Plastics — HDPE (Containers, Pipes)
Materials High Confidence
Carbon Cost Index Score
2 kgCO₂e / per kg
Per kg
2 kgCO₂e / kg
Methodology v1.0 · Last reviewed 2026-04-08
Scope Breakdown
| Scope | kgCO₂e | % of Total | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0.3 | 15% | |
| Scope 2 | 0.2 | 10% | |
| Scope 3 | 1.5 | 75% | |
| Total | 2 | 100% |
Emission Hotspots
| Emission Hotspot | Scope | Est. % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Ethylene production (steam cracking of naphtha or ethane) | S3 | 55% |
| HDPE polymerization (slurry or gas-phase reactor) | S2 | 15% |
| Crude oil/gas extraction and refining | S3 | 15% |
| Pelletizing and extrusion | S1 | 8% |
| Transport and logistics | S3 | 7% |
Manufacturing Geography
- Region
- USA, China, Middle East, EU
- Grid Intensity
- 390 gCO2e/kWh (IEA 2024, USA); 565 gCO2e/kWh (IEA 2024, China)
Material Composition Assumptions
The default reference product is 1 kg of HDPE resin granulate:
- Ethylene monomer: Derived from steam cracking of naphtha (oil-based, dominant in EU/Asia) or ethane (gas-based, dominant in USA/Middle East). Ethylene is the world’s most produced organic chemical.
- Catalyst: Ziegler-Natta or chromium-based catalyst system, consumed in trace quantities.
- Additives: Antioxidants, UV stabilizers, slip agents, approximately 0.1-0.5% by weight.
HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is the second most common plastic globally (~50 million tonnes/year). Applications include milk jugs, detergent bottles, pipes, and crates. Its simple polyethylene structure makes it one of the most recyclable commodity plastics.
Manufacturing Geography
HDPE production tracks ethylene cracker locations:
- USA: Major producer using cheap ethane from shale gas. Gulf Coast crackers (Dow, ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell).
- China: Growing capacity, primarily naphtha-fed crackers.
- Middle East: Gas-fed crackers (SABIC, Borouge) with low feedstock costs.
- EU: Naphtha-fed crackers in Netherlands, Germany, Belgium.
- Rationale: Ethane-fed US production has lower emissions than naphtha-fed Asian/EU production because ethane cracking is more energy-efficient and less carbon-intensive.
Regional Variation
| Production Region | Feedstock | Estimated Score (per kg) | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global average (default) | Mixed | 2.0 kgCO2e | Baseline |
| USA (ethane) | Shale gas | 1.5 kgCO2e | -25% |
| EU (naphtha) | Oil-based | 1.9 kgCO2e | -5% |
| China (naphtha) | Oil-based | 2.2 kgCO2e | +10% |
| Middle East (ethane) | Natural gas | 1.4 kgCO2e | -30% |
| Recycled HDPE | Any | 0.5-0.8 kgCO2e | -65% |
Provenance Override Guidance
- EPD for the specific HDPE resin or converted product.
- Cracker feedstock data: Ethane vs. naphtha has major impact.
- Recycled content: Verified post-consumer recycled HDPE.
- Bio-HDPE: Sugarcane-derived ethanol-to-ethylene route (Braskem Green PE) ~1.0-1.5 kgCO2e/kg.
Methodology Notes
- CCI score of 2 kgCO2e/kg is a conservative global average. PlasticsEurope reports 1.8-1.9 kgCO2e/kg; US ACC reports 1.5 kgCO2e/kg for US ethane-based production.
- Scope breakdown: Scope 3 dominates at 75% (1.5 kgCO2e/kg) from petrochemical feedstock. Scope 1 is 15% (0.3 kgCO2e/kg). Scope 2 is 10% (0.2 kgCO2e/kg).
- Confidence: High — extensive industry LCA from PlasticsEurope, ACC, and multiple EPDs.
- Functional unit: 1 kg of HDPE resin granulate, cradle to gate.
Related Concepts
Related Categories
Sources
- PlasticsEurope (2014) — Eco-profiles: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). Reports cradle-to-gate GWP of approximately 1.8-1.9 kgCO2e/kg for HDPE resin granulate.
- Franklin Associates (2018) — Life Cycle Impacts for Postconsumer Recycled Resins: PET, HDPE, and PP. Reports virgin HDPE at approximately 1.9-2.2 kgCO2e/kg including pelletizing.
- American Chemistry Council (2017) — Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Inventory of Nine Plastic Resins and Four Polyurethane Precursors. Reports HDPE at 1.51 kgCO2e/kg for US production.
- IEA (2024) — Emissions Factors 2024. Grid intensities for major petrochemical regions.
- GHG Protocol (2014) — Scope 3 Calculation Guidance. Emission factors for plastic resin purchasing.