Sylvie Willis
Plastic is a material that has become pervasive in our lives, with items such as phone cases, water bottles, tea bags, and even our clothes containing plastic. The first commercially produced plastic was invented in 1907, and since then, plastic use has become widespread. Plastic is made from fossil fuels such as crude oil, natural gas, and coal, and over 99% of plastic is made from chemicals sourced from these fossil fuels. Fossil fuel corporations have a large financial incentive to continue producing plastics, and the world's top 7 plastic-producing companies by volume are all fossil fuel companies. The production and use of plastic have dangerous impacts on the environment, contributing to climate change and creating risks for human and animal health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic made from fossil fuels | 98% to 99% |
| Fossil fuels used to make plastic | Crude oil, natural gas, and coal |
| Chemicals derived from fossil fuels used to make plastic | Ethylene, propylene, butylene, methane, ethane, propane, petroleum ether, and graphite |
| Fossil fuel industry's incentive to produce plastic | Fossil fuel companies are losing money to electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar, wind, and other clean energy solutions |
| Impact of plastic on the environment | Plastic contributes to climate change throughout its life cycle, from fossil fuel extraction to the disposal of plastic waste |
| Global plastic production | Increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 460 million metric tons in 2019 |
| Future of global plastic production | Global plastic use is expected to triple by 2060 |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels are the source of most plastic
Plastic is a material that has become pervasive in our lives, with items such as phone cases, water bottles, tea bags, and even our clothes containing plastic. Plastics are part of a sector called "petrochemicals" or products made from fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas.
Fossil fuels are mainly crude oil, natural gas, and coal, which are made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and other minerals. The generally accepted theory is that these hydrocarbons are formed from the remains of living organisms called plankton (tiny plants and animals) that existed during the Jurassic era. The dead organisms decomposed without oxygen, transforming them into tiny pockets of oil and gas. Crude oil and gas then penetrated the rocks, ultimately accumulating in reservoirs.
The fossil fuel industry has a large financial incentive to continue producing plastics. Fossil fuels account for over 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and the plastic production process emits four times more greenhouse gases than the airline industry. A recent study found that by 2050, plastic production could account for between 21% to 31% of the global carbon emission budget required to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Over 99% of plastic is made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels, and the world's top seven plastic-producing companies by volume are all fossil fuel companies. Fossil fuels disguised as plastics can be found everywhere in our lives, and plastic manufacturing accounts for 12% of global oil consumption. As plastic consumption increases, this figure is likely to increase as well.
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Fossil fuel and plastic industries are deeply connected
Fossil fuels and the plastic industry are deeply intertwined. Fossil fuels are the primary source of the chemicals used to create plastics, with over 99% of plastics derived from fossil fuels. This connection has been developing for over a century, since the first commercially produced plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907. During World War II, the US Military began to experiment with plastic, and in the post-war period, commercial plastic demand increased significantly. As plastic use became more widespread, manufacturers began to rely on fossil fuels to meet this demand, creating cheaper plastic products.
Fossil fuels, including crude oil, natural gas, and coal, are composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and other minerals. Through processes such as refining and distillation, these fossil fuels are converted into chemicals like naphtha, propylene, and heptane, which serve as the building blocks for plastics. This process is known as polymerisation, where hydrocarbon monomers derived from fossil fuels are linked together to produce polymers, forming the basis of plastic products.
The fossil fuel industry has a significant financial incentive to continue producing plastics. As the world transitions to renewable energy sources, these industries are facing declining profits. By investing in the expansion of plastic production, they aim to maintain and increase their profitability. This is evident in the shale gas boom in the United States, which is fueling the development of plastic infrastructure and driving companies to produce and consume greater volumes of plastic.
The detrimental effects of this connection between fossil fuels and plastics are far-reaching. Plastic contributes to climate change throughout its life cycle, from the extraction of fossil fuels to its manufacturing and disposal. Plastic pollution has severe environmental and health impacts, with microplastics infiltrating our waterways and even our bloodstream. The production and use of plastics are closely tied to increases in greenhouse gas emissions, with the plastic industry emitting four times more greenhouse gases than the airline industry.
Addressing the plastic crisis requires recognising plastics as a form of fossil fuels and implementing policies that reduce reliance on single-use plastics and unnecessary plastic packaging. It is essential to target the root of the problem and address the entire lifecycle of plastic, from production to disposal, to mitigate the environmental and health risks posed by this deep connection between the fossil fuel and plastic industries.
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Fossil fuel corporations have a financial incentive to produce plastic
Plastic is made from fossil fuels, specifically hydrocarbons derived from crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Fossil fuel companies have a financial incentive to continue producing plastics, especially as demand for fossil fuels for power and transport declines due to the transition to clean energy. Oil and gas companies are increasingly viewing plastics as a key market and a potential future source of demand for oil.
The plastic industry is deeply connected to the fossil fuel industry, with the top seven plastic-producing companies by volume being fossil fuel companies. Fossil fuel companies have invested billions in expanding plastic production, and these investments could increase global plastic production capacity by a third. This will drive companies to produce even greater volumes of plastic.
Plastics are part of the petrochemicals sector, which includes products made from fossil fuels. The development of fossil fuels into petrochemicals and fossil hydrocarbons for plastic manufacturing is seen as a lifeline by the fossil fuel industry as demand for fossil fuels decreases. Currently, plastic manufacturing accounts for 12% of global oil consumption, and this figure is likely to increase as plastic consumption increases.
The production and use of plastics are also supported by a range of government subsidies, which help to keep plastic cheap and abundant. These subsidies include incentives for building and expanding manufacturing facilities, discounted feedstocks, and subsidized process energy used in producing primary polymers. In the US, for example, petrochemical companies like Shell and Exxon have received nearly $9 billion in state and local tax breaks since 2012 to build and expand plastic manufacturing facilities.
The lifecycle of plastics generates significant greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Reducing plastic production is critical to combatting climate change, and policymakers must recognize the link between plastic and fossil fuels in their climate mitigation policies.
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Plastic is a major driver of climate change
The plastic production process is inherently tied to the fossil fuel industry, and as such, it shares responsibility for the emissions produced during extraction and transportation. The removal of forested land for oil extraction and pipeline construction has released over 1.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, according to the CIEL report. This land clearing also reduces the planet's capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Plastics themselves emit greenhouse gases at every stage of their life cycle, from production to disposal. The durability of plastic, while convenient, becomes an issue when it comes to degradation. Plastic can take over 1,000 years to decompose, and during this slow process, it breaks down into microplastics that infiltrate our waterways and even our bloodstreams. The presence of these microplastics in the ocean may interfere with its capacity to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide, further exacerbating the climate crisis.
The plastic industry's rapid global growth, fueled largely by natural gas, undermines efforts to reduce carbon pollution. Estimates indicate that by 2050, GHG emissions from plastics could reach about 13% of the entire remaining carbon budget. With the world's current reliance on plastics, the sector's fossil fuel consumption will only increase, threatening the goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C.
To address the impact of plastic on climate change, it is essential to reduce plastic use, particularly single-use plastics. This can be achieved through individual actions, such as using reusable items, avoiding overly packaged products, and supporting legislation that targets plastic reduction. By decreasing our dependence on plastics, we can help mitigate the climate crisis and protect the planet for future generations.
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Plastic is polluting ecosystems, creating risks for human and animal health
Plastic is made from fossil fuels—predominantly crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Fossil fuels are composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and other minerals. These hydrocarbons are formed from the remains of living organisms, such as plankton, that existed during the Jurassic era.
Plastic is polluting ecosystems and creating risks for both human and animal health. It has been found to pollute all ecosystems, including land, freshwater, and marine environments. Plastic waste can fragment into smaller pieces, known as microplastics, which have been detected in various environments, from the Antarctic tundra to tropical coral reefs. These microplastics have also been found in human organs, such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, and blood, and are even present in food and water sources.
The main route of microplastics exposure for humans is ingestion, followed by inhalation and dermal exposure. While the exact amount of plastic ingested by humans is unknown, estimates range from 0.1 to 5 grams per week. Inhalation can result in the inhalation of up to 22,000,000 microplastics annually. Studies on animals have shown that plastic particles can cross the gut barrier and travel through the body. There is a correlation between the presence of microplastics in the human body and inflammatory bowel disease symptoms, as well as respiratory complications.
Plastic pollution also poses a significant threat to wildlife. Marine species, such as birds, whales, fish, and turtles, often mistake plastic waste for food, leading to starvation, internal injuries, and reduced ability to swim or fly. Floating plastics can transport invasive alien species, contributing to biodiversity loss and species extinction.
To address plastic pollution, there have been calls for reductions in plastic production, the phasing out of harmful subsidies, and the elimination of harmful products and chemicals. Additionally, increasing the circularity of supply and value chains and changing consumer behavior are crucial steps in reducing plastic waste.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, most plastics are made from fossil fuels.
According to various sources, over 99% of plastic is made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. A report by the World Economic Forum noted that 98% of single-use plastics are made from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels are mainly crude oil, natural gas, and coal, which are made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and other minerals.
Fossil fuels are connected to plastic through the petrochemical industry, which uses fossil fuels as feedstock to produce the basic building blocks for making plastics.
Using fossil fuels to create plastic has far-reaching and dangerous negative impacts. Plastic contributes to climate change throughout its life cycle, from fossil fuel extraction to plastic manufacturing and the disposal of plastic waste. Plastic pollution also poses risks to human and animal health and destabilizes the climate.
