Sustainability and lubrication are closely linked, and that relationship has evolved as tribology has advanced in both fundamental understanding and practical application. When the UK’s Jost Report was published in 1966, the economic impact of poor tribology was attributed mainly to wear and its consequences. A similar analysis today would place far greater emphasis on friction-related inefficiencies and energy losses.  Lubricants themselves must also be considered across their full life cycle. They should be manufactured with minimal environmental harm, used for as long as practicable, reused or recycled wherever possible, and ultimately disposed of responsibly. At the same time, highly effective lubricants remain essential to achieving net zero targets. This talk will examine how optimum lubrication must now be delivered amid several major shifts: changing application areas, including reduced emphasis on internal combustion engines;  expanding operating environments, such as the growth of space travel and potential lunar developments; new tribological surfaces created from rapidly developing materials and coatings; the need to replace lubricant components and additives that were historically successful but are now considered unsustainable; and accelerating performance expectations driven by governments around the world.