Plastic is Carbon: Unwrapping the Net Zero Myth

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law and GAIA argues that the concept of "net-zero plastic" is a greenwashing tactic used by the petrochemical industry to justify expanded production, asserting that plastic is inherently carbon-based and incompatible with climate solutions.

• The production and incineration of plastics are projected to consume up to 13% of the global carbon budget necessary to restrict global temperature increases to 1.5°C. Greenhouse gas emissions occur throughout the entire plastic life cycle, including extraction, transport, production, manufacture, waste management, incineration, and environmental pollution.
• The report identifies and refutes five industry arguments claiming plastics can be part of a climate solution: the possibility of emissions-free production via clean energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS); the use of plastic waste as carbon-free fuel; the creation of carbon-sink plastics without oil and gas; the use of offset schemes and green credits to mitigate pollution; and the use of bioplastics.
• The author concludes that the 'net zero' narrative is used to maintain business-as-usual practices and distract policymakers from the necessary action of reducing plastic production.

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} }