Biodegradable grease composition

A grease composition comprising from 10 to 95 weight percent water, from 0.2 to 10 weight percent of a water-soluble, vegetable-derived thickening agent selected from the group consisting of ammonium and alkali metal salts of alginic acid and the methyl-, ehtyl- and carboxymethyl derivatives of cellulose, from about 1 to 50 weight percent of an animal or vegetable fat, oil or corresponding glyceride and from about 0.05 to 5 weight percent of an emulsifying agent selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium oleate and stearate, sorbitol monooleate, glycerol monostearate and polyioxyethylene sorbitol monooleate.