If oil is a limited resource and plastic comes from oil,how are we not facing a plastic shortage?
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Plastic is made from ethylene gas, which is made from ethane gas, which is a byproduct of petroleum refining, and is also is the second most common component of natural gas, after methane. So it’s an abundant byproduct of various hydrocarbons, and gets used in much smaller quantities, in total, than the hydrocarbons we use for fuel. A gallon of plastic is a **LOT** of plastic. A gallon of gas will get your car to drive from 20 to 60 miles, depending on the model of the car.
This is also why plastic recycling struggles with profitability issues: The chemical feedstock to make new plastic is just too inexpensive. You can buy a gallon of ethane at a ethane distribution facility for $0.30 per gallon. You’ll pay more for the pressurized tank you’ll store it in.
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