Oil Industry Watches as ’War on Plastics’ Gathers Pace

摘要

Just weeks into the new year, and it’s already looking like 2018 could be pivotal in the growing “war on plastics,” similar to the “war on diesel” that dominated headlines in the last couple of years, as concerns, particularly about marine pollution by plastics, become a mainstream political issue around the world (IOD Jan.8’18). This raises questions about high oil and gas industry hopes for future growth in demand for petrochemicals, which most plastic is made from (IOD Nov.16’17). However, many experts still expect global plastic demand will continue to expand in the years ahead — based on its versatility as a lightweight and strong material that’s being increasingly used, for example, in the construction of electric vehicles and aircraft (NE Dec.21’17).