The Dark Side Of Petroleum-Based Plastics

Plastic is everywhere and most people have come to rely on it in all aspects of their lives. However, 72% of Americans don't know that conventional plastic is made from petroleum products, primarily oil. In Europe, only 4-6% of oil and gas reserves go towards the production of plastics, with the rest used for transport, electricity, heating and other applications. A crude oil component called 'naphtha' is at the core of plastic production and generally constitutes between 15% and 30% of the crude oil by weight.

The cost of producing petroleum-based plastics

A crude oil component called 'naphtha' is at the core of plastic production. The proportion of naphtha in crude oil can vary based on the specific type of oil, but it generally constitutes between 15% and 30% of the crude oil by weight. Consequently, even if there is a decline in the demand for oil for heating and powering internal combustion engine vehicles, our existing or increasing need for petroleum-based plastics necessitates continued oil extraction at current levels.

In Europe, only a small proportion (about 4-6%) of oil and gas reserves go towards the production of plastics, with the rest used for transport, electricity, heating and other applications. Most of the plastic in use today is derived from the extraction of raw materials (largely crude oil and natural gas, but also coal) – these are a complex mixture of thousands of compounds that then need to be processed.

Despite the fact that petroleum-based plastic will never biodegrade, 40% of respondents in a survey believe that it will biodegrade underground, in home compost, in landfills, or in the ocean. The only way to rid the planet of existing plastic is by incineration in those cases where it can be recovered.

The proportion of naphtha in crude oil

Crude oil is a key component in the production of plastics. A crude oil component called 'naphtha' is at the core of plastic production. The proportion of naphtha in crude oil can vary based on the specific type of oil, but it generally constitutes between 15% and 30% of the crude oil by weight. This means that even if there is a decline in the demand for oil for heating and powering internal combustion engine vehicles, our existing or increasing need for petroleum-based plastics necessitates continued oil extraction at current levels.

In Europe, only a small proportion (about 4-6%) of oil and gas reserves are used for the production of plastics, with the rest used for transport, electricity, heating and other applications. However, globally, 1.9 kilograms of crude oil is required for 1 kilogram of plastic.

It is important to note that most people are unaware that conventional plastic is made from petroleum products, primarily oil. A survey conducted in the United States revealed that 72% of Americans do not know that traditional plastic is made from petroleum products. This lack of awareness contributes to the widespread use of plastics and the impact of petroleum use on climate change.

The use of petroleum-based plastics

Petroleum-based plastics are made from a crude oil component called naphtha, which generally constitutes between 15% and 30% of crude oil by weight. In Europe, only a small proportion (4-6%) of oil and gas reserves are used for the production of plastics, with the rest used for transport, electricity, heating and other applications.

The price of petroleum-based plastics is influenced by fluctuating oil prices. When oil exceeds $100 a barrel, the cost of producing petroleum-based plastics can increase significantly, possibly reaching upwards of $6 or $7 per kilogram. For context, 1.9 kilograms of crude oil is required for 1 kilogram of plastic.

Despite the fact that petroleum-based plastic will never biodegrade, 40% of respondents to a survey believe that it will biodegrade underground, in home compost, in landfills, or in the ocean. The only way to rid the planet of existing plastic is by incineration in those cases where it can be recovered.

A survey conducted by national online market research firm InsightExpress for Telles found that 72% of the American public does not know that conventional plastic is made from petroleum products, primarily oil.

The extraction of raw materials

The refining process transforms crude oil into different petroleum products, which are then converted to yield useful chemicals including 'monomers' (a molecule that is the basic building block of polymers). Petroleum-based plastics generally range from US $1 to US $5 per kilogram, but these prices are influenced by fluctuating oil prices. When oil exceeds US $100 a barrel, the cost of producing petroleum-based plastics can increase significantly, possibly reaching upwards of US $6 or US $7 per kilogram. For context, 1.9 kilograms of crude oil is required for 1 kilogram of plastic.

Despite the fact that petroleum-based plastic will never biodegrade, 40% of respondents to a survey believe that it will biodegrade underground, in home compost, in landfills, or in the ocean.

The refining process

The specific refining process for petroleum-based plastics can vary depending on the type of plastic being produced. However, a common component used in plastic production is naphtha, which is derived from naphthenes and constitutes between 15% and 30% of crude oil by weight. The proportion of naphtha in crude oil can vary based on the specific type of oil.

During the refining process, the crude oil is heated to high temperatures, causing it to break down into simpler molecules. These molecules are then separated through a process called fractional distillation, which separates the molecules based on their boiling points. The desired molecules for plastic production, such as ethylene and propylene, are then further processed to create the specific type of plastic needed.

Despite these concerns, the demand for petroleum-based plastics remains high due to their versatility, durability, and low cost. However, with increasing awareness of the environmental impact of plastic pollution, there is a growing shift towards the development and use of bioplastics, which are derived from renewable biomass sources.

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