Plastic is Carbon: Unwrapping the Net Zero Myth

The document asserts that plastic is fundamentally carbon and cannot be part of a climate solution, as its production and incineration are projected to consume up to 13% of the global carbon budget for a 1.5°C limit. It systematically refutes five industry claims regarding emissions-free production, carbon-free fuel, carbon sinks, offset schemes, and bioplastics, concluding that these narratives divert policymakers from the necessary goal of reducing plastic production.

• The production and incineration of plastics are projected to consume as much as 13% of the remaining global carbon budget necessary to keep global temperature increases within 1.5°C.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2021). Plastic is Carbon: Unwrapping the Net Zero Myth. https://www.ciel.org/reports/plastic-is-carbon-unwrapping-the-net-zero-myth/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Plastic is Carbon: Unwrapping the Net Zero Myth. 2021. https://www.ciel.org/reports/plastic-is-carbon-unwrapping-the-net-zero-myth/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Plastic is Carbon: Unwrapping the Net Zero Myth |date=30 October 2021 |url=https://www.ciel.org/reports/plastic-is-carbon-unwrapping-the-net-zero-myth/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2021plastic, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Plastic is Carbon: Unwrapping the Net Zero Myth}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ciel.org/reports/plastic-is-carbon-unwrapping-the-net-zero-myth/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }