Rubber — Synthetic
Materials High Confidence
Carbon Cost Index Score
3 kgCO₂e / per kg
Per kg
3 kgCO₂e / kg
Methodology v1.0 · Last reviewed 2026-04-08
Scope Breakdown
| Scope | kgCO₂e | % of Total | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0.4 | 13% | |
| Scope 2 | 0.3 | 10% | |
| Scope 3 | 2.3 | 77% | |
| Total | 3 | 100% |
Emission Hotspots
| Emission Hotspot | Scope | Est. % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Butadiene and styrene monomer production (petrochemical) | S3 | 50% |
| Crude oil and naphtha feedstock extraction | S3 | 18% |
| SBR or BR polymerization (emulsion or solution process) | S2 | 15% |
| Coagulation, drying, and baling | S1 | 10% |
| Transport and logistics | S3 | 7% |
Manufacturing Geography
- Region
- China, USA, EU (Germany, France), Japan, South Korea
- Grid Intensity
- 565 gCO2e/kWh (IEA 2024, China)
Material Composition Assumptions
The default reference product is 1 kg of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) bales, the most common synthetic rubber:
- Butadiene: ~75% of SBR mass. Extracted from C4 cracker streams as a co-product of ethylene production, or produced by on-purpose butane/butene dehydrogenation.
- Styrene: ~25% of SBR mass. Produced by dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene.
- Process: Emulsion SBR (E-SBR) uses aqueous emulsion polymerization; solution SBR (S-SBR) uses organic solvent. S-SBR is preferred for modern tire applications due to lower rolling resistance.
Synthetic rubber accounts for approximately 54% of global rubber consumption (~16 million tonnes/year). The primary application is automotive tires (~70% of synthetic rubber use), followed by industrial products, footwear, and adhesives.
Manufacturing Geography
Synthetic rubber production is concentrated near petrochemical complexes:
- China: Largest producer (~30% of global capacity), with growing Sinopec and PetroChina capacity.
- USA: Major producers include Goodyear, Firestone (Bridgestone), and Lion Elastomers.
- EU: Arlanxeo (Germany), Synthos (Poland), Trinseo.
- Japan/South Korea: JSR, Kumho Petrochemical.
Regional Variation
| Production Region | Estimated Score (per kg) | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Global average (default) | 3.0 kgCO2e | Baseline |
| USA | 2.5 kgCO2e | -17% |
| EU | 2.7 kgCO2e | -10% |
| China | 3.3 kgCO2e | +10% |
| Japan | 2.8 kgCO2e | -7% |
Provenance Override Guidance
- EPD for the specific synthetic rubber grade.
- Feedstock source: Butadiene from bio-based routes or recycled feedstock.
- Supplier PCF data from rubber producers.
- Devulcanized/recycled rubber: Ground tire rubber (GTR) and devulcanized rubber have lower cradle-to-gate footprints.
Methodology Notes
- CCI score of 3 kgCO2e/kg is a conservative global average. PlasticsEurope reports 2.5-3.3 kgCO2e/kg depending on SBR type.
- Scope breakdown: Scope 3 at 77% (2.3 kgCO2e/kg) from butadiene and styrene feedstock. Scope 1 at 13% (0.4 kgCO2e/kg). Scope 2 at 10% (0.3 kgCO2e/kg).
- Confidence: High — established eco-profile data from PlasticsEurope.
- Functional unit: 1 kg of SBR rubber, cradle to gate.
- Comparison: Synthetic rubber (~3 kgCO2e/kg) is comparable to natural rubber (~3 kgCO2e/kg) on a cradle-to-gate basis, though the emission sources are very different (petrochemical vs. agricultural).
Related Concepts
Related Categories
Sources
- PlasticsEurope (2005, updated 2012) — Eco-profiles: Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) and Polybutadiene Rubber (BR). Reports cradle-to-gate GWP of approximately 2.5-3.3 kgCO2e/kg for E-SBR and S-SBR grades.
- IRSG (2020) — International Rubber Study Group. World Rubber Industry Outlook. Reports global synthetic rubber production at approximately 15 million tonnes/year.
- American Chemistry Council (2017) — Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Inventory. Covers synthetic rubber precursors including butadiene and styrene monomer production data.
- IEA (2024) — Emissions Factors 2024. Grid intensities for major petrochemical and rubber production regions.
- GHG Protocol (2014) — Scope 3 Calculation Guidance. Emission factors for purchased chemical and rubber materials.