Sofia Martinez
Plastic is a byproduct of the refining process for fuels. While it is possible to use a whole barrel of oil to make plastic, it would not be efficient as the process of refining to make only plastics would leave most of the barrel unused or stored, which would be an environmental disaster. The amount of oil used to make plastic varies depending on the type of plastic and the feedstock used. The feedstock for plastic can come from crude oil, natural gas, or biomass such as corn or beets. The United States Energy Information Administration does not track total oil-to-plastic usage domestically, but according to a 2007 estimate, the US uses about 17 million barrels of oil annually to produce plastic water bottles. In 2019, it was estimated that 9 million barrels of oil were used to make plastics every day worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of the world's annual oil production used for plastic feedstock | 4% |
| Additional percentage of oil production used to transform the feedstock into plastic | 4% |
| Total barrels of oil used for plastic feedstock and transformation | 84.5 million barrels per day |
| Percentage of oil-derived feedstocks used for plastic production in the US | 2.7% |
| Number of barrels of oil used for plastic production in the US in 2010 | 191 million |
| Number of barrels of oil used to produce plastic water bottles in the US | 17 million |
| Number of barrels of oil used to produce plastic bags in the US | 12 million |
| Percentage of oil used for plastic production in Europe | 4-6% |
| Percentage of oil used for plastic production worldwide | 6% |
| Number of barrels of oil used for plastic production worldwide in 2019 | 9 million per day |
| Percentage of oil demand predicted to be for plastics by the 2050s | 50% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic production: 9 million barrels of oil daily
Plastic is a byproduct of the refining process for fuels. Crude oil is heated to more than 750 degrees Fahrenheit, separating its components into chains of molecules called polymers. These polymers are then moulded into the plastic products we use every day.
As of 2019, 9 million barrels of oil are used to make plastic every day worldwide. This is around 4% of the world's annual oil production, according to a 2021 estimate. Another 4% is used as energy to transform the feedstock into plastic. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that this demand will increase, with plastics making up nearly 50% of oil demand by the 2050s.
The United States' Energy Information Administration does not track oil-to-plastic usage domestically. However, the Pacific Institute estimated in 2007 that the US uses about 17 million barrels of oil annually to produce plastic water bottles. In 2019, then-governor Andrew Cuomo stated that the US uses about 12 million barrels of oil every year to produce plastic bags.
The majority of plastic is produced from natural gas and feedstocks derived from natural gas processing. However, with the world consuming 359 million tons of plastic annually, of which 35-45% is used for packaging, the demand for plastic is driving the continued consumption of oil.
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Plastic water bottles: 17 million barrels of oil yearly
Plastic is a byproduct of the refining process for fuels. Crude oil is heated to more than 750 degrees Fahrenheit, then its components are separated into groups of hydrocarbons of similar length and weight. The smaller hydrocarbons are the easiest to turn into plastic.
The US alone uses about 17 million barrels of oil each year to produce plastic water bottles, according to a 2007 estimate by the Pacific Institute. This is despite plastic water bottles being made from some of the most readily recyclable types of plastic. However, the EPA estimates that less than 30% of these are recycled.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that plastics will make up nearly 50% of oil demand by the 2050s. This is much higher than the current demand, which is estimated to be around 4% of global oil production, or 84.5 million barrels per day.
There are almost infinite uses for plastic bags, making it difficult to track exactly how much oil goes into these products. However, then-governor Andrew Cuomo stated in 2019 that the US uses about 12 million barrels of oil each year to produce plastic bags.
The portion of oil that goes towards plastic production averages between 4% and 6% across Europe, and the best estimate for the worldwide average is around 6%.
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Plastic bags: 12 million barrels of oil yearly
Plastic is a byproduct of the refining process for fuels. While it is possible to use a whole barrel of oil to make plastic, it wouldn't be very efficient. The first step in making plastics is to break hydrocarbons down into monomers, which is easiest to do with smaller hydrocarbons. Crude oil must be separated into groups of hydrocarbons of similar length and weight. This process would leave most of the barrel unused or stored, which would be an environmental disaster.
Crude oil is a source of raw material, or feedstock, for making plastics, but it is not the major source of feedstock for plastics production in the United States. Plastics are produced from natural gas, feedstocks derived from natural gas processing, and feedstocks derived from crude oil refining. The portion of oil that goes towards plastic production averages between 4% and 6% worldwide, and specific data for the United States is unavailable. However, in 2019, the United States used about 12 million barrels of oil to produce plastic bags.
The demand for plastic is driven by its advantages over alternatives, such as cost and durability. Plastic products are used every day, from plastic bags to water bottles, and they are also used in packaging for consumer products such as electronics, food, and drinks. Plastic pipes help save water, and plastic food packaging helps reduce food waste. Additionally, plastic is used in the medical field and for various other items.
While plastic has its benefits, there are concerns about plastic pollution and the environmental impact of crude oil. Only a small amount of plastic is recycled globally, and plastic takes a long time to decompose naturally. As a result, governments around the world are clamping down on single-use plastics. However, until reliable and cost-competitive alternatives are found, the demand for plastic will continue.
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Feedstock for plastic: 4% of world's oil production
Plastic is a byproduct of the refining process for fuels. While it is possible to use an entire barrel of oil for plastic, it would be inefficient and uneconomical. The first step in making plastic is breaking down hydrocarbons into monomers, which is easiest to do with smaller hydrocarbons. Using longer-chain hydrocarbons would require much more energy than would be worthwhile.
Crude oil is a source of raw material (feedstock) for making plastics, but it is not the major source of feedstock for plastics production in the United States. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is unable to determine the specific amounts or origins of the feedstocks used to manufacture plastics in the United States. However, the EIA does collect data on oil-derived feedstocks specifically designated as petrochemical feedstock by petroleum refineries.
According to the International Energy Agency, in 2010, about 191 million barrels of LPG and NGL were used for plastic production, along with 412 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The liquids constituted about 2.7 percent of the country's total petroleum consumption. Most of the natural gas used in plastics production was used as fuel rather than feedstock.
As of 2019, 9 million barrels of oil are used to make plastics every day worldwide. The portion of oil that goes towards plastic production averages between 4% and 6% in Europe and about 6% worldwide. This amounts to about 84.5 million barrels per day of the world's annual oil production used as feedstock for plastic, with another 4% providing the energy to transform the feedstock into plastic. This means that plastic production accounts for about 4% of global oil production, a figure that may have risen to 5%-6% in 2019.
The demand for plastic is driven by its advantages over alternatives, such as cost and durability, and its use in various industries, including packaging, medical consumables, electronics, and food packaging. However, the slow natural decomposition of plastics and low recycling rates have led to concerns about plastic pollution.
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Plastic from crude oil: heating, then separating components
Crude oil is a source of raw material (feedstock) for making plastics, but it is not the major source of feedstock for plastics production in the United States. The US produces plastics from natural gas, feedstocks derived from natural gas processing, and feedstocks derived from crude oil refining.
Petrochemical feedstock naphtha and other oils refined from crude oil are used as feedstocks for petrochemical crackers that produce the basic building blocks for making plastics. The process of refining crude oil to make plastics involves heating and separating components.
The thick, black oil is extracted from underground reserves across the world using drills and pumps. The oil flows to refineries through pipelines. At the refinery, the oil is heated to 600-750 degrees Fahrenheit and distilled. The first step in making plastics is to break hydrocarbons down into monomers, which is easiest to do with smaller hydrocarbons. When you refine crude oil, you separate it into groups of hydrocarbons of similar length and weight.
Natural gas, for instance, undergoes a process called steam cracking on its route to becoming plastic polymers. Crude oil is heated and distilled to create petroleum, which is then used to make plastic. Petroleum, or crude oil, is made from animal and plant matter that undergoes heat and pressure underground for millions of years.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that worldwide, 6% of oil is used to make plastic. In Europe, the portion of oil that goes towards plastic production averages between 4% and 6%. In 2019, 9 million barrels of oil were used to make plastics every day worldwide. The IEA predicts that by the 2050s, plastics will make up nearly 50% of oil demand.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2019, 9 million barrels of oil are used to make plastic every day worldwide.
Plastic production accounts for about 4% of global oil production. This figure may have risen to 5%-6% in 2019.
According to a 2007 estimate, the US uses about 17 million barrels of oil to produce plastic water bottles every year.
Yes, plastic is a byproduct of the refining process for fuels. It is estimated that about 75% of crude oil is used for fuel production.
Plastic can be made without fossil fuels. About 1% of plastic is considered "biobased", made from resources like sugars in plants such as corn, beets, or potatoes.
