# Plasticisers: Emissions

Why most plasticiser carbon comes before the reactor

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/plasticisers/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 2.50 t CO2e per t range about 2-3.5 · indicative: 0.38 t anhydride and 0.67 t 2-EH, each roughly 1.5-2.5 t CO2e/t cradle-to-gate, plus esterification steam Global emissions per year 24.0 Mt CO2e per year 2024 · about 9.5 Mt x 2.5 t CO2e/t (indicative)

Per t of plasticiser, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative (basis: stoichiometry and typical petrochemical intermediate footprints). Global total: indicative.

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 75% Production / process 20% Movement 5%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 1.9 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 75% | oxo-alcohol and anhydride production from propylene and xylenes | Share indicative. | indicative |
| **Production / process** | about 0.5 t (indicative) | 20% | steam for esterification and stripping | Share indicative. | indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.1 t (indicative) | 5% | tanker and ISO-tank freight | Share indicative. | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable for CO2 | – | migration and leaching from products | Human exposure to phthalates through food packaging, toys and medical devices. | indicative |
| **End of life** | about 2.7 t CO2 per t of DOP if incinerated (74% carbon by weight, stoichiometric) | – | landfill or incineration of PVC | Plasticisers leach in landfill; mechanical recycling of PVC carries legacy phthalates. | indicative |

#### Other environmental impacts

Endocrine disruption concerns for DEHP and other low phthalates; plasticisers are among the most common indoor and environmental contaminants.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Bio-based plasticisers (ESBO, citrates, isosorbide esters)
- Bio-propylene or bio-naphtha-based oxo-alcohols (mass balance)
- Lower-carbon steam for esterification
- Polymeric plasticisers that do not migrate

#### India

India's plasticiser use is DOP-heavy and import-reliant for 2-EH; no Indian LCA figures found.
 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-based plasticisers from vegetable oils** | not published | not published | commercial at small scale (ESBO widely used as co-plasticiser) | indicative |

 For a climate investor The opportunity is substitution rather than decarbonisation: safer non-phthalate and bio-based esters for medical, toy and export markets, and local supply of 2-EH and anhydrides in India behind trade defence. It needs a cost gap of only a few hundred dollars a tonne to DOP and steady regulatory pull.

## Other sections

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