# Styrene: Emissions

Most of the footprint arrives with the feedstock

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/styrene/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 2.80 t CO2e per t range 2.3-3.5 · indicative (basis: 0.79 t benzene x 1.86 + 0.28 t ethylene x 1.44 from Plastics Europe values, plus about 0.9 t CO2e per t for dehydrogenation steam and power) Global emissions per year 98.0 Mt CO2e per year 2024 · 2.8 t CO2e/t x 35 Mt (indicative)

Per t of styrene, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: derived from Plastics Europe Public LCI Database via Climatiq; indicative. Global total: derived.

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 66% Production / process 31% Movement 3%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 1.87 t CO2e per t (benzene and ethylene) | 66% | Upstream benzene and ethylene footprints | Coal-based utilities in China raise it | derived |
| **Production / process** | about 0.9 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 31% | Superheated steam for dehydrogenation at about 600 C | Hydrogen by-product is usually burnt as fuel | indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.05-0.1 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 3% | Tanker shipping |  | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable | – | Intermediate | Residual styrene emissions from UPR curing | n/a |
| **End of life** | about 3.4 t CO2 per t of polystyrene if incinerated (92.3% carbon) | – | PS and EPS are rarely recycled; much is landfilled or littered | Polystyrene can be depolymerised back to styrene | stoichiometry |

#### Other environmental impacts

Plastic litter from PS and EPS packaging; styrene vapour exposure; accident risk shown by the 2020 Vizag leak.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Polystyrene depolymerisation back to styrene monomer
- Electrified or heat-pump steam for dehydrogenation
- Using by-product hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel or chemical
- Replacing EPS packaging with fibre-based materials

#### India

India's styrene footprint is imported, embedded in Gulf and Asian supply. Domestic action is downstream, through the 2022 single-use plastics ban and EPR rules for packaging (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Chemical recycling of polystyrene to styrene monomer (e.g. Agilyx, Pyrowave, INEOS Styrolution projects)** | not published | not published | pilot and demonstration plants (indicative) | indicative |
| **Bio-based styrene via bio-benzene and bio-ethylene (mass balance)** | not published | not published | mass-balance certified volumes sold in Europe (indicative) | indicative |

 For a climate investor Polystyrene is one of the few plastics that depolymerises cleanly back to monomer, which makes PS recycling a real opportunity if collection and sorting work. In India, EPR obligations on packaging could make EPS and PS collection pay. What has to be true is reliable feedstock and buyers willing to pay for recycled-content styrenics.

## Other sections

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