Plastics

At a time when the world is looking for more sustainable ways of living and doing business, plastics face two major issues: the use of fossil resources and a lot of plastic waste is not properly managed, polluting the planet. Transitioning to renewable plastics is crucial to addressing these challenges.

Fossil resources leave a significant carbon footprint for plastic products. By 2050, plastics could make up 20 % of global oil and gas consumption and account for 2.8 gigatons of GHG emissions per year*. It is clear that in striving for net-zero emissions, the use of fossil resources in plastics must be reduced significantly.

_{*CIEL: Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet, 2019}

Renewable and recycled plastics

At the same time, a vast majority of plastic waste worldwide is not being recycled. Most of it ends up incinerated, in landfills or – in the worst case scenario – in the environment.

In fact, less than 10 percent of plastic waste gets recycled**. This is not only a waste of resources, but mismanagement and landfilling of plastic waste also lead to significant environmental damages.

Products and innovation

Global GHG emissions from plastics production & incineration

1.3 GT

2030

2.8 GT

2050

Plastics are prominently associated with these two issues. In fact, the negative impacts often overshadow the positive properties of the material: the numerous applications that rely on plastics and their benefits.

Reducing the use of plastics may be a valid concept for some applications—and it should be a priority in solving the plastics dilemma—but it won’t be the solution for all applications. The same is true for reusing plastics: from a sustainability and resource efficiency point of view, wherever more sustainable plastics can be utilized, they always should be reused to maximize their environmental benefits.

In addition to reducing and reusing plastics, the replacement of fossil materials in plastics and a significant transition from incineration and landfilling of plastics to recycling should be prioritized. Embracing circular plastics, where materials are kept in circulation, adds value to waste and reduces the need for virgin raw materials. This approach not only minimizes waste but also contributes to a more sustainable plastics economy.

World plastics production 2021 graphic | Neste

Solving the plastics dilemma is no simple task, but a crucial one if we wish to continue to enjoy the benefits they offer. We must ensure plastics can serve their purpose in a more sustainable world.

Products and innovation

A solution: Neste RE™

Our approach to enabling the plastics industry's transition away from fossil is simple: change the source of the carbon, do not change the product. Neste RE™ is a raw material for the production of plastics that can replace fossil raw materials for steam crackers.