CO2 Footprinting in the Chemical Industry

This paper provides a brief global perspective to the GHG issue as it impacts the petrochemical industry and then focuses on the factors of developing carbon footprints for processes and products in the chemical industry. Using results from our recent studies we illustrate the complexities of determining footprint for one of the largest volume chemicals,polyethylene. This presentation discusses how factors like:

• Cracker Feedstock • Polyethylene technology utilized • Facility location • CO2 allocation method

Can all result in wide variation in the determination of the footprint for polyethylene.

Based on these results we examine the problems that the industry will face as regulations and labeling requirements are imposed and discuss the need for the industry to adopt consistent methodology so that each product the industry produces are evaluated fairly.