Report: Plastics contribute to climate change
By Jim Therrien | October 21, 2021 | Bennington Banner
BENNINGTON — Plastics are on track to contribute more climate change emissions than coal plants by 2030, a new report from a nationwide initiative at Bennington College concludes.
As fossil fuel companies seek to recoup falling profits, the report released Thursday by Beyond Plastics found that the firms are increasing plastics production and canceling out greenhouse gas reductions gained from the recent closures of 65 percent of the country’s coal-fired power plants.
“The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change” by Beyond Plastics analyzes never-before-compiled data of 10 stages of plastics production, usage and disposal, according to a statement issued Thursday, and finds that “the U.S. plastics industry is releasing at least 232 million tons of greenhouse gases each year, the equivalent of 116 average-sized coal-fired power plants.”
And that number is growing quickly, the report states.
In 2020, the plastics industry’s reported emissions increased by 10 million tons of greenhouse gas over 2019. Construction is currently underway on another 12 plastics facilities, and 15 more are planned. According to the report, altogether these expansions may emit more than 40 million more tons of greenhouse gases annually by 2025.
“The fossil fuel industry is losing money from its traditional markets of power generation and transportation,” said Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator and president of Beyond Plastics.