, partly through the use of a modern Gulf product, make a contribution towards a cleaner environment.

Waste Oil

Once the oil has reached the end of its useful life, Gulf strongly recommends that it is disposed of in a safe manner, such as taking it to a used oil recycling collection point. The Gulf lubricant supplier can often assist Gulf customers to determine the time to drain and change oil and how to dispose of it safely.

Crop Protection

Another development lies in the field of crop protection. Traditionally insecticides are used to control certain pests in commercial crop growing. However, Gulf has developed a non-toxic product that can be dispersed in a fine water-based spray and hence cover plant leaf surfaces with a micron-thick film. When applied at the critical moment in the insect pests' life cycle, they are effectively eliminated without being ‘poisoned'. The Gulf product slowly evaporates from the leaf surface, thus leaving the plant itself free of any residual contamination.

Gulf Oil International no longer operates any oil fields, pipelines or refineries, which are so often a major cause for environmental concern. The fuel and oil distribution systems are all designed to avoid product release and, in the case of an unforeseen accident, to contain any spillage so that the accident site can be correctly remediated.