# Hydrogen peroxide: Emissions

Grey hydrogen inside a green bleach

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/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 1.20 t CO2e per t range about 0.8-1.8 · grey hydrogen from SMR (about 0.06 t H2 x about 9-10 t CO2/t H2) plus steam and power for distillation Global emissions per year 7.00 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · 1.2 t/t x about 6 Mt (indicative)

Per t of 100% H2O2, cradle-to-gate, AO process. Intensity: Derived (indicative); consistent with ecoinvent-type AO process data. Global total: Derived (indicative).

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 46% Production / process 46% Movement 8%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 0.55 t CO2e per t | 46% | Hydrogen from natural gas | Chlor-alkali by-product hydrogen carries a lower allocated burden | Indicative |
| **Production / process** | about 0.55 t CO2e per t | 46% | Steam and power for oxidation, extraction and distillation | Grid carbon intensity matters | Indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.1 t CO2e per t | 8% | Road tankers carrying 30-50% water | Shipping water raises transport emissions per t of 100% peroxide | Indicative |
| **Use** | none | – | Decomposes to water and oxygen | Replaces chlorine-based bleaching and avoids AOX in effluent | Indicative |
| **End of life** | not applicable | – | Consumed in use | No persistent residue | Indicative |

#### Other environmental impacts

Solvent (VOC) emissions from AO plants; accident risk; benefits from displacing chlorine bleaching.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Low-carbon hydrogen (electrolytic or chlor-alkali by-product)
- Heat integration and mechanical vapour recompression in distillation
- Renewable power for compressors
- On-site electrochemical peroxide for dilute uses, avoiding transport

#### India

Indian producers that are also chlor-alkali makers (GACL, Aditya Birla, Meghmani, Chemplast) use by-product hydrogen, which lowers the footprint. Plant-level data were not found.
 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **AO process with electrolytic hydrogen** | about 0.4-0.6 t CO2e per t with low-carbon power (indicative) | depends on green hydrogen cost; hydrogen is a minor share of total cost (indicative) | not reported at scale in sources used | Indicative |
| **Electrochemical on-site generation** | near zero with renewable power (indicative) | higher per tonne, but no transport | small commercial units (indicative) | Indicative |

 For a climate investor Peroxide is a small but useful green-hydrogen offtake: hydrogen is a modest share of its cost, so a premium for green hydrogen raises peroxide cost only a little. It also replaces chlorine in bleaching and water treatment. The case needs a reliable local buyer, such as an HPPO or textile cluster. Indian chlor-alkali groups and Western producers such as Solvay and Evonik are positioned.

## Other sections

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