Omar Khalid
Plastic is a significant contributor to climate change, adding carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere at every stage of its life cycle, from production to disposal. The manufacture of plastic is energy-intensive and emissions-intensive, producing significant emissions through the refining of fossil fuels and the chemical refining processes involved in creating plastic. The extraction and transport of these fossil fuels also emit large amounts of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, with the clearing of land for oil extraction and pipelines releasing carbon stored in trees and soil. The incineration of plastic further adds to emissions, and even the recycling of plastic, while reducing emissions, still produces greenhouse gases. With the ever-growing production and use of plastic, these emissions are rapidly accumulating in the atmosphere, threatening the ability of the global community to meet carbon emissions targets and limit global temperature rise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production in 2019 | 850 million metric tons |
| Global plastic production in metric tons | 300 million |
| Percentage of plastic that is single-use | 50% |
| Amount of carbon dioxide emitted for each ounce of polyethylene (PET) produced | 1 ounce |
| Range of carbon emissions from plastic production in the US | 100-500 million tons of carbon dioxide |
| Amount of carbon emissions saved by recycling plastic | 30-170 million tons of carbon |
| Amount of carbon emissions saved by recycling plastic according to Italian scientists | 70-80% |
| Amount of carbon emissions produced by refining plastics | 184-213 million metric tons |
| Amount of carbon emissions produced by extracting and transporting natural gas to create feedstocks for plastics in the US | 12.5-13.5 million metric tons |
| Amount of carbon emissions produced by clearing land for oil and gas development in the US | 1.686 billion metric tons |
| Amount of carbon emissions that could be saved annually by recycling plastic | 30-150 million tons of CO2 |
| Amount of carbon emissions that could be produced by a new Shell ethane cracker in Pennsylvania | 2.25 million tons of CO2e |
| Amount of carbon emissions that could be produced by a new ethylene plant at ExxonMobil's Baytown refinery in Texas | 1.4 million tons of CO2e |
| Amount of global greenhouse gas emissions from plastics | 1.8 billion tons |
| Percentage of global emissions that come from plastics | 3.3% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic production and incineration
Plastic is made from fossil fuels, including natural gas and crude oil, and also contains chemicals that are known endocrine disruptors and threaten human health. The production of plastic is both energy-intensive and emissions-intensive, producing significant emissions through the cracking of alkanes into olefins, the polymerization and plasticization of olefins into plastic resins, and other chemical refining processes. The extraction and transport of fossil fuels to create plastic also produce significant greenhouse gas emissions.
The traditional methods of treating plastic waste, such as landfill and incineration, may cause air pollution and valuable land squander. Landfilling emits the least greenhouse gases on an absolute level, although it presents significant other risks, such as the risk of leaching harmful chemicals into the soil and water. Recycling has a moderate emissions profile but is advantageous as it displaces new virgin plastic on the market. However, plastic can only be recycled a certain number of times before it becomes waste.
Incineration, or waste-to-energy, is the primary source of GHG emissions from plastic waste management, even after considering the electricity that can be generated during the process. Burning plastic in incinerators creates the most CO2 emissions among any plastic waste management method. Globally, burning plastic packaging adds 16 million metric tons of GHGs into the air, which is equivalent to more than 2.7 million homes' electricity use for one year. If the petrochemical industry massively expands by 2050, GHG emissions from plastic packaging incineration will increase to 309 million metric tons.
In 2019, the production and incineration of plastic added more than 850 million metric tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, equal to the emissions from 189 five-hundred-megawatt coal power plants. If the production, disposal, and incineration of plastic continue on their present growth trajectory, by 2030, these global emissions could reach 1.34 gigatons per year, and by 2050, plastic production and incineration could emit 2.8 gigatons of CO2 per year.
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Extraction and transport of fossil fuels
The production and incineration of plastic add significant greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, threatening the global community's ability to meet carbon emissions targets. The extraction and transport of fossil fuels, such as natural gas and crude oil, to create plastic are major contributors to these emissions.
The process of extracting and transporting fossil fuels for plastic production emits 1.5 to 12.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. This includes direct emissions, such as methane leakage and flaring, as well as emissions from fuel combustion and energy consumption during drilling operations. Land disturbance, including deforestation and clearing for well pads and pipelines, also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions associated with extraction.
In the United States alone, emissions from fossil fuel extraction and transport attributed to plastic production were estimated at 9.5-10.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year in 2015. Outside the US, where oil is the primary feedstock for plastic production, approximately 108 million metric tons of CO2e per year are attributable to plastic manufacturing.
The refinement of plastics further exacerbates the problem, emitting an additional 184 to 213 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. Plastic refining is among the most greenhouse-gas-intensive industries, producing significant emissions through the cracking of alkanes into olefins and the polymerization of olefins into plastic resins.
To reduce the impact of plastic on climate change, it is essential to address the extraction and transport of fossil fuels used in its production. This includes transitioning to alternative feedstocks, improving energy efficiency, and reducing emissions associated with land disturbance. Additionally, reducing the use of single-use plastics and promoting recycling can help mitigate the environmental impact of plastic production and disposal.
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Land disturbance
One of the most impactful ways that land disturbance contributes to greenhouse gas emissions is through the clearing of land for well pads and pipelines. In the United States, about 19.2 million acres of land have been cleared for oil and gas development, resulting in the release of an estimated 1.686 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This number is based on the assumption that a third of the impacted land is forested, which would contribute significantly to carbon emissions as trees store large amounts of carbon.
Additionally, the construction of pipelines requires a "right-of-way" zone of cleared land surrounding each mile of the pipeline. This results in the removal of carbon-rich trees and soils, introducing additional carbon into the atmosphere. The expansion of plastic production facilities and petrochemical projects, primarily for plastic production, further exacerbates land disturbance and associated emissions.
The Northern Great Plains (NGP), a biologically significant region and conservation priority area, is also facing threats due to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations and climate change. Conservation organizations are working to protect the native prairie habitat that supports declining grassland species. By simulating various future climates and management scenarios, they aim to understand the potential encroachment of woody species into grassland areas and develop effective management practices to preserve the NGP's vegetation.
In the Florida Everglades, studies have examined the impact of tropical storm disturbance, specifically Hurricane Wilma, on the energy balance and carbon cycles of a mangrove forest. The hurricane caused widespread defoliation and tree mortality, leading to changes in soil temperatures and air temperature lapse rates within the forest canopy. These disturbances can provide insights into the functional responses of ecosystems to extreme weather events and help inform management and conservation efforts.
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Recycling
Plastic is a significant contributor to climate change, generating heat-trapping gases at every stage of its life cycle. The production and incineration of plastic add substantial amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, with the extraction and transport of fossil fuels for plastic creation being a major source of emissions. The refining process for plastic is also highly greenhouse-gas-intensive, and landfills, where single-use plastics often end up, contribute to methane emissions.
The impact of plastic on the environment and human health is profound, with plastic pollution reaching every part of the planet, from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench. If current trends continue, by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight. The health implications are also dire, with a 2019 study estimating that the average person ingests about 5 grams of plastic every week.
The benefits of recycling plastic are significant. A 2018 study found that increasing the global recycling rate for plastic packaging from 14% to 70% would reduce CO2 emissions by 3.5 million tons per year. Recycling one ton of plastic can save up to 80% of carbon emissions compared to using virgin plastic, equivalent to removing millions of vehicles from the road. The economic impact of recycling is also notable, with the US recycling industry generating over $200 billion in economic activity annually and employing over 1.25 million people.
To reduce the impact of plastic on climate change, a systemic shift is needed to slow the growth of plastic production. Individuals can play a role by reducing their consumption of single-use plastics, reusing and repurposing plastic items, and supporting companies committed to reducing plastic use. Increasing recycling rates is a critical step towards mitigating the environmental and health consequences of plastic pollution.
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Microplastics
While the impact of plastics on the environment is a well-known topic, the specific impact of microplastics in the atmosphere is only now being studied in detail. Atmospheric transport is a major pathway for microplastics to reach remote regions, and road traffic is a major source of these particles. These microplastics can remain airborne for long periods of time and can be transported to sensitive regions such as the Arctic, where they may contribute to accelerated warming and melting.
The presence of microplastics in the atmosphere has been shown to have a direct impact on the Earth's radiation balance. Depending on their altitude, microplastics can either warm or cool the planet by absorbing or reflecting the sun's radiation. If microplastics remain below the boundary layer, they can have a cooling effect. However, if they rise above this layer, they can contribute to the greenhouse effect and warming the planet.
In addition to their atmospheric effects, microplastics have been found to have significant impacts on soil ecosystems. They can alter soil structure and water dynamics, leading to increased soil aggregate water stability and pneumatic conductivity. These changes affect the dynamics and overall level of greenhouse gas emissions, with increased CO2 emissions and decreased N2O emissions. The effects of microplastics on soil properties suggest that they could have important implications for global carbon and nitrogen cycles and should be considered in future impact assessments.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastics add CO2 to the atmosphere at every stage of their life cycle, from production to disposal.
The amount of CO2 added to the atmosphere by plastics varies depending on the type of plastic and the method of disposal. In 2019, the production and incineration of plastics added more than 850 million metric tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. The production of plastics alone emits 1.5 to 12.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases.
The primary sources of CO2 emissions from plastics are the extraction and transport of fossil fuels, the refinement of plastics, and the disposal of plastics through landfill, incineration, or recycling.
The best way to reduce CO2 emissions from plastics is to minimize the use of single-use plastics and to recycle and remanufacture plastic products.
