The Carbon Footprint Of Plastic: Co2 Per Ton Of Production

Plastic is a valuable yet controversial material. It is durable, cheap to produce, and used in almost every industry. However, plastic production has a significant carbon footprint. In 2015, plastic waste was responsible for emissions equivalent to 189 million metric tons of CO2. The OECD estimates that the life-cycle emissions of plastics – which includes the production of the material and its disposal – was 1.8 billion tonnes. This is measured in carbon dioxide equivalents, which accounts for the different warming impacts of different greenhouse gases.

Plastic waste is responsible for 189 million metric tons of CO2 emissions

Plastic waste is responsible for a significant amount of carbon dioxide emissions. In 2015, plastic waste resulted in emissions equivalent to 189 million metric tons of CO2. This is comparable to the emissions produced by 39 million cars on the road for a year.

The production of plastic is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The manufacturing process is energy-intensive and emissions-intensive, with significant emissions generated through the cracking of alkanes into olefins, the polymerization and plasticization of olefins into plastic resins, and other chemical refining processes. In the United States alone, emissions from fossil fuel extraction and transport attributed to plastic production were estimated to be at least 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 CO2 equivalents per year are attributable to plastic production.

The life-cycle emissions of plastics, which include the production of the material and its disposal, have been estimated by the OECD to be 1.8 billion tonnes. This accounts for the different warming impacts of various greenhouse gases. Most of these emissions come from the production stage and are in the form of carbon dioxide. Plastics were responsible for around 3.3% of global emissions, which equates to more than 500 million tons of CO2 annually.

An online plastic carbon footprint calculator can be used to determine the CO2 emissions per kg of plastic. The carbon emissions from plastic are calculated by combining the estimated amount of plastic used with the amount of carbon required to produce a kilogram of plastic.

The US produced 17.5 million metric tons of CO2e in 2015

In 2015, 24 ethylene facilities in the US produced 17.5 million metric tons of CO2e. This is equivalent to the emissions of 3.8 million passenger vehicles.

The US is not alone in producing large amounts of CO2e through plastic production. 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 production, mainly from extraction and refining. Plastic refining is among the most greenhouse-gas-intensive industries in the manufacturing sector. The manufacture 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 life-cycle emissions of plastics, including the production of the material and its disposal, were estimated by the OECD to be 1.8 billion tonnes. This is measured in carbon dioxide equivalents, which account for the different warming impacts of different greenhouse gases. Most emissions come from the production stage. Since the world emits around 54.6 billion tonnes of CO2eq, plastics were responsible for around 3.3% of global emissions.

In 2015, plastic waste was responsible for emissions equivalent to 189 million metric tons of CO2. This is about as many as 39 million cars on the road for a year. More than 500 million tons of CO2 are produced by plastic annually. This is equivalent to the amount produced worldwide by all passenger cars, motorbikes, planes, and trains combined.

Plastic refining is among the most greenhouse-gas-intensive industries

The life-cycle emissions of plastics, which include the production of the material and its disposal, are estimated at 1.8 billion tonnes. Most of these emissions come from the production stage and are in the form of carbon dioxide. Since the world emits around 54.6 billion tonnes of CO2eq, plastics are responsible for around 3.3% of global emissions.

In 2015, plastic waste was responsible for emissions equivalent to 189 million metric tons of CO2. This is about as many as 39 million cars on the road for a year. More than 500 million tons of CO2 are produced by plastic annually, which is equivalent to the amount produced worldwide by all passenger cars, motorbikes, planes, and trains combined.

The life-cycle emissions of plastics were estimated at 1.8 billion tonnes

In 2015, emissions from fossil fuel extraction and transport attributed to plastic production were at least 9.5-10.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per year in the United States alone. 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 production, mainly from extraction and refining.

Plastic refining is among the most greenhouse-gas-intensive industries in the manufacturing sector and is the fastest-growing. The manufacture of plastic is both energy-intensive and emissions-intensive, producing significant emissions. More than 500 million tons of CO2 are produced by plastic annually, equivalent to the amount produced worldwide by all passenger cars, motorbikes, planes, and trains combined.

Plastic waste is responsible for emissions equivalent to 189 million metric tons of CO2 in 2015, which is about as many as 39 million cars on the road for a year. In the same year, 24 ethylene facilities in the US produced 17.5 million metric tons of CO2e, emitting as much CO2 as 3.8 million passenger vehicles.

Plastic production has a significant carbon footprint

Plastic refining is among the most greenhouse-gas-intensive industries in the manufacturing sector, and it is the fastest-growing. The manufacture 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 life-cycle emissions of plastics, which includes the production of the material and its disposal, were estimated by the OECD to be 1.8 billion tonnes. Most of these emissions come from the production stage and are in the form of carbon dioxide. Since the world emits around 54.6 billion tonnes of CO2eq, plastics were responsible for around 3.3% of global emissions.

In 2015, 24 ethylene facilities in the US produced 17.5 million metric tons of CO2e, emitting as much CO2 as 3.8 million passenger vehicles. Plastic waste is responsible for emissions equivalent to 189 million metric tons of CO2 in 2015, about as many as 39 million cars on the road for a year. More than 500 million tons of CO2 are produced by plastic annually, equivalent to the amount produced worldwide by all passenger cars, motorbikes, planes, and trains combined.

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