Covid-19: an oil collapse, but an increase in the use of plastic?

Masks for the Chinese domestic market are produced on five assembly lines installed on the ground floor of this factory west of Busan, Korea. RFI / Stéphane Lagarde

Text by: RFI Follow

The petroleum sector has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Global demand fell nearly 30% at the height of the crisis last month. Oil prices have therefore collapsed, even if they recovered a few colors at the start of the week. But this is not such good news in terms of ecology.

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A study by the scientific magazine The Lancet warns against rebound effects, especially for the plastics sector, if no political decision blocks this industrial logic. Cheap oil is cheap plastic. And above all cheaper than recycled plastic. The petroleum industry could therefore be tempted to invest more in this sector.

► Also read: Coronavirus: industrialists attack plastic ban laws

Especially since the demand has been increasing for several weeks. Environmental protection NGOs recently alerted to new practices linked to the health crisis. The use of plastic protective objects has exploded: gloves, visors, transparent partitions in public places, but also packaging for food products.

Turning to petrochemicals

In The Lancet , Barbara Demeneix, from CNRS, also highlights the effects of the evolution of transport. Many governments encourage the use of renewable energy, for private cars and public transport. Black gold producers could therefore turn more to petrochemicals to restore their profitability.

According to her, 20% of the oil is currently used for this sector. This share could soar, without the political will to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, to invest in alternative energies and research on less harmful and biodegradable chemicals.

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