Oil Barrels And Plastic: A Toxic Relationship

Plastic is derived from petroleum or oil, and while it is difficult to determine exactly how much oil goes into plastic products, we know that a lot of oil is used. In 2010, approximately 191 million barrels of LPG and NGL were used for plastic production, along with 412 billion cubic feet of natural gas. In 2019, it was estimated that 9 million barrels of oil were used to make plastic every day worldwide, with the US alone using about 12 million barrels of oil to produce plastic bags. While plastic has diverse uses and offers durability and cost advantages, it also causes serious pollution and recycling challenges. As oil prices rise, the economics of plastic production are being re-evaluated, and alternatives like bioplastics, which can have a reduced carbon footprint, are being considered.

Plastic production accounts for about 4-6% of global oil production

Plastic is derived from petroleum or crude oil. 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 majority of feedstocks for plastics in the US are derived from natural gas processing and crude oil refining.

The global demand for plastics is driven by subsidies for fossil fuels, which make plastic cheaper than it would otherwise be. This demand has quadrupled plastic consumption in the last 30 years, reaching 460 million tons in 2019. The vast majority of plastics—more than 90%—are made from virgin fossil feedstocks, which utilize roughly 4-6% of global oil consumption. With an annual growth rate of 3.5-4.8%, plastics are projected to make up approximately one-third of oil demand growth in 2030 and almost half by 2050.

The production and incineration emissions from plastics are currently equivalent to the emissions of nearly 190 500-megawatt coal-fired power stations. By 2030, this will be equivalent to 300 power stations, and by 2050, it will account for 10% of the carbon budget we have left to remain under a 1.5 °C temperature increase.

Bio-based plastics, which are derived from renewable biomass feedstock such as sugar cane, canola, and corn, make up less than 1% of all plastics produced globally.

The US uses 12 million barrels of oil for plastic bags annually

Plastic bags and petroleum are closely linked. While natural gas and feedstocks derived from natural gas processing and crude oil refining are the primary sources of plastic production in the United States, crude oil is still a source of raw material (feedstock) for making plastics.

It is challenging to determine the specific amounts or origins of the feedstocks used in plastic manufacturing in the United States. However, it is estimated that the US uses 12 million barrels of oil annually to produce plastic bags. This accounts for approximately 8% to 10% of the country's total oil supply.

The average American disposes of about 10 plastic bags per week, which equates to 520 bags per year. This is equivalent to the fuel required to drive 60 miles. In total, the US discards an estimated 100 billion plastic bags each year.

The high consumption and disposal of plastic bags have significant environmental implications. Petroleum, being a valuable resource, should be conserved, and plastic bags should be reused rather than discarded. By reusing bags, individuals and families can make a substantial positive impact on the environment.

191 million barrels of oil were used for plastic production in 2010

The global demand for oil for plastic production was approximately nine million barrels per day in 2019. This figure is projected to increase to around 23 million barrels per day in 2060. In 2010, 191 million barrels of oil were used for plastic production, according to the International Energy Agency. This amounts to around half a million barrels per day.

In the United States, it is challenging to determine the exact amount of oil used for plastic production. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) does not track total oil-to-plastic usage domestically. However, former governor Andrew Cuomo stated in 2019 that the U.S. uses about 12 million barrels of oil annually to produce plastic bags. Additionally, a 2007 estimate by the Pacific Institute suggests that the U.S. uses approximately 17 million barrels of oil each year to manufacture plastic water bottles.

It is important to note that not all plastics are made directly from crude oil. They are primarily derived from feedstocks, which are obtained from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. The flexibility of the petrochemical industry in terms of feedstock consumption adds to the complexity of tracking the specific amounts and origins of feedstocks used in plastic manufacturing.

Plastics pose a significant environmental challenge due to their extensive production and slow natural decomposition rate. They contribute to pollution and persist in the environment for extended periods, shedding microplastics that enter the food chain. As a result, various governments, particularly in Europe and Asia, are taking a stand against plastic production and promoting recycling initiatives.

9 million barrels of oil are used for plastic production daily

Oil is a raw material used to make plastic. While it is not the major source of feedstock for plastics production in the United States, it is still a significant contributor. The amount of oil used for plastic production globally is substantial, with approximately nine million barrels being utilised each day as of 2019. This figure is projected to increase, reaching around 23 million barrels per day by 2060.

The feedstock for plastics can come from natural gas, natural gas processing, and crude oil refining. The flexibility of the petrochemical industry in the feedstock it consumes adds to the complexity of tracking the specific amounts and origins of the materials used in plastic manufacturing. The United States, for instance, refines both domestically produced and imported crude oil into petroleum products, and it is challenging to determine the precise breakdown of these sources.

Crude oil, a key component in the production of plastics, is also subject to varying levels of consumption and production within the United States. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates that total petroleum production in the country averaged approximately 21.691 million barrels per day in 2023. In the same year, the average daily petroleum consumption was slightly lower, at around 20.246 million barrels.

The high demand for plastic contributes significantly to the global consumption of oil. As of 2017, the global demand for petrochemical feedstock, which includes oil, reached 12 million barrels per day, accounting for about 12% of total oil demand. The IEA has projected that the rising use of plastics will drive oil demand until at least 2050, highlighting the petrochemical sector as a key driver of oil demand growth.

The relationship between oil and plastic production is intricate, influenced by factors such as feedstock flexibility, varying consumption and production levels, and the increasing demand for plastics. While oil is not the sole feedstock for plastic production, it remains a significant contributor, as evidenced by the substantial daily global consumption of nine million barrels in 2019.

Plastic is derived from a crude oil component called 'naphtha'

Plastic is a product derived from crude oil, among other natural and organic materials such as coal, natural gas, and salt. Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of compounds and needs to be processed before it can be used to create plastic. The production of plastics from crude oil begins with the distillation of the oil in a refinery. This distillation separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components called fractions. Each fraction is a mixture of hydrocarbon chains, which differ in terms of the size and structure of their molecules.

One of these fractions, a crucial compound for the production of plastics, is naphtha. Naphtha is a mixture of C5 to C10 hydrocarbons obtained from the distillation of crude oil. It is a term used to describe a group of volatile mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons. Naphtha is further decomposed at high temperatures of around 800°C in a steam cracker in the presence of water vapour. This process splits the naphtha into light hydrocarbons known as major intermediaries, which are olefins and aromatics.

The olefins include C2 (ethylene), C3 (propylene), and C4 (butane and butadiene). The aromatics consist of benzene, toluene, and xylene. These small molecules are then linked together into long molecular chains called polymers. However, when a polymer leaves the chemical factory, it is still not in the form of plastic but rather in the form of granules, powders, or liquids. To create a high-molecular compound, it is necessary to first produce low-molecular compounds and bond them together. This reaction is known as polymerization, with the low-molecular compounds known as "monomers" and the high-molecular-weight substance known as a "polymer."

The formation of polymers from monomers uses heat, light, and additives such as enzymes (polymerization initiators). Two main processes are used to produce plastics – polymerisation and polycondensation – and they both require specific catalysts. In a polymerization reactor, monomers such as ethylene and propylene are linked together to form long polymer chains. This process generates thick, viscous substances as resins, which are then used to make plastic products.

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