# Polymer additives: Emissions

How additives help recycled plastic replace virgin polymer

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polymer_additives/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 5.00 t CO2e per t range about 3-8 · indicative: multi-step fine-chemical synthesis with solvent use and batch steam; no public LCA found

Per t of additive, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative.

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 50% Production / process 45% Movement 5%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 2.5 t (indicative) | 50% | phenol, acrylates, PCl3, metals | Share indicative. | indicative |
| **Production / process** | about 2.3 t (indicative) | 45% | batch reactors, solvents, drying | Share indicative. | indicative |
| **Movement** | small | 5% | container freight | Share indicative. | indicative |
| **Use** | net benefit | – | longer product life; clarifiers cut moulding cycle time | At 0.1-0.3% loading the additive footprint per tonne of plastic is about 5-15 kg CO2e (indicative). | indicative |
| **End of life** | not published | – | travels with the plastic | Re-stabilisation allows more cycles of mechanical recycling. | indicative |

#### Other environmental impacts

Additive leaching from plastics into the environment; lead and organotin toxicity; PFAS persistence.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Stabilisers designed for recyclate to allow more recycling loops
- Bio-based slip agents and antioxidants (tocopherol)
- Lead-free and PFAS-free formulations
- Lower-carbon steam at batch sites

#### India

No Indian footprint data found; India's EPR recycled-content targets will raise demand for recyclate stabilisers.
 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Recycling stabiliser packages** | enables recyclate that avoids virgin polymer at about 1.5-2 t CO2e/t (indicative) | not published | BASF, Songwon, Clariant and Milliken sell recyclate additives (indicative) | indicative |

 For a climate investor The climate angle is enabling: additives that let recycled polyolefins reach virgin-like quality, and lead- and PFAS-free substitutes. Opportunity in India lies in local antioxidant and stabiliser capacity as polymer output grows, but Chinese oversupply has cut margins, as Songwon's 2025 results show.

## Other sections

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