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Our History: Innovating Since 1991
How It All Began
Intertwined with the history of biodegradable lubricants in North America is the story of Renewable Lubricants®. In the late 1980s, founder William ‘Bill’ Garmier began experimenting with renewable oils in the family garage on the farm he purchased in 1971 after returning home after serving in the US Air Force. By 1991, supported by early grants from the Department of Defense and the Department of Agriculture, Renewable Lubricants was officially incorporated.
That same white garage still stands on the property today, serving as both a garage and office space, an enduring reminder of the company’s humble beginnings. Bill’s wife, Jacqueline, managed the books and business while he focused on technical development. Together, they laid the foundation for a company built on innovation, stewardship, and hard work.
Grassroots Growth
From the start, growth was deliberate and steady, built on relentless formulating and testing to prove that renewable lubricants could perform at the highest levels. Early partnerships with Dow and Lubrizol, including nearly a million dollars in matched testing funds, helped validate this vision.
Manufacturing began in a converted combine barn, later expanding to a larger facility on the farm. Offices and a small lab were added in 1990, and operations have remained rooted on the same farm road where the Garmier family has lived and farmed for more than six generations.
In 2022, Renewable Lubricants purchased a large rail site in Kent, Ohio, expanding its operational footprint and supporting long-term growth with greater control over logistics and supply.
Innovation and Lubricant Industry Milestones
1989–1991: First experiments with renewable oils; incorporation supported by Department of Defense and USDA grants.
2000s: Expansion into penetrants, private-label and white-label lubricants
2010s: Surpassed 100+ patents; recognized as a top environmentally friendly lubricant manufacturer in the U.S.
2020s: Introduced VGP-compliant marine lubricants and launched a transformer oil with FM and UL approvals, reinforcing leadership in the next generation of renewable solutions.
2025: Portfolio includes 250+ products and 180+ patents worldwide, making Renewable Lubricants the largest and oldest manufacturer of biodegradable, food-grade and industrial lubricants in North America.
Global Biodegradable Lubricant Brand
Over three decades, Renewable Lubricants has grown from a converted barn to a global brand trusted by organizations that demand the highest performance standards. Our lubricants are relied on by NASA, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Defense, Kellogg’s, Otis Elevator, and countless fleets and OEMs, securing our place in the history of biodegradable lubricants.
Shaping the Future
Even as Renewable Lubricants has achieved milestone after milestone, our roots remain strong: family values, innovation and a relentless drive to create safer, renewable alternatives to petroleum with biodegradable lubricants.
Renewable Lubricants' history is a story of how a global manufacturing company can rise from the humblest beginnings. As we look ahead, our mission remains the same: to protect equipment, people and the planet, today and for generations to come.