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Fact check: 7.13 kg CO₂ per kg of acrylic plastic
Executive summary
The claim that acrylic plastic emits 7.13 kg CO₂ per kg cannot be confirmed from the supplied materials: none of the provided reports state exactly 7.13 kg CO₂/kg for “acrylic plastic,” and the available life‑cycle results for related polymers vary widely depending on polymer type and system boundaries. The closest comparable published figure in the provided set is 8.43 kg CO₂-eq/kg for PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) from a 2020 comparative LCA, but other sources in the set either provide no per‑kilogram figure or emphasize methodological drivers that make single numbers misleading [1] [2] [3].
1. What proponents of the 7.13 claim appear to be asserting — and why that’s attractive
Advocates of a single per‑kg emission metric for “acrylic” aim to make product comparisons simple and actionable, offering a concise carbon intensity that is easy to communicate. The supplied analyses show studies attempting cradle‑to‑gate LCAs for acrylic‑related materials and comparing PMMA to PET, which produces headline numbers that are attractive in policy and procurement contexts [1] [2]. However, the dataset also demonstrates that different acrylates and acrylic uses (fibers vs. sheet PMMA) and differing LCA boundaries (cradle‑to‑gate, cradle‑to‑grave, inclusion of biogenic carbon or land‑use change) produce materially different results, undermining the utility of a single universal figure [2] [3].
2. What the provided studies actually report about acrylic and related plastics
The most specific per‑kilogram figure in the provided set is 8.43 kg CO₂‑eq/kg for PMMA reported in a 2020 comparative eco‑profile study, with PET at 3.01 kg CO₂‑eq/kg, illustrating substantial variation across polymers [1]. Other included LCAs focused on acrylic fiber manufacturing and broader plastics value‑chain emissions but did not publish an explicit 7.13 kg/kg metric; these studies concentrate on impact categories such as fossil depletion and ecosystem impacts rather than a single CO₂ intensity per kilogram [2]. Broader sectoral work from 2023 emphasizes aggregate plastics production emissions and reduction potentials without per‑kg acrylic numbers [4].
3. Why single-number claims like “7.13 kg CO₂/kg” routinely mislead — methodological drivers
Life‑cycle assessments hinge on system boundaries, co‑product allocation, recycling assumptions, and whether biogenic carbon or land‑use change is included, all of which the provided sources identify as decisive for results [3] [2]. The comparative PMMA/PET study highlights how polymer chemistry and production routes create an order‑of‑magnitude difference between outputs. The acrylic‑fiber cradle‑to‑gate study underlines that manufacturing energy mix and feedstock sourcing materially change outcomes, so an isolated 7.13 figure without those contextual assumptions is methodologically weak [2] [3].
4. Alternative viewpoints and possible agendas in the sources
The supplied corpus includes academic LCAs and sectoral policy analysis; each carries potential agendas: academic LCAs aim to illustrate methodological nuance and often avoid oversimplification, while policy papers emphasize aggregate sectoral impacts and reduction pathways to support regulatory choices [2] [4]. The PMMA vs PET comparison can be used by material suppliers to justify substitution strategies, whereas fiber studies might be cited by textile producers to highlight mitigation options. Each source should therefore be read with the intent to influence purchasing, regulation, or innovation in mind [1] [4].
5. How to verify or falsify the 7.13 number with proper evidence
To validate the 7.13 kg CO₂/kg claim one needs a traceable LCA report that states that figure including date, functional unit, system boundary, allocation method, energy mixes, and feedstock assumptions. The available materials do not provide that traceable figure; the closest explicit number is 8.43 kg CO₂‑eq/kg for PMMA [5], suggesting 7.13 could be plausible under alternate assumptions but remains unverified within this dataset [1] [2]. A robust check requires a named LCA dataset or database entry (e.g., Ecoinvent‑style record) or manufacturer disclosure that matches the claim’s scope and year.
6. Bottom line for users and next steps for claimants and fact‑checkers
Given the supplied evidence, the claim cannot be substantiated as stated: the dataset contains no direct citation or study reporting 7.13 kg CO₂/kg for “acrylic plastic.” If you need a defensible figure, request or publish an LCA with explicit boundaries and compare it to the PMMA 8.43 kg/kg benchmark [1]. Fact‑checkers should flag such single‑number claims as missing provenance and demand the underlying LCA report and assumptions; policy makers should avoid using one‑number assertions without transparent methodology [2] [3].