section_path: Environmental effects/Greenhouse gas emissions
section_name: Greenhouse gas emissions
paragraph_text: Greenhouse gas emissions
  
  According to the OECD, plastic contributed greenhouse gases in the equivalent of 1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO) to the atmosphere in 2019, 3.4% of global emissions. They say that by 2060, plastic could emit 4.3 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year.
  
  The effect of plastics on global warming is mixed. Plastics are generally made from fossil gas or petroleum, thus the production of plastics creates further fugitive emissions of methane when the fossil gas or petroleum is produced. Also, much of the energy used in plastic production is not sustainable energy, for example high temperature from burning fossil gas. However, plastics can also limit methane emissions, for example packaging to reduce food waste.
  
  A study from 2024 found that compared to glass and aluminum, plastic may actually have less of a negative effect on the environment and therefore might be the best option for must food packaging and other common uses. The study found that, "replacing plastics with alternatives is worse for greenhouse gas emissions in most cases." and that the study involving European researchers found, "15 of the 16 applications a plastic product incurs fewer greenhouse gas emissions than their alternatives."