Post #1833277
2026-05-01 01:16 UTC
@resplendent606
Speaking of which, the media are all about the fuel and fertilizer shortages because of Hormuz, but the cost of plastics is also going to rise because—surprise!—plastics are made from petroleum, too
Replies (1)
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@resplendent606@climatejustice.social 2026-05-01 02:37
@DelilahTech It’s even wilder when you look at the feedstocks. Ethane, the byproduct that makes most plastic, is essentially a waste resource of gas and oil extraction. We often have so much of it that it’s just flared (burned) off at the wellhead because there’s nowhere to put it. The industry has spent decades building "cracker plants" just to find a way to monetize this byproduct by turning it into single use plastic. Theoretically, we have enough of the trash gas to keep making plastic for a long time, regardless of oil shortages. The high prices are often more about the energy cost of the manufacturing plants than a lack of raw material.