Oil, plastics and climate: Why higher prices could speed a materials transition

(UN News) As oil prices have risen amid geopolitical turmoil, one perhaps overlooked driver of climate change is coming into sharper focus: the production of plastics which are deeply tied to fossil fuels. Most conventional plastics are made from oil and gas and production costs have increased recently as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East. That means when the price of those raw materials rise, the cost of producing plastic often rises too, creating incentives to reduce wasteful use, expand reuse systems and invest in alternatives that are lower in carbon and do less harm to the environment. – Oil, plastics and climate: Why higher prices could speed a materials transition | UN News