# Propylene: Emissions

Crackers, PDH or coal: very different footprints

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/propylene/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 1.50 t CO2e per t range about 1.0-2.0 for crackers and PDH; about 5-7 for coal-to-olefins · cradle-to-gate, global average (indicative) Global emissions per year 205 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · about 1.5 t x about 137 Mt (indicative)

Per t of propylene, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative (basis: Chemistry World 2024 for cracking; IEA 2018; Plastics Europe eco-profiles). Global total: derived (indicative).

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 33% Production / process 64% Movement 3%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 0.5 t CO2e per t | 33% | Oil and gas production, propane export shipping, coal mining | Higher for imported propane and coal | indicative |
| **Production / process** | about 0.95 t CO2e per t | 64% | Cracker and PDH furnace fuel, compression | PDH is endothermic; CTO adds gasification CO2 | indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.05 t CO2e per t | 3% | Pipeline and shipping | small | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable | – | Converted to PP and other products | carbon stays in product | n/a |
| **End of life** | about 3.1 t CO2 per t if PP is incinerated | – | PP disposal route | PP recycling rates are low | stoichiometric (PP is 86% carbon) |

#### Other environmental impacts

Downstream plastic leakage from PP packaging; flaring at PDH and crackers.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Electric cracking and electric PDH heating (pilots only).
- Using PDH by-product hydrogen as low-carbon fuel or for sale.
- Coal-to-olefins with CCS or replacement by gas routes.
- Mechanical and chemical recycling of PP.
- Bio-propylene via bio-naphtha or bio-propane under mass balance.

#### India

India's propylene is mainly from refinery FCC units and naphtha crackers; no low-carbon propylene projects are announced (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-naphtha or HVO-derived feed in crackers** | lower cradle-to-gate under mass balance (not published by plant) | high; bio-naphtha trades well above fossil naphtha (indicative) | Neste, Borealis, LyondellBasell supply ISCC Plus certified bio-PP | indicative |
| **Electrified crackers** | up to 90% lower process CO2 | power-price dependent | BASF/SABIC/Linde demonstrator since April 2024 | Chemistry World 2024 |

 For a climate investor Propylene decarbonisation follows ethylene's: electric heating and clean hydrogen use. Because Chinese PDH has overbuilt, new low-carbon capacity is hard to justify on volume, so the opening is in recycled PP and certified bio-PP sold at a premium to brand owners. In India, growing PP demand and import dependence make recycled PP compounding a nearer-term opportunity.

## Other sections

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