Ethylene oxide: Emissions
A near-pure CO2 stream waiting to be captured
What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 1.90 t CO2e per t range about 1.4-2.5 · cradle-to-gate including about 0.75 t ethylene at about 1.6 t CO2e/t, plus process CO2 and energy (indicative) Global emissions per year 65.0 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · about 1.9 t x about 34 Mt (indicative)Per t of EO, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative (basis: ethylene tile and stoichiometry). Global total: derived (indicative).
Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
Feedstock 66% Production / process 31% Movement 3%Footprint by lifecycle phase
| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feedstock | about 1.25 t CO2e per t (ethylene and oxygen) | 66% | Cracker emissions embedded in ethylene | lower with ethane-based ethylene | indicative |
| Production / process | about 0.6 t CO2e per t | 31% | Over-oxidation CO2 (about 0.3-0.4 t), steam and power | process CO2 is near-pure and capture-ready | indicative (stoichiometry at 85-90% selectivity) |
| Movement | about 0.05 t CO2e per t | 3% | Short rail and road | small | indicative |
| Use | not applicable | – | EO reacts into derivatives; sterilisation releases EO, a toxic air pollutant, not a major GHG | n/a | |
| End of life | depends on derivative (glycols, surfactants biodegrade to CO2) | – | Derivative fate | n/a |
Other environmental impacts
Carcinogenic air emissions near sterilisers and plants; EO residues in food.
Levers to cut emissions
- Higher-selectivity silver catalysts (each point of selectivity cuts CO2 and ethylene use, indicative).
- Capturing the pure process CO2 stream for urea, beverages or storage.
- Low-carbon ethylene (bio-ethanol or electric cracking).
- Electric or heat-pump steam.
India
India Glycols is one of the few bio-based EO producers globally. Reliance and IOCL EO units use fossil ethylene.
Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.Low-carbon routes
| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bio-EO from sugarcane or molasses ethanol | lower; biogenic carbon (not published) | depends on ethanol price | India Glycols, Kashipur, makes EO and glycols from ethanol (company) | India Glycols (company disclosures) |
| EO plant CO2 capture | removes the 0.3-0.4 t process CO2 | low, about $20-40/t CO2 because the stream is pure (indicative) | several Gulf and US EO plants sell CO2 to urea or food uses (indicative) | indicative |