The Dark Side Of Plastic: Oil's Dirty Secret

Plastic is a petrochemical, which means it is made from oil and natural gas. In 2012, plastics accounted for 4% of global oil production, and this figure may have risen to 5-6% in 2019. In Europe, it is estimated that 4-6% of oil and gas is used for producing plastics, and globally, around 6% of oil is used for this purpose. Petrochemicals, including plastic, now account for 14% of oil use, and are expected to drive half of oil demand growth between now and 2050.

How much oil is used for plastic production?

It is difficult to determine exactly how much oil is used for plastic production. The Energy Information Administration does not collect data on this, but it is estimated that in 2010, 191 million barrels of LPG and NGL were used for the production of plastics, along with 412 billion cu ft of natural gas. This constituted about 2.7% of the country's total petroleum consumption.

In 2012, plastics accounted for 4% of global oil production, although it is possible that this figure rose to 5-6% in 2019. Another source suggests that 8-10% of the total oil supply goes to making plastic.

As of 2019, 9 million barrels of oil were used to make plastics every day worldwide. Across Europe, the portion of oil that goes towards plastic production averages between 4% and 6%, and the best estimates for the worldwide average sit around 6%.

How much plastic is used for packaging?

Plastic is a valuable resource, but plastic pollution is an unnecessary and unsustainable waste of that resource. Packaging is the largest end-use market segment, accounting for just over 40% of total plastic usage. This includes single-use plastic food and beverage containers, 85% of which end up in landfills or as mismanaged waste.

The packaging sector is the largest generator of single-use plastic waste in the world. Approximately 36% of all plastics produced are used in packaging. This is a significant issue, as plastic is often not recycled properly. In the United States, Europe, and China, packaging accounts for 37%, 38%, and 45% of total plastic waste, respectively. These three regions alone account for 60% of global packaging waste generation.

The issue of plastic waste is not limited to packaging. The fishing industry, for example, is another significant contributor, with more than 100 million pounds of plastic entering the oceans from industrial fishing gear alone. The fashion industry is also a major plastic user.

Additionally, our "disposable" lifestyle has led to a significant increase in plastic waste. It is estimated that around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away. This is evident in the number of plastic bags used worldwide, with approximately 500 billion plastic bags being used annually and more than one million bags being used every minute. A plastic bag has an average "working life" of just 15 minutes. Over the last ten years, we have produced more plastic than during the entire last century.

How much oil is used for transport, electricity and heating?

In 2022, the United States consumed about 13 million barrels of oil per day for transportation. Petroleum provides the fuel for cars and trucks, with 98% of vehicles in the US running on petroleum or diesel fuels. In 2021, petroleum products accounted for about 90% of the total US transportation sector energy use. Gasoline is the most-consumed petroleum product in the US, with consumption in 2022 averaging about 8.78 million b/d (369 million gallons per day), which was about 43% of total US petroleum consumption.

In 2022, the total distillate fuel oil consumption averaged about 3.96 million b/d (166 million gallons per day), which was 20% of total US petroleum consumption. Distillate fuel oil is the second-most-consumed petroleum product in the US and includes diesel fuel and heating oil. Hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs) are the third-most-used category of petroleum in the US and are used for heating and producing electricity in power plants. Total consumption of HGLs in 2022 averaged about 3.59 million b/d, accounting for about 18% of total petroleum consumption.

Electricity use by mass transit systems was less than 1% of total energy consumption by the transportation sector in 2022.

How much plastic is recycled?

Plastic recycling rates vary widely depending on the industry and type of plastic in question. While most plastics are technically recyclable, only a small percentage are recycled due to the complex nature of the process.

According to the OECD, just 9% of the world's plastic is recycled. The remaining 91% of plastic waste is discarded, ending up in incineration, landfill, or polluting the environment. In 2018, the global recycling rate was 8.7%. However, the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. For example, the recycling rate for PET bottles was 21.6% in 2018.

The low recycling rates are partly due to the cost of recycling. Sorting and recycling one ton of curbside recycling can cost up to $120, while disposing of waste in a landfill in the US can cost around $60 per ton. Brands often believe that throwing plastic packaging away is cheaper than recycling it, as the low cost of raw materials and affordable price of plastic make it much easier for people to just dispose of it.

Additionally, oil companies and plastic manufacturers may greenwash their products by overstating their recyclable properties, further complicating the issue.

How much oil is used for petrochemicals?

Most refineries convert just 5-20% of incoming oil into petrochemicals, but some facilities are aiming to increase this percentage. For example, a new complex in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, is expected to make 9 million metric tons of petrochemicals directly from 400,000 barrels per day of Arabian light crude oil. This means that around 45% of the output of the Yanbu facility will be chemicals, including olefins, aromatics, glycols, and polymers.

Petrochemicals are used in millions of products, from plastics, detergents, shampoos and makeup to industrial solvents, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, fertiliser and carpeting. Over the next 20 years, oil company BP projects that this market will grow by 16% to 20%. Oil companies are ramping up to increase petrochemical production.

The EIA can identify oil-derived feedstocks specifically designated as petrochemical feedstock by petroleum refineries in refining surveys, which break out into Naphtha For Petrochemical Feedstock Use and Other Oils For Petrochemical Feedstock Use.

Crude oil is heated to 350-380°C and vaporised at a pressure of about 200 kPa. About 25% atmospheric residue (liquid) is drawn at the bottom of the column. The following fuels result from the atmospheric distillation unit: heavy diesel, medium diesel, light diesel, and kerosene. The very light products, butane, in addition to light naphtha, leave as vapour at the top of the column.

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