Report from Break Free From Plastic

and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

A new report from Break Free From Plastic and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) explores the European market for plastics and petrochemicals, arguing that the EU can advance energy security by making cuts to these energy-intensive industries. Read the Executive or Full Report.

The top three findings in the September report show: 

• Plastic production is by far the largest industrial oil, gas, and electricity user in the EU, overshadowing other energy-intensive industries. Yet, this extremely high fossil fuel-consuming industry remains a complete oversight in the EU public energy and climate debates. This is despite clear and feasible pathways to reduce consumption of one of its main products: plastic.

• In the EU in 2020, 38% of the gas and 22% of the oil came from Russia, making the energy-intensive petrochemical industry significantly reliant on Russian fossil fuels.

• To regain international leadership in fighting the climate and plastic pollution crises and to protect its citizens from escalating prices and resulting conflicts, the EU needs to confront and drastically reduce virgin plastic production.

Read more: https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/winter-is-coming/