# Insecticides: Emissions

Why long batch syntheses make insecticides carbon heavy

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/insecticides/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 19.3 kg CO2e per kg a.i. range about 10-30 by molecule (indicative) · 18.23 kg fossil CO2, 0.035 kg CH4 and 0.00034 kg N2O per kg a.i., converted with AR5 GWPs Global emissions per year 13.0 Mt CO2e per year 2022 · about 0.7 Mt a.i. x 19.3 kg CO2e/kg (indicative)

Per kg of insecticide active ingredient, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: Field to Market impact factors, based on Audsley et al. (2009) and Green (1987). Global total: derived (indicative).

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 36% Production / process 58% Movement 6%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 7 kg CO2e per kg a.i. (indicative) | 36% | aromatics, chlorine, phosphorus, bromine and fluorinated intermediates |  | indicative split |
| **Production / process** | about 11 kg CO2e per kg a.i. (indicative) | 58% | long batch syntheses, solvent use and recovery, coal steam, waste incineration |  | indicative split |
| **Movement** | about 1 kg CO2e per kg a.i. (indicative) | 6% | container shipping and distribution |  | indicative |
| **Use** | outside cradle-to-gate | – | spraying fuel; fumigant sulfuryl fluoride is itself a greenhouse gas with GWP of about 4,000-5,000 (indicative) | toxicity to bees, aquatic life and people is the main use-phase impact | indicative |
| **End of life** | small | – | degradation in soil and water; empty containers | neonicotinoids persist in soil and water (indicative) | indicative |

#### Other environmental impacts

Pollinator losses, aquatic toxicity, farmer poisoning, residues on food, and pest resistance. These usually matter more than the carbon footprint.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Biological insecticides and pheromone mating disruption
- Integrated pest management that cuts spray counts
- Low-dose, selective chemistries
- Renewable steam and solvent recovery at plants

#### India

India's insecticide use is high in cotton, rice and vegetables; the government promotes integrated pest management and natural farming (indicative).
 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Pheromone mating disruption (e.g. for pink bollworm)** | very low doses per hectare (indicative) | higher per hectare than a generic spray (indicative) | commercial in cotton, fruit and vineyards; Indian pilots in cotton (indicative) | indicative |
| **Fermentation-based biologicals (Bt, spinosad, baculoviruses)** | not published | moderate | commercial; Corteva spinosyns, many Indian Bt makers | indicative |

 For a climate investor The opportunity is in replacing old, toxic generics: biologicals, pheromones and precision application, plus Indian custom manufacturing of new low-dose molecules. What has to be true: faster registration of biologicals in India and Brazil, and farmers seeing equal yields at similar cost.

## Other sections

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