New research unveils the toxic supply chain fueling global plastic production, shedding new light on the critical players driving the plastics and climate crises.
A new investigation by Stand.earth Research Group (SRG) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) reveals that 25+ of the world’s largest household brands are driving fossil fuel expansion in Texas through their demand for plastic packaging. The brands’ reliance on fracked gas for plastic production is worsening the plastic crisis, harming communities, and accelerating catastrophic climate breakdown.
Key Findings
- Direct pipeline from Texas fracking to global plastic packaging. The Permian Basin — already the world’s largest source of oil and gas pollution and home to some of the worst air quality in the U.S. — now supplies a significant portion of petrochemical feedstocks used in global plastic production, underscoring plastics’ role as a key driver of the climate crisis.
- Hidden role of major companies. A small group of traders and exporters moves ethane from U.S. fracking wells to petrochemical plants in Europe and Asia, fueling the production of plastic packaging. Supply chains running through just three companies — Ineos, Reliance Industries, and Dow — connect to more than 25 major consumer brands. Without supply chain transparency, major players will continue to profit while communities bear the consequences.
- 25+ global brands are fueling the fracked plastics crisis. Major consumer brands, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé, use petrochemicals tied to fracking in order to make their single-use plastic packaging, driving continued fossil fuel extraction and expansion.
Interactive Supply Chain Map