New study identifies pitfalls with the vision of circular carbon: mitigation deterrance and negative environmental impact
In a new study, researchers from Lund University, and active in STEPS, analyse the emerging vision of circular carbon, a new mitigation strategy promoted by the plastic and petrochemical industry, who are under increasing pressure to square its production with the climate and plastic pollution crises. The study reveals how this vision risks delaying other actions to combat climate change as well as efforts to end plastic pollution.
Ellen Palm is a dotoral student at Environmental and Energy Systems, Lund University.
The study, published in Environmental Science and Policy, is based on extensive document analysis, field observations at industry trade fairs and interviews with representatives from petrochemical companies.
– The problem is not specific technologies or the notion of circular as such but rather what we do not do on the basis of this grand vision. There is a real chance that we do not change consumption patterns and end up placing all our bets on risky technology and rational planning that might not be possible, says Joachim Tilsted, doctoral student at Environmental and Energy Systems Studies, Lund University, and one of the authors of the study.
Joachim Peter Tilsted is a dotoral student at Environmental and Energy Systems, Lund University.
Today, petrochemical plastics are produced at massive scales. In Europe, we use around 150 kilos per person per year, and the total mass of plastics in the world today outweighs all animals and humans combined.
Joachim Tilsted, and co-author Ellen Palm, doctoral student at Environmental and Energy Systems Studies, Lund University, explain that it is the need to find a solution to the climate damage of petrochemical plastics that is driving the increasingly popular vision of circular carbon, promoted by global chemistry companies such as BASF and SABIC and large food and drinks companies like Unilever. It is also supported by business organisations (Cefic), governmental actors (European Commission) and think tanks (Nova Institute).
Vision views society through a carbon lens
The vision builds on the collection, capture, and utilisation of highly diversified forms of carbon-based sources such as plastic waste, carbon dioxide, plants, algae, and sometimes fossil fuels. These carbon sources are imagined to provide the necessary carbon feedstock for the growing production of plastics and other carbon-based chemicals in the petrochemical industry. Making these flows of carbon more “circular” requires technologies that can capture carbon and create feedstock for new petrochemicals and plastics. They include carbon capture and storage, carbon capture and utilisation, carbon farming, negative emission technologies, direct air capture, and chemical recycling.
Mitigation deterrence, risks and negative environmental impact
Based on their analysis, the researchers identify a number of concerns with the emerging vision. 1. Mitigation deterrence: since the vision focuses so narrowly on the management of carbon sources and flows, it risks delaying crucial mitigation strategies such as reuse and recycle practices to combat plastic pollution, reduced plastics production or lifestyle changes. 2. Risks and negative environmental and societal impact: the vision frames out any risks connected to the implementation of large-scale technologies, which do not yet exist at scale, for example their high energy demand, innovation dependance, and economic feasibility. It also overlooks how using limited biomass for plastic and petrochemical production can impact negatively on biodiversity, ecosystems and food production.
– Pointing out the pitfalls of this view is important as the vision is gaining more and more traction among the petrochemical industry, says Ellen Palm.
Going forward, the researchers wish to see more discussion of how circular carbon strategies can be rolled out in a way that simultaneously promote just transitions, and an industry agreement on the need to reduce plastic production and oil extraction on a large scale.
– To succeed with a decarbonisation, we need both innovative technologies as well as substantial changes to the way we make use of plastic, says Ellen Palm.