What Does the Iran War Have to Do With Plastic?

In response to recent attacks by the US-Israel alliance, Iran restricted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed through this route. This shipping restriction disrupted energy supply chains and led to a big increase in global oil prices. So what’s the connection with plastic?

Oil and gas aren’t only burnt as fuel for energy. They are used to make petrochemicals, which are manufactured into a wide range of everyday products including detergents, textiles and fertilisers. Over 99 percent of plastic is made from petrochemicals sourced from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels also power energy-intensive plastic production. Any disruption in oil and gas will affect the price of petrochemicals and the price of plastic.

Plastic exports are also directly affected by the ongoing Strait of Hormuz restrictions. The region is responsible for a quarter of global polyethylene and polypropylene exports – two of the most common plastics. The bombing of petrochemical infrastructure across the region has led to further shortages. With a drop in supply comes a rise in prices. 

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Items like disposable plastic cutlery, plastic toys or plastic bags are likely to increase in cost over the coming months. Plastics are also used across supply chains, notably in packaging and transport, so the cost of non-plastic products will be affected too. It’s hard to predict exact price increases or how long it will take for consumers to feel it. There are no guarantees that the situation in Iran will resolve or that prices will stabilise. 

The Iran war has shown that we are overly reliant on oil and gas. This reliance has grave environmental, economic and geopolitical consequences. The fossil fuel industry and plastic are intimately connected; the demand for plastic only increases our demand for fossil fuels. It’s time to rethink our relationship with fossil fuels and reduce our consumption of plastic. 

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For more information contact: info@scarabtrust.org.uk

Images:

Strait of hormuz between iran and oman - Photo by Planet Volumes on Unsplash (ST ref: 1390)

oil tanker - Image by Gerhard Traschütz from Pixabay (ST ref: 1391)