Plastics — Polypropylene
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Propylene production (steam cracking co-product or FCC refinery) | S3 | 55% |
| PP polymerization (gas-phase or bulk-phase reactor) | S2 | 15% |
| Crude oil/gas extraction and refining | S3 | 15% |
| Pelletizing and compounding | S1 | 8% |
| Transport and logistics | S3 | 7% |
Manufacturing Geography
- Region
- China, USA, EU, Middle East, South Korea
- Grid Intensity
- 565 gCO2e/kWh (IEA 2024, China)
Material Composition Assumptions
The default reference product is 1 kg of polypropylene (PP) resin granulate:
- Propylene monomer: Primarily produced as a co-product of ethylene steam cracking (~60%) or from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) in oil refineries (~30%). On-purpose propane dehydrogenation (PDH) is a growing route (~10%).
- Catalyst: Ziegler-Natta catalyst with external donors for isotacticity control.
- Additives: Antioxidants, nucleating agents, clarifiers, approximately 0.1-0.5% by weight.
Polypropylene is the world’s second most produced commodity plastic (~75 million tonnes/year). Applications span packaging (food containers, caps), automotive (bumpers, interior trim), textiles (non-woven fabrics), and consumer goods.
Manufacturing Geography
PP production mirrors the global petrochemical industry:
- China: Largest producer, ~35% of global capacity. Mix of naphtha crackers and coal-to-olefins (CTO) routes.
- USA: Significant capacity from ethane-based crackers (propylene as co-product) and PDH units.
- Middle East: Low-cost gas-based production.
- EU: Mature capacity with naphtha-based crackers.
China’s coal-to-olefins (CTO) route has approximately 2-3x higher emissions than conventional steam cracking, significantly raising the Chinese production average.
Regional Variation
| Production Region | Feedstock | Estimated Score (per kg) | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global average (default) | Mixed | 2.0 kgCO2e | Baseline |
| USA (gas) | Ethane/propane | 1.4 kgCO2e | -30% |
| EU (naphtha) | Oil-based | 1.6 kgCO2e | -20% |
| China (mixed incl. CTO) | Coal + naphtha | 2.5 kgCO2e | +25% |
| Middle East (gas) | Natural gas | 1.3 kgCO2e | -35% |
| Recycled PP | Any | 0.5-0.9 kgCO2e | -60% |
Provenance Override Guidance
- EPD for the specific PP grade.
- Cracker feedstock and route data: Naphtha vs. ethane vs. CTO matters enormously.
- Recycled content: Post-consumer recycled PP is commercially available.
- Supplier PCF: LyondellBasell, SABIC, Borealis publish resin-level carbon data.
Methodology Notes
- CCI score of 2 kgCO2e/kg is a conservative global average. PlasticsEurope reports 1.63 kgCO2e/kg for EU production; the CCI score is higher to account for Chinese CTO production in the global mix.
- Scope breakdown: Scope 3 at 75% (1.5 kgCO2e/kg), Scope 1 at 15% (0.3 kgCO2e/kg), Scope 2 at 10% (0.2 kgCO2e/kg).
- Confidence: High — extensive standardized industry data.
- Functional unit: 1 kg of PP resin granulate, cradle to gate.
Related Concepts
Related Categories
Sources
- PlasticsEurope (2014) — Eco-profiles: Polypropylene (PP). Reports cradle-to-gate GWP of approximately 1.63 kgCO2e/kg for PP granulate.
- American Chemistry Council (2017) — Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Inventory of Nine Plastic Resins. Reports PP at approximately 1.36 kgCO2e/kg for US production.
- Franklin Associates (2018) — Life Cycle Impacts for Postconsumer Recycled Resins: PET, HDPE, and PP. Virgin PP at approximately 1.8-2.1 kgCO2e/kg including conversion.
- IEA (2024) — Emissions Factors 2024. Grid intensities for major petrochemical production regions.
- GHG Protocol (2014) — Scope 3 Calculation Guidance. Emission factors for purchased plastic materials.