Dynamic Green Products, Inc., led by CEO Scott Porter, is transforming the lubricants industry by developing soy-based alternatives to traditional petroleum products. The company’s mission was to create bio-based lubricants that not only match but outperform conventional oils while remaining fully compatible with existing machinery and tools.
Porter and his team discovered soy as a superior base while collaborating with the Airable Research Lab, which receives support from the Soy Checkoff program. Soybean oil offered several advantages: it is renewable, abundantly produced by U.S. farmers, and has a proven lower environmental impact. Additionally, soy’s higher thermal range compared to petroleum allows for greater flexibility in product development. Porter explains, “For all these reasons, we shifted our platform to build soy-based lubricants.”
The company now produces a variety of soy-based formulations. Hydrogenated soybean oil serves as a base for greases, while high oleic soybean oil provides stability for high-temperature, high-load applications. The soy content in products ranges from less than 15% to nearly 99%, with each formulation designed to meet specific technical requirements. All products are biodegradable, low in toxicity, and have a reduced carbon footprint.
Support from the Soy Checkoff program has been critical, allowing the company to purchase soy and expand commercialization efforts. Porter notes that Dynamic Green Products has grown two- to threefold over the past three years thanks to this backing. The company’s bar and chain oil for chainsaws, where all oil ends up in the environment, has become the top-selling product on Amazon in its category.
Dynamic Green Products has also partnered with Stanley Black & Decker to align bio-based lubricants with the company’s sustainability goals and enhance brand recognition in retail. Porter emphasizes, “Customers are nine times more likely to buy lubricants that are the same brand as their tools,” highlighting the importance of strategic partnerships. The products are now available at major retailers, including Home Depot and Farm & Fleet, as well as online.
Beyond retail success, soy-based lubricants provide operational and health benefits. Unlike petroleum oils, they contain no VOCs or chemicals listed under California’s Proposition 65, resulting in less skin irritation and fewer headaches for users. Porter adds, “Soy-based lubricants don’t rely on imported crude oil, they support American farmers, have lower toxicity and can out-perform petroleum without implementing any operating changes. That’s a win for any company that knows how to track the total use-cost of a product.”
Industry analysts suggest that if other sectors adopt soy-based lubricants at the scale seen in chainsaw oil, millions of gallons of petroleum could be replaced annually. Dynamic Green Products’ approach demonstrates that sustainable, high-performance products are commercially viable, creating new markets for U.S. soy and paving the way for broader adoption across the lubricants industry.
