Linear alkylbenzene: Emissions

A footprint released when detergent breaks down

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 1.5-2.5 · kerosene refining, benzene production and paraffin dehydrogenation Global emissions per year 8.40 Mt CO2e per year 2024 · 1.9 t x 4.4 Mt

Per t of LAB, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative (basis: ecoinvent-based detergent LCAs). Global total: derived (indicative).

Share of footprint by lifecycle phase

Feedstock 58% Production / process 37% Movement 5%

Footprint by lifecycle phase

Phase	Intensity	Share	Main sources of emissions	Notes	Source
Feedstock	about 1.1 t CO2e per t	58%	benzene (about 1.86 t CO2e per t, Plastics Europe via benzene tile) x 0.34 t, plus kerosene refining	fossil carbon embedded in product	indicative
Production / process	about 0.7 t CO2e per t	37%	dehydrogenation furnaces, distillation		indicative
Movement	about 0.1 t CO2e per t	5%	chemical tankers		indicative
Use	about 3.2 t CO2 per t	–	LAS biodegrades in wastewater and rivers	LAB is about 88% carbon, all fossil, so complete biodegradation releases about 3.2 t CO2 per t LAB (stoichiometric)	stoichiometry (indicative)
End of life	included in use phase	–	biodegradation	untreated grey water in India and Africa leaves LAS in rivers, where it is toxic to aquatic life at high levels	indicative

Other environmental impacts

Aquatic toxicity of LAS where sewage is untreated; HF risk at older plants.

Levers to cut emissions

Switch alkylation from HF to solid acid
Renewable power and heat at dehydrogenation
Bio-based or bio-attributed n-paraffins and benzene (mass balance)
Substitution by plant-based surfactants, though these carry palm-oil land-use impacts

India

Not published for India; most Indian LAB comes from integrated refineries (Reliance, IOC) and imports from the Gulf.

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-attributed LAB via mass balance from renewable feedstock	not published	not published	offered by some European producers (indicative)	indicative

For a climate investor LAB is a stable, growing detergent input rather than a decarbonisation hotspot; its biggest emissions are the fossil carbon released when LAS biodegrades. The climate angle is bio-based surfactant substitution (fatty alcohols, MES, biosurfactants) and wastewater treatment in India. What has to be true: bio-surfactants matching LAS cost in powders and bars, and supply chains that avoid deforestation.