
In *Oxygen Not Included*, a complex survival and base-building game, players often seek ways to produce essential materials like plastic to advance their colonies. Plastic is a versatile resource used in crafting various items, from storage containers to advanced machinery. To make plastic, players must first establish a reliable supply of petroleum, which can be extracted from oil reservoirs using oil wells. Once petroleum is obtained, it needs to be refined into crude oil and then processed in a refinery to produce petroleum, which is then converted into plastic in a plastic press. Efficient management of temperature, power, and resource allocation is crucial, as the process requires specific conditions and machinery. Mastering this production chain is key to ensuring a steady supply of plastic for your colony’s growth and survival.
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What You'll Learn
- Gathering Resources: Collect petroleum, coal, or wood for plastic production in Oxygen Not Included
- Setting Up Refinery: Build a refinery to process raw materials into petroleum for plastic creation
- Polymer Press Usage: Use a polymer press to convert petroleum into plastic efficiently in-game
- Managing Heat: Ensure proper cooling systems to prevent overheating during plastic production processes
- Storage Solutions: Organize plastic storage with bins or containers to avoid clutter in your base

Gathering Resources: Collect petroleum, coal, or wood for plastic production in Oxygen Not Included
In Oxygen Not Included, plastic is a versatile material essential for crafting advanced machinery, storage solutions, and decorative items. To produce plastic, you’ll need to gather specific resources: petroleum, coal, or wood. Each resource has its own extraction method, availability, and efficiency, so understanding their nuances is crucial for optimizing your production pipeline.
Petroleum stands out as the most efficient resource for plastic production, requiring only 10 kg of petroleum to produce 10 kg of plastic via the Oil Refinery. To collect petroleum, locate crude oil pockets using the "Oil" overlay in the game’s resource menu. Drill into these pockets with a Pump or Liquid Vent, ensuring the petroleum is directed into a storage tank or refinery. Petroleum is finite but highly concentrated, making it ideal for late-game plastic production. However, its extraction requires careful management of temperature and pressure, as crude oil can ignite if overheated.
Coal offers a mid-tier option for plastic production, though it’s less efficient than petroleum. You’ll need 10 kg of coal and 10 kg of water to produce 10 kg of plastic using the Coal Generator and Plastic Press. Coal is abundant and can be mined from coal deposits, but its extraction generates polluted water, which must be managed to avoid contaminating your base. Coal is a reliable choice for colonies with ample coal reserves but limited access to petroleum.
Wood is the most accessible but least efficient resource for plastic production, requiring 20 kg of wood and 10 kg of water to produce 10 kg of plastic via the Wood Gas Generator and Plastic Press. Wood can be harvested from trees or grown in a Forest biome, making it renewable but space-intensive. This method is best suited for early-game plastic needs or colonies with limited access to coal or petroleum. However, relying solely on wood can strain your oxygen and CO2 management systems due to the byproducts of wood burning.
Practical Tips: Prioritize petroleum for large-scale plastic production, but keep coal and wood as backup options. Automate resource extraction using storage bins, conveyors, and smart batteries to ensure a steady supply. Monitor resource depletion and plan for long-term sustainability by exploring new biomes or setting up off-world bases. By diversifying your resource gathering strategies, you’ll maintain a consistent plastic supply to support your colony’s growth and technological advancement.
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Setting Up Refinery: Build a refinery to process raw materials into petroleum for plastic creation
In Oxygen Not Included, establishing a refinery is a pivotal step in the plastic production chain, transforming raw resources into the petroleum necessary for plastic creation. The refinery acts as the heart of this process, requiring careful planning and resource management to operate efficiently. To begin, you’ll need to gather crude oil, which can be extracted from oil reservoirs using an oil well. Ensure the oil well is placed over a detected oil biome, and connect it to a pump to extract the crude oil into storage tanks. This raw material is the foundation for your refinery operations.
Once crude oil is secured, the next step is constructing the refinery itself. Place a refinery building near your crude oil storage and ensure it has access to power and a steady supply of oil. The refinery processes crude oil into petroleum, natural gas, and residual fuel, but for plastic production, petroleum is the key output. Each refinery cycle consumes 100 kg of crude oil and produces 40 kg of petroleum, 40 kg of natural gas, and 20 kg of residual fuel. Optimize your setup by using automation—employ smart batteries to manage power and storage containers with conveyer belts to handle the output efficiently.
Efficiency is critical when setting up your refinery, as resource waste can cripple your colony’s progress. Monitor the refinery’s output closely, as overproduction of natural gas or residual fuel can lead to storage issues. Consider using natural gas as a power source by feeding it into a generator, while residual fuel can be stockpiled for future use in rocket engines. Balancing these outputs ensures that your refinery operates at peak efficiency, maximizing petroleum production for plastic creation.
A common pitfall in refinery setup is neglecting temperature management. Refineries generate significant heat during operation, which can overheat the machinery or surrounding area if not addressed. Install cooling systems, such as liquid or gas cooling loops, to maintain optimal temperatures. Alternatively, place the refinery in a cooler area of your base or use thermal aquatuners to dissipate excess heat. Proper temperature control not only extends the lifespan of your refinery but also prevents disruptions in production.
Finally, integrate your refinery into a larger plastic production workflow. Once petroleum is produced, it must be converted into plastic via a plastic press, which requires 10 kg of petroleum per tile of plastic. Plan ahead by placing the plastic press near the refinery to minimize transportation needs. Use automation to ensure a steady supply of petroleum to the press, and store excess plastic for construction or other purposes. By seamlessly connecting the refinery to downstream processes, you’ll establish a robust plastic production pipeline that supports your colony’s growth and sustainability.
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Polymer Press Usage: Use a polymer press to convert petroleum into plastic efficiently in-game
In Oxygen Not Included, the Polymer Press is a game-changer for players looking to streamline their plastic production. This machine efficiently converts petroleum into plastic, a crucial resource for advanced building and crafting. To get started, ensure your base has a stable supply of petroleum, which can be extracted from oil wells or imported via trade. Once you have a steady flow, set up a Polymer Press near your petroleum storage to minimize transport time and energy costs.
The process is straightforward but requires attention to detail. Input 100 kg of petroleum into the Polymer Press, and it will output 20 kg of plastic, a 5:1 conversion ratio. Pair the press with automated systems like conveyor belts and storage bins to maintain a continuous production line. Use smart batteries or power regulators to ensure the machine operates efficiently without overloading your power grid. This setup not only saves time but also reduces the manual labor required to manage resources.
While the Polymer Press is efficient, it’s not without challenges. Petroleum is a finite resource, so plan for long-term sustainability by balancing extraction rates with consumption. Over-reliance on petroleum can deplete reserves quickly, especially in smaller maps. Consider supplementing your plastic production with alternative methods, such as recycling or trading, to mitigate resource scarcity. Additionally, monitor the heat output of the Polymer Press, as it can raise the ambient temperature, potentially affecting nearby machinery or dupes.
For optimal results, integrate the Polymer Press into a larger industrial zone. Place it near refineries and oil wells to create a centralized production hub. Use insulation tiles or cooling systems to manage heat, and prioritize upgrading your power infrastructure to support increased demand. By treating the Polymer Press as a cornerstone of your plastic production, you’ll ensure a steady supply of this vital material, enabling you to tackle more complex projects and expand your base efficiently.
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Managing Heat: Ensure proper cooling systems to prevent overheating during plastic production processes
Plastic production in *ONI* (Oxygen Not Included) is a delicate balance of resource management and environmental control. One critical aspect often overlooked is heat management. The exothermic nature of polymerization reactions means that without adequate cooling, your plastic production can grind to a halt—or worse, damage your infrastructure. Overheating not only slows down production but also risks melting nearby materials or causing dupes to overheat, reducing their efficiency. Thus, implementing a robust cooling system is non-negotiable.
Consider the layout of your plastic production area as the first line of defense against overheating. Place your Polymer Press in a well-ventilated area, away from heat-sensitive materials like algae or food storage. Use Abyssalite tiles or insulation to contain heat within the production zone, preventing it from spreading to other critical areas. Additionally, ensure your cooling loops are strategically placed to dissipate heat efficiently. A single misstep in design can turn your plastic factory into a sauna, so plan meticulously.
The heart of your cooling system lies in your coolant choice and loop design. Liquid CO2 is a popular option due to its low temperature and abundance in late-game setups. Route it through radiant pipes or liquid pipes near the Polymer Press to absorb excess heat. For early-game setups, water can suffice, but monitor temperatures closely to avoid boiling. Incorporate automated sensors and shutoff valves to regulate coolant flow, ensuring the system activates only when necessary. Overcooling wastes resources, while undercooling risks overheating—balance is key.
Duplicants play a surprising role in heat management. Assigning them to operate the Polymer Press during cooler periods, such as at night, can reduce the strain on your cooling systems. Alternatively, use them to manually transport coolant or repair overheating machinery. However, avoid overworking dupes in high-temperature areas, as stress and heatstroke will hinder productivity. Equip them with parkas or ensure they have access to cool zones for breaks. A well-rested, cool dupe is a productive dupe.
Finally, monitor your system’s performance using the temperature overlay and power consumption metrics. Over time, adjust your cooling loops and insulation to optimize efficiency. For example, if temperatures spike during peak production, consider adding a secondary coolant loop or upgrading to a more efficient coolant like liquid nitrogen. Regular maintenance and proactive adjustments will ensure your plastic production remains uninterrupted, even as your colony scales up. Heat management isn’t just a task—it’s a continuous process that evolves with your base.
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Storage Solutions: Organize plastic storage with bins or containers to avoid clutter in your base
In Oxygen Not Included, managing resources efficiently is crucial for the survival and prosperity of your colony. Plastic, a versatile material, is no exception. As your base expands, so does the need for organized storage to prevent clutter and ensure accessibility. Implementing a structured storage system using bins or containers not only keeps your plastic supplies tidy but also optimizes space and workflow.
Consider the layout of your base when planning storage solutions. Dedicate specific areas for plastic storage, ideally near production facilities like the Plastic Press or recycling centers. This minimizes transportation time and reduces the risk of bottlenecks. Use a grid-based system to arrange bins, ensuring each container is labeled clearly with its contents and capacity. For instance, a 2x2 tile bin can hold up to 400 kg of plastic, making it a practical choice for medium-scale storage.
Material selection for bins matters. While plastic bins are convenient, they can be resource-intensive to produce. Alternatively, metal bins offer durability and higher capacity but require more refined materials. For early-game setups, consider using basic storage containers until you can afford more advanced options. As your colony grows, invest in automated systems like conveyor belts and storage compactors to streamline the process further.
Avoiding clutter goes beyond aesthetics; it’s about functionality. Overstacked or disorganized storage can lead to inefficiencies, such as dupes spending more cycles searching for materials. Implement a "first in, first out" (FIFO) system by placing newer plastic supplies behind older ones, ensuring no resources go unused. Regularly audit your storage to identify excess or shortages, adjusting production rates accordingly.
Finally, think long-term. As your colony’s plastic needs evolve, so should your storage solutions. Modular storage systems, such as stackable bins or expandable container arrays, provide flexibility for future growth. Pair these with a dedicated storage management dupe to monitor levels and reorganize as needed. By prioritizing organization, you’ll transform plastic storage from a logistical challenge into a seamless part of your base’s infrastructure.
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Frequently asked questions
To make plastic in ONI, you need Petroleum, which is refined into Petroleum Coke using an Oil Refinery. The Petroleum Coke is then converted into Plastic in a Plastic Press.
Petroleum can be extracted from Oil Wells using an Oil Well pump. Ensure you have a proper setup to handle the pressure and temperature of the petroleum to avoid overheating or overpressurizing your base.
Plastic is a versatile material used in crafting various items, such as Insulated Tiles, Conveyer Belts, and advanced machinery. It’s essential for managing heat, organizing resources, and building more efficient systems in your base.










































