Acrylics (PMMA): Emissions
Why acrylic glass carries a heavy footprint
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 4.50 t CO2e per t range 3.5-6.5 · indicative (basis: Plastics Europe PMMA eco-profiles of about 3.8-6 kg CO2e/kg; ACH route with acid regeneration at the high end) Global emissions per year 11.0 Mt CO2e per year 2024 · about 2.4 Mt x 4.5 t CO2e/t (derived, indicative)Per t of PMMA (pellets or sheet), cradle-to-gate. Intensity: Plastics Europe eco-profiles (indicative). Global total: derived.
Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
Feedstock 64% Production / process 33% Movement 2%Footprint by lifecycle phase
| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feedstock | about 2.9 t CO2e/t | 64% | acetone (cumene chain), HCN, methanol, isobutylene or ethylene | methanol from coal in China raises this | indicative |
| Production / process | about 1.5 t CO2e/t | 33% | sulphuric acid regeneration by combustion in ACH plants; polymerisation and casting heat | C4 and ethylene routes avoid acid regeneration | indicative |
| Movement | about 0.1 t CO2e/t | 2% | shipping MMA and resin | small | indicative |
| Use | not applicable | – | inert | long-lived in buildings and signs | n/a |
| End of life | about 2.2 t CO2 per t if incinerated (calculated from 60% carbon) | – | landfill, incineration or depolymerisation | depolymerisation recovers MMA at high yield (indicative) | calculated (indicative) |
Other environmental impacts
HCN toxicity risk; spent acid handling; VOC emissions of MMA during casting.
Levers to cut emissions
- Depolymerisation of PMMA scrap back to MMA (EU MMAtwo project; Trinseo and Mitsubishi Chemical recycling programmes; indicative).
- Shift from ACH to ethylene-based or C4 routes that avoid spent acid regeneration.
- Low-carbon methanol and renewable power.
- Bio-based acetone or isobutylene under mass balance (indicative).
India
India's PMMA footprint is mostly embedded in imports. There is no domestic MMA plant identified in sources reached, so a new plant would be the place to choose a non-ACH, low-carbon route.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemically recycled MMA from PMMA scrap | about 60-75% lower than virgin (indicative, project claims) | not published | pilot to small commercial scale in Europe and Japan (indicative) | indicative |
| Ethylene-based LiMA MMA | lower than ACH (company claim; not quantified in sources reached) | claimed lowest cost | Röhm Baytown 250 kt/yr since March 2025 | Chemical Week, May 2025 |