America’s Plastic Makers Are Driving Down Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Making Plastic?
Americans buy a lot of cars and trucks. And new homes. Plus solar panels, medical devices, packaged food, cell phones, clothes and other things.
All these products depend on a steady supply of plastic. So, it’s not surprising that plastic production increased between 2005 and 2017.
Production Up.
Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Down.
What may be surprising is that greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from making four common plastics during this same time went down. By a lot: ~5 billion kilograms, the equivalent of removing one million cars from our roads for one year!
Hmmm… despite meeting the increase in demand for these plastics, the environmental footprint associated with this production actually shrunk, as measured by GHGs and energy use.
Read more about the 2022 Report: “A Decreasing Footprint.”
America’s Plastic Makers: Driving Down Greenhouse Gas Emissions
So, what are America’s Plastic Makers doing to drive down GHGs and shrink their environmental footprint? And what are they aiming for in the near future? Here are some examples:
NOTE: These examples are not exhaustive and are self-reported by the companies. Some info is specific to making plastic in the U.S and some applies to broader manufacturing operations. Follow links or contact the companies for more information.
NOTE: Scope 1 refers to direct GHGs from company owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 refers to indirect GHGs from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 refers to GHGs as a result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the company but that the company indirectly affects in its value chain.
(EPA)
AmSty is working to transition from fossil-based energy to renewables, with its first solar power project at its facility in Cartagena, Columbia. The company has installed more than 185 solar panels on several buildings, generating 150,000+ kilowatt hours of energy and reducing carbon emissions by 30+ tons each year.
Braskem reduced the intensity of its greenhouse gas emissions by 17%+ between 2008 and 2020. This reduction avoided emissions of nearly 30 million tons of CO2… equivalent to planting more than 200 million trees. The company aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 GHGs by 15% compared to 2018-2020 average emissions and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Covestro targeted a 50% reduction in GHGs between 2005 and 2025… and has already achieved its goal. The company aims to achieve climate neutrality in scope 1 and 2 GHGs by 2035 and plans to be climate neutral for scope 1, 2 and 3 GHGs by 2050. Example: Covestro has an agreement to purchase renewable solar energy, which will reduce CO2 equivalents by roughly 70,000 tons annually at its Baytown, TX, site.
Dow has reduced overall GHGs emissions by 15% since 2005. It’s on track to reduce emissions another 15% by 2030, compared to a 2020 baseline. The company intends to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Dow is one of the top 20 users of clean energy among global corporations. Approximately 40% of the power the company purchased in 2022 was renewable. To continue reducing the carbon footprint of its products, the company is building a new net zero GHGs facility (Scope 1 and 2) and retrofitting existing assets with low carbon technologies.
Eastman’s technologies that use plastic waste as a resource help reduce the GHGs emissions from production of a key raw material for plastic by up to 30%… and reduce GHGs from energy sources by up to 50%… compared to fossil-based materials.
Eastman has established goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHGs by one-third by 2030 compared to a 2017 baseline and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The company has been recognized by Forbes Net Zero Leaders list as one of the 100 U.S. public companies positioning themselves to offset GHGs by 2050.
LyondellBasell aims to achieve net zero scope 1 and 2 GHGs from its global operations by 2050, reduce scope 1 and 2 GHGs 42% by 2030 and reduce absolute scope 3 GHGs 30% by 2030, relative to a 2020 baseline.
The company has identified various levers to reduce GHGs, including energy efficiency improvements, electrification, carbon capture/storage/utilization and switching to lower carbon fuels, including hydrogen. For example, it plans on securing at least 50% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2030, relative to a 2020 baseline, which will support the development of more than four million megawatt hours of new renewable power.
America’s Plastic Makers Continue to Innovate, Drive Down Greenhouse Gases
America’s Plastic Makers are just getting started.
As the 2022 Report noted, the positive trend toward lower GHGs and energy use is expected to continue as production shifts to lower carbon fuel sources, including renewables, and manufacturing efficiencies improve.
But there’s more… The Report and the company actions above build on decades of findings from multiple researchers that show the use of plastic packaging and products can significantly reduce GHGs compared to many common alternatives.
So… while meeting the growing demand for cars and clothes and food, America’s Plastic Makers are driving down GHGs from plastic production. And driving down GHGs in our packaging and products.
That’s sustainable change.
Driving down greenhouse gases from production of plastic is just one way America’s Plastic Makers are making sustainable change.
