# Linear alkylbenzene: Emissions

A footprint released when detergent breaks down

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab/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 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.

## Other sections

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