Tata Motors and Castrol India Ltd have joined hands to launch a pilot programme aimed at creating a traceable circular ecosystem for used engine oil, marking a significant step towards responsible hazardous waste management and sustainable mobility.
The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a structured system for collecting, storing and channelising used engine oil from Tata Motors’ authorised commercial vehicle service network in Karnataka. The initiative seeks to address the long-standing challenge of responsibly managing used oil, which is classified as hazardous waste.
Pilot to establish traceable used oil ecosystem
Under the pilot, Tata Motors’ authorised sales and service touchpoints across Karnataka will serve as collection centres for used engine oil. Castrol India will oversee the channelisation of the collected oil to registered recyclers, leveraging its lubricant technology expertise and experience from earlier used-oil collection pilots to ensure quality, traceability and responsible recycling.
The initiative is designed to create a scalable model for used-oil collection and re-refining while supporting India’s broader circular economy ambitions.
Supporting a circular automotive ecosystem
Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles Head–Spares and Non-Vehicle Business, Vikram Agrawal said responsible used-oil management is essential to building a truly circular automotive ecosystem in India.
“The volume of used engine oil generated across India’s roads each year makes responsible collection and recycling a matter of significant environmental consequence. By partnering with Castrol India, we are creating a credible, scalable model that links responsible collection at our service touchpoints to high-quality re-refined output. This is a meaningful step in Tata Motors’ broader sustainability journey,” he said.
First OEM collaboration for Castrol India
Castrol India Ltd Vice President–B2B (OEM) Sales Anoop Jindal said creating a circular economy for lubricants requires collaboration across the value chain.
“This association with Tata Motors marks our first OEM collaboration focused on building a structured ecosystem for responsible used-oil management in India. We are working to strengthen every link in the circularity chain, from collection and channelisation to recycling and reuse,” he said.
Jindal added that insights from Castrol India’s used-oil collection pilots in southern India have provided valuable learnings on scaling circularity. Combined with Tata Motors’ extensive service network, the initiative has the potential to establish a more organised, traceable and scalable model for used-oil circularity in the country.
Strengthening sustainability goals
The MoU builds on the long-standing partnership between Tata Motors and Castrol India while reinforcing their shared commitment to sustainability through innovation and collaboration.
The initiative complements Tata Motors’ broader sustainability strategy spanning electric vehicles, CNG-powered commercial vehicles and energy-efficient mobility solutions. It also aligns with Castrol India’s focus on incorporating recycled materials into high-performance lubricant products, supporting the transition towards a more circular automotive industry.