Pouring Plastics on Financially Troubled Waters?

 

The 'bet' by the Petrochemicals Industry (including Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell) that they could offset a decline in the use of diesel and petrol fuels (with the arrival of electric cars) by making a £300 bn investment in plastic production is looking shaky (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/04/war-on-plastic-could-strand-oil-industrys-300bn-investment). Using the new plants, they planned to increase the amount of 'virgin' (i.e. non-recycled) plastic by 25% over the next 5 years. This aim is now challenged by the 'war' on (especially single-use) plastics (they might well 'lose their bet'). The evidence is accumulating that plastics can be distinctly problematic in soils, freshwater and marine habitats. It would be better to leave more oil and gas in the ground.