“Plastic Manufacturing Surpasses Cars in Oil Use: What You Need to Know”

Plastic manufacturing is on track to surpass cars as the fastest-growing use of oil, a concerning trend highlighted by Aarthi Ananthanarayanan, director of the Climate and Plastics Initiative at the Ocean Conservancy. Speaking at GreenBiz’s Circularity 24 conference, Ananthanarayanan warned that by 2050, the amount of oil used per person to produce plastic will exceed the amount used to fuel cars.

This shift towards plastic production comes with significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions implications. Currently, 12% of global oil is utilized for plastics production, surpassing the amount used for global aviation. Despite this substantial impact, plastics, which are 99% derived from oil, are often overlooked in company and investor climate commitments, as noted in an Ocean Conservancy report.

Anja Brandon, associate director for U.S. plastics policy at the Ocean Conservancy, emphasized the importance of addressing plastics in corporate portfolios to achieve net-zero targets by 2030 or 2050. To tackle this issue effectively, here are six key takeaways:

1. Understand suppliers’ Scope 3 emissions: Companies must consider the upstream emissions associated with their suppliers’ extraction and refining of fossil fuels for plastic production. This includes evaluating the carbon intensity of different plastic polymers and pushing for transparency from suppliers.

2. No silver bullet alternative to plastics: While plant-based bioplastics are an option, they come with their own set of climate impacts. Companies should focus on materials efficiency, source reduction, and promoting reuse and refill models to reduce emissions.

3. Plastics pose legal risks: With a growing movement to hold companies accountable for the environmental impacts of plastics, legal actions and reporting requirements are increasing. Companies need to be proactive in addressing these risks.

4. End-of-life management can cut emissions: Shifting towards reusable packaging, containers, and increasing recycling efforts can significantly reduce the climate impacts of plastics at the end of their lifecycle.

5. Laws are coming: Embrace the change: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws are being enacted in several states, requiring companies to take responsibility for the end-of-life of their packaging. Embracing these changes and collaborating with stakeholders is crucial.

6. Collaborate to scale impact: Companies can work together to scale their sustainability efforts, such as offering refillable or reusable container options. Collaboration, shared infrastructure, and pre-competitive collaborations are key to driving impactful change.

In conclusion, addressing the environmental impact of plastic production is crucial for achieving climate goals and sustainability targets. By taking proactive steps to reduce emissions, promote reuse, and collaborate with stakeholders, companies can make a significant impact in mitigating the climate effects of plastic manufacturing.