Plastic production consumes almost half of Dutch industrial gas consumption

When looking at all sectors (including households) and Europe as a whole, 9% of gas and 8% of oil is used for plastics. In the Netherlands and Belgium, that share rises: 19 and 18 per cent of gas is used for plastic production. This is all stated in the report “ Winter is coming. Plastic has to go ” published by Break Free From Plastic and the Center for International Environmental Law on Tuesday 27 September. In the report, BFFP and CIEL write that European policymakers are primarily looking to consumers for gas savings. But with its high oil and gas consumption, the plastics industry should actually be the first sector in line for gas and oil savings. It is much more effective if the EU cuts energy-intensive plastic production, thereby promoting Europe's energy independence. According to the industry itself, 40.5 per cent of all plastic production goes into single-use plastic packaging. Many of these single-use packages are unnecessary or replaceable. They also end up as litter in the environment far too often. Delphine Lévi Alvarès, European coordinator of the Break Free From Plastic movement, says: “Plastics and petrochemicals are the largest industrial users of oil and gas in the EU. Not including this sector in the European Save Gas for a Safer Winter plan is a serious mistake. While families and small businesses face skyrocketing energy bills, the petrochemical industry is wasting scarce resources on producing unnecessary single-use plastic, fueling the energy crisis in the EU”. Director Rob Buurman of environmental organisation Recycling Network Benelux responds: “This report indicates that the plastics industry has a much larger share in oil and gas use than we could have ever imagined. We demand that European and national governments take immediate action to turn off that tap. This allows us to kill several birds with one stone. In addition to the climate and independence from gas and oil, less plastic production is also better for the environment. For example, at least a third of the litter in the Netherlands consists of packaging, largely made of plastics, which ends up in the plastic soup in the sea, among other places. Apart from the plastics industry, which therefore has to step up quickly, saving gas and oil by other sectors naturally also remains important”. Documents Press Release Report Webpage of the report In the media Deutsche Welle, Can reducing plastic production ease the energy crisis?, 27 September 2022 Break Free From Plastic and Center for International Environmental Law Break Free From Plastic is a global movement that envisions a future free from plastic pollution. Since its launch in September 2016, more than 1,900 non-governmental organisations and individuals from across the globe have joined the movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics and to push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. These organisations share the common values of environmental protection and social justice, which guide their work at the community level and represent a global, unified vision. In Europe, Break Free From Plastic has more than 100 core organisations covering all European sub-regions and possessing expertise across the entire plastic value chain. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is a non-profit legal organisation that uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. CIEL carries out its mission through legal research and advocacy, education, and training, with a focus on connecting global challenges with the experiences of communities on the ground. In this process, we build and maintain lasting partnerships with communities and non-profit organisations worldwide. Press contact report BFFP and CIEL: Michael Luzé, luzemichael@yahoo.fr

When looking at all sectors (including households) and Europe as a whole, 9% of gas and 8% of oil is used for plastics. In the Netherlands and Belgium, that share rises: 19 and 18 per cent of gas is used for plastic production.

This is all stated in the report “Winter is coming. Plastic has to go” published by Break Free From Plastic and the Center for International Environmental Law on Tuesday 27 September.

In the report, BFFP and CIEL write that European policymakers are primarily looking to consumers for gas savings. But with its high oil and gas consumption, the plastics industry should actually be the first sector in line for gas and oil savings. It is much more effective if the EU cuts energy-intensive plastic production, thereby promoting Europe's energy independence.

According to the industry itself, 40.5 per cent of all plastic production goes into single-use plastic packaging. Many of these single-use packages are unnecessary or replaceable. They also end up as litter in the environment far too often.

Delphine Lévi Alvarès, European coordinator of the Break Free From Plastic movement, says: “Plastics and petrochemicals are the largest industrial users of oil and gas in the EU. Not including this sector in the European Save Gas for a Safer Winter plan is a serious mistake. While families and small businesses face skyrocketing energy bills, the petrochemical industry is wasting scarce resources on producing unnecessary single-use plastic, fueling the energy crisis in the EU”.

Director Rob Buurman of environmental organisation Recycling Network Benelux responds: “This report indicates that the plastics industry has a much larger share in oil and gas use than we could have ever imagined. We demand that European and national governments take immediate action to turn off that tap. This allows us to kill several birds with one stone. In addition to the climate and independence from gas and oil, less plastic production is also better for the environment. For example, at least a third of the litter in the Netherlands consists of packaging, largely made of plastics, which ends up in the plastic soup in the sea, among other places. Apart from the plastics industry, which therefore has to step up quickly, saving gas and oil by other sectors naturally also remains important”.

Documents

Press Release Report Webpage of the report

In the media

Deutsche Welle, Can reducing plastic production ease the energy crisis?, 27 September 2022

Break Free From Plastic and Center for International Environmental Law

Break Free From Plastic is a global movement that envisions a future free from plastic pollution. Since its launch in September 2016, more than 1,900 non-governmental organisations and individuals from across the globe have joined the movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics and to push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. These organisations share the common values of environmental protection and social justice, which guide their work at the community level and represent a global, unified vision. In Europe, Break Free From Plastic has more than 100 core organisations covering all European sub-regions and possessing expertise across the entire plastic value chain.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is a non-profit legal organisation that uses the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. CIEL carries out its mission through legal research and advocacy, education, and training, with a focus on connecting global challenges with the experiences of communities on the ground. In this process, we build and maintain lasting partnerships with communities and non-profit organisations worldwide.

Press contact report BFFP and CIEL: Michael Luzé, luzemichael@yahoo.fr