# Monoethylene glycol: Emissions

Why coal-route MEG carries 4-6 t of CO2e a tonne

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/meg/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 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 |

 For a climate investor The most investable lever is circular polyester: recycled PET, textile-to-textile recycling and depolymerisation back to MEG and PTA, where India's large polyester base gives scale. Bio-MEG works in India only if surplus ethanol exists beyond fuel blending. Both need brand-owner premiums or recycled content mandates to clear their cost gap.

## Other sections

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