# Ethylene oxide: Emissions

A near-pure CO2 stream waiting to be captured

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/emissions/

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 |

 For a climate investor EO's pure CO2 vent is one of the cheapest capture opportunities in chemicals, and bio-ethanol-based EO is proven in India at India Glycols. A fund could look at capture-and-use projects at EO/MEG complexes and at bio-EO expansions tied to India's ethanol supply, provided ethanol is not diverted from the blending programme.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/links/index.md)