Scott Lee found his mission while still in college. At the time he worked for the Connecticut Department of Health inspecting public water supplies and tracing the source of pollutants. Through his studies and work he realized the extent to which petroleum-based lubricants from industrial uses seep into the natural environment. He also worried about potential health risks for people exposed to traditional lubricants while going about their lives. These concerns stayed with him after he and his wife, Kathie, later joined the family manufacturing business in Maine and Scott pursued a marketing career in the ski industry. In 2006 they formed their own company, S&K Unlimited LLC.

After years with the family business and a continued focus on creating safe, high-performing products, the Lees wanted to create a specialized nontoxic lubricant. They developed a biobased formula to be used in and around water sources and in situations catering to families, children, and animals. They also wanted the new product to work even better than petroleum-based products. Having pursued a marketing career that included many years in the ski industry, Scott Lee knew that resorts, amusement parks, zoos, and similar sites are regularly exposed to harsh weather and hard use that can increase pollution risks. Therefore, they tailored the new product to meet the needs of this sector and Gorilla Lube™ was born.

The Lees launched the Gorilla Lube brand in 2011 with a commitment to manufacturing non-toxic industrial lubricants using all-natural, USA-sourced, biobased, biodegradable, and sustainable raw ingredients. They hoped that amusement parks, zoos, and other outdoor recreation sites would embrace their vision of creating safer, less polluting entertainment for people to enjoy. It took a while to build a following in the sector, but today heavy-hitting customers rely on the unique, nontoxic product. Gorilla Lube now is used at nationally recognized sites such as Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Six Flaggs, Silver Dollar City, Snowbasin Resort, the Space Needle, and Maine’s own Sunday River Resort.

An important part of gaining national recognition for Gorilla Lube was the founders’ decision to seek the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) “BioPreferred” certification for their new product. Biobased certification was a natural fit for Gorilla Lube from the start since it aligned with the company’s mission and helped market the product. The program certifies products as biobased through an application process and lab testing. It is one way that customers, whether homeowners, amusement park operators, or federal agency procurement offices, can determine whether a product is truly made from plants and other renewable materials exclusively. “We do believe that the certification has helped customers find us, especially in the past couple of years as more companies are trying to become more ‘green’ and sustainable,” says Scott Lee.

Each year, Americans become more aware of the importance of using renewable agricultural resources rather than petroleum-based products. However, it can be hard to evaluate whether products are made from renewable, sustainable materials. USDA created the BioPreferred Program in 2002 to address this problem. Through the voluntary program, companies submit their products to a testing laboratory for evaluation. When consumers see the USDA Certified Biobased Product label on a product, they know that it has been independently tested and proven to be biobased. Federal agencies and contractors also rely on the BioPreferred program to help them select products that meet federal purchasing standards.

The Lees first sought BioPreferred classification for Gorilla Lube in 2010 while developing the product and have maintained the certification ever since. At the time they believed it would help them market the product, which proved true - their product is now utilized widely at high-profile locations. Perhaps more importantly, creating a certified, biobased product that is not harmful to the environment is at the heart of the Gorilla Lube business ethos. “As a USDA program, BioPreferred is a relevant and meaningful certification that made sense for our company,” says Scott Lee. “Our products speak for themselves in terms of efficacy. But it is just as important to our company that we do our best for the planet and the people on it.”