122
The energy savings that can be attributed to the use of plastics varies signifi cantly
according to the application area, with packaging being by far the most important.
A conservative estimate of the impact of the total plastics market has been made by
extrapolation using only half of the energy savings and GHG emission reductions of
the quoted examples.
The results show that the total life cycle energy needed to produce, use and
recover plastic products in Europe (EU27 + 2) is 4.300 million GJ/a and the total life
cycle GHG emissions are 200 Mt/a.2 Furthermore it can be concluded that substitution of plastic products by other materials wherever possible would need around
57 % (1.500–3.300 million GJ/a) more energy than currently used in the total life
cycle of all plastic products today. In the same way, substitution of plastic products
up to the theoretical maximum would cause 78–170 Mt or about 61 % more GHG
emissions than the total life cycle of all plastic products today.
In other words, the plastic products on the market today have enabled energy
savings of 2.400 million GJ per year, equivalent to 53 million tonnes of crude oil
carried by 205 very large crude oil tankers.
The GHG emissions saved (124 Mt per year) are equivalent to the total CO 2
emissions of Belgium in the year 2000 (UNFCCC 2009 ) and are also equivalent to
39 % of the EU15 Kyoto target regarding the reduction of GHG emissions (Pilz
et al. 2010 ).
3.2 Evaluating Product Sustainability, a Contribution
from CEFIC
Industry has already made signifi cant achievements in sustainability, driving safe,
environmentally sound operations through its Responsible Care® scheme and corporate social responsibility activities. These efforts were started well before the
United Nations’ Rio Declaration in 1992 and have become ever more important
since.
Today, emerging regulatory and social trends around sustainability create both
pressures and opportunities for chemical companies at global and EU levels.
Legislative requirements, stakeholder expectations and companies’ own business
and Responsible Care strategies are driving the development of more sustainable
chemical products and supply chains.
Clear trends are already surfacing:
• The introduction of REACH creates new pressures on specifi c substances.
• The emergence of eco-design, Green Public Procurement (GPP), Ecolabel criteria and waste prevention schemes is creating demand for more sustainable
products.
• Rising consumer interest in sustainable goods is incentivising retailers to develop
sustainability measures for their suppliers.
P. Saling
The energy savings that can be attributed to the use of plastics varies signifi cantly
according to the application area, with packaging being by far the most important.
A conservative estimate of the impact of the total plastics market has been made by
extrapolation using only half of the energy savings and GHG emission reductions of
the quoted examples.
The results show that the total life cycle energy needed to produce, use and
recover plastic products in Europe (EU27 + 2) is 4.300 million GJ/a and the total life
cycle GHG emissions are 200 Mt/a.2 Furthermore it can be concluded that substitution of plastic products by other materials wherever possible would need around
57 % (1.500–3.300 million GJ/a) more energy than currently used in the total life
cycle of all plastic products today. In the same way, substitution of plastic products
up to the theoretical maximum would cause 78–170 Mt or about 61 % more GHG
emissions than the total life cycle of all plastic products today.
In other words, the plastic products on the market today have enabled energy
savings of 2.400 million GJ per year, equivalent to 53 million tonnes of crude oil
carried by 205 very large crude oil tankers.
The GHG emissions saved (124 Mt per year) are equivalent to the total CO 2
emissions of Belgium in the year 2000 (UNFCCC 2009 ) and are also equivalent to
39 % of the EU15 Kyoto target regarding the reduction of GHG emissions (Pilz
et al. 2010 ).
3.2 Evaluating Product Sustainability, a Contribution
from CEFIC
Industry has already made signifi cant achievements in sustainability, driving safe,
environmentally sound operations through its Responsible Care® scheme and corporate social responsibility activities. These efforts were started well before the
United Nations’ Rio Declaration in 1992 and have become ever more important
since.
Today, emerging regulatory and social trends around sustainability create both
pressures and opportunities for chemical companies at global and EU levels.
Legislative requirements, stakeholder expectations and companies’ own business
and Responsible Care strategies are driving the development of more sustainable
chemical products and supply chains.
Clear trends are already surfacing:
• The introduction of REACH creates new pressures on specifi c substances.
• The emergence of eco-design, Green Public Procurement (GPP), Ecolabel criteria and waste prevention schemes is creating demand for more sustainable
products.
• Rising consumer interest in sustainable goods is incentivising retailers to develop
sustainability measures for their suppliers.
P. Saling