AbstractA significant amount of lubricating oils and greases can enter the environment, producing contamination of both soil and water. Over the last few years, pressure on lubricant producers and consumers has caused them to seek a solution involving less environmentally harmful lubricants. In Croatia, a significant quantity of lubricants is disposed of without control, polluting soil and water; as a result, lubricant producers have looked seriously at biodegradable lubricating oils and greases.This paper presents information on development of some biodegradable hydraulic oils and lubricating greases based on lithium and calcium soaps, using synthetic esters and rapeseed oil, and presents their physical and chemical properties, and their applications.