Life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of plastics were estimated at 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019. The majority of emissions come during the production and conversion stage. Life cycle emissions of plastics account for just over three percent of global GHG emissions.
Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel-based plastics worldwide in 2019, by stage
(in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Characteristic
Emissions in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
Greenhouse gases emissions are aggregated using 100-year global warming potential (GWP) from AR2. Emission coefficiens by stage and polymer or end-of-life fate are extrapolated from 2015 data using indexes. These indexes are built on scope-2 emissions intensity of primary and secondary plastics production (incl. upstream sectors) from the OECD ENV-Linkages model.
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OWID. (September 21, 2023). Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel-based plastics worldwide in 2019, by stage (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1016615/life-cycle-ghg-emissions-fossil-fuel-based-plastics-globally-by-stage/
OWID. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel-based plastics worldwide in 2019, by stage (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)." Chart. September 21, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1016615/life-cycle-ghg-emissions-fossil-fuel-based-plastics-globally-by-stage/
OWID. (2023). Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel-based plastics worldwide in 2019, by stage (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1016615/life-cycle-ghg-emissions-fossil-fuel-based-plastics-globally-by-stage/
OWID. "Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Fossil Fuel-based Plastics Worldwide in 2019, by Stage (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1016615/life-cycle-ghg-emissions-fossil-fuel-based-plastics-globally-by-stage/
OWID, Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel-based plastics worldwide in 2019, by stage (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1016615/life-cycle-ghg-emissions-fossil-fuel-based-plastics-globally-by-stage/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel-based plastics worldwide in 2019, by stage (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph], OWID, September 21, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1016615/life-cycle-ghg-emissions-fossil-fuel-based-plastics-globally-by-stage/
