Ever since inventing the first tools, humankind has been challenged by friction and wear. Over the centuries, engineers strove to understand and conquer these challenges, generating a host of solutions while evolving parallel specialist fields. Then, just over fifty years ago, the term Tribology was coined to define a new, unified field of endeavour. The resulting leap forward has enriched our profession and improved our quality of life. Today, as the world faces ever-greater challenges, what opportunities can Tribology provide to help engineers deliver a sustainable future?