Monoethylene glycol: Emissions
Why coal-route MEG carries 4-6 t of CO2e a tonne
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 2.20 t CO2e per t range about 1.3-1.8 (ethylene route); about 4-6 (coal route) · global capacity-weighted average with about 20-25% coal route (indicative) Global emissions per year 77.0 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · about 2.2 t x about 35 Mt (indicative)Per t of MEG, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative (basis: EO tile and coal-chemical studies). Global total: derived (indicative).
Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
Feedstock 45% Production / process 50% Movement 5%Footprint by lifecycle phase
| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feedstock | about 1.0 t CO2e per t | 45% | Ethylene from crackers; coal mining methane | indicative | |
| Production / process | about 1.1 t CO2e per t | 50% | EO over-oxidation, evaporation steam; coal gasification CO2 | coal route dominates this phase | indicative |
| Movement | about 0.1 t CO2e per t | 5% | Long-haul tanker shipping Gulf to Asia | indicative | |
| Use | not applicable | – | Locked in polyester; antifreeze degrades | n/a | |
| End of life | about 2.3 t CO2 per t PET if incinerated | – | Polyester textiles and PET waste | PET bottles have the highest recycling rates of any plastic; textile recycling is minimal | stoichiometric (PET is about 63% carbon) |
Other environmental impacts
Coal-to-MEG uses large volumes of water in arid Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang; polyester microfibres.
Levers to cut emissions
- Recycled PET and chemical recycling of polyester (glycolysis back to MEG and BHET).
- Bio-MEG from ethanol or directly from sugars.
- Capture of EO process CO2.
- Shift away from coal routes in China.
India
India's MEG comes from naphtha-based ethylene at Reliance and IOCL and from bio-ethanol at India Glycols; India's ethanol blending programme competes for the same ethanol (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bio-MEG from sugarcane or molasses ethanol | lower fossil CO2 (not published) | not published; depends on ethanol price | India Glycols (Kashipur) supplies bio-MEG; used in partially bio-based PET bottles | India Glycols; indicative |
| Polyester depolymerisation (glycolysis, methanolysis) | about 30-70% lower than virgin (indicative) | about 10-30% (indicative) | Loop Industries, Eastman (methanolysis), Ioniqa, Indian start-ups | indicative |
| Sugar-to-MEG (direct hydrogenolysis) | not published | not published | demonstration (e.g. UPM Leuna biorefinery, Germany) | indicative |