I would like to know what percentage of everything we currently use and in our environment comes from or depends on petrochemicals. I personally estimate 80% of everything we currently see around us, in the house, in the store, …
Answer
Hi Ann,
I don’t have exact figures, but the influence of petrochemicals on our daily lives is indeed enormous. Naturally, the fuel in our cars (largely) comes from the petrochemical industry. Also almost all plastics. Less conspicuous are medicines, paint and varnish, but also, for example, the glue with which chipboards of furniture panels are glued. Cosmetic products always contain raw materials from the petrochemical industry. Insulation panels are used in construction, which often come from the petrochemical industry.
A good 10% of the oil pumped up is converted into plastics and raw materials for the chemical industry. To put that into context: in 2013, 12 billion liters of petroleum were produced.
It will indeed be a huge task to switch petrochemicals to renewable raw materials.
Answered by
Dr Etienne Jooken
Chemistry
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
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