The impact of plastics on the climate and health is greater than thought due to increased use of coal for process heat, electricity and as a raw material in production. Global demand has quadrupled in the last forty years and is expected to continue to rise. Its carbon footprint has doubled since 1995, reaching 2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent in 2015. This represents 4.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and is more than previously thought. Over that period, the plastics global health footprint from fine particulate air pollution has increased by 70%, causing approximately 2.2 million disability-adjusted life years in 2015.
Story Source: ETH Zurich.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211202113504.htm