Saving Energy

Worried about climate change? Get smart - plastics save energy!

Did you know?

  • Plastics are manufactured from a gaseous by-product of the oil refining process. This by-product, ethylene, would otherwise most probably be "flared off" and wasted - and contribute to C02 emissions.
  • The lightness of plastic products and packaging contributes to huge transport energy savings.
  • Plastics help to minimise our global energy demands and are extending the life of our non-renewable resources.
  • In their lifetime, plastics help conserve resources. In spite of the numerous and varied roles plastics play in our lives they use only 4% of commercially produced oil.
  • During production, ongoing reductions (or "downgauging") in the plastic products manufactured provides increasing resource efficiency.


Plastics Recycling Saving Energy?

Recycling without purpose must be avoided. To make any economic or environmental sense there must be a demand for the recycled material or recyclate that has consumed energy in its production will accumulate to no purpose.

The weight to volume advantages of plastics which make them so effective in products or in packaging mean that decentralised collection and compaction points are desirable if valuable recycling energy is not to be lost in transporting plastics over significant distances for recycling. Breakthroughs in recycling technology, like feedstock recycling, are progressing rapidly. While still in their infancy the plastics industry is optimistic that such technologies will provide a route to increased rates of resource recovery in the future.


Plastics Converting To Heat And Energy

The energy content of waste plastics can be equivalent to coal or oil. And it is the plastics in waste, along with other combustible items, which makes the waste such a good fuel. Sweden already recovers energy from 56% of its plastics in domestic waste, providing 15% of its total district heating needs. In Denmark, 62% of plastics in domestic waste is recovered for conversion to energy. In Switzerland the figure is 72%.

While using plastics in this manner means the irretrievable loss of a resource, combustion of wastes to generate heat and energy is preferable to using virgin raw materials such as oil or coal. And as this chart shows, plastics have a very favourable heat content compared with alternative fuels.


Plastics Applications Saving Energy - Vehicle Fuel Savings

Plastics account for 25% - 30% of the components in a modem car from bumpers, to internal engine parts, to interior fittings, to the fuel tank. The associated weight reductions have improved average fuel economy by 5%. Imagine you are driving a truck full of bottles from Invercargill to Christchurch - which is going to make you use more diesel - a load of plastic or glass bottles?


Agricultural Production Savings

Plastics used in greenhouses, ground film and other plant propagation systems increase crop yields and quality by conserving energy in the plant's growing environment and protecting the crop. Increases in yields of 60% have been achieved as well as enabling out of season crop production to meet consumer demand.


Distribution Fuel Savings

The use of plastic drink bottles allows a distribution truck to carry up to 63% more drink and 83% less packaging than other alternative types of container. Fuel savings of up to 39% are achieved. Seven trucks are needed to deliver the same quantity of paper bags contained in just one truckload of plastic bags.


Insulation Savings

Many homes, cool stores, industrial buildings and home appliances rely on plastic insulation to prevent energy losses. Installing expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation, for example, means that less heating fuel - or energy for air conditioning - is required, helping to conserve valuable reserves of finite natural resources.

Insulating to the most stringent current European regulations can cut heat loss from the 'average house' by more than 70 per cent, compared with a similar non-insulated house. One kilogram of oil used in the manufacture of EPS insulation board will save the equivalent of about 200 kilograms of heating fuel over the average life of a house.


Food Spoilage Savings

Plastic packaging used to preserve meat to the point-of-sale accounts for only 2% of the energy used in producing the meat. Prevention of food spoilage is a major energy conservation activity. Around 50% of food produced in developing countries is wasted before it reaches the consumer, with much of this wastage being attributable to a lack of adequate packaging.