Is "carbon balance of silicone" a fact or fiction?
Silicone products are technology enablers that help reduce CO2 emissions from many essential goods and services
Is this [fact] or [fiction]?
It's a fact!
Silicones are a versatile family of synthetic materials made from silicon, which is also found in sand.
The family includes silicones, silanes, and siloxanes.
They make countless products more efficient, perform better, and last longer, thus reducing their carbon footprint.
A recent study evaluated the sustainability of silicon-based chemistry, from the production of the silicon family of products, to their use, and to their greenhouse gas emissions at end-of-life. The study looked at end-of-life greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, North America, and Japan.
This is the first study of its kind and an important step toward obtaining reliable data on the sustainability of the industry.
Let's look at some of the findings.
By using products made from silicones, siloxanes, and silanes, you produce on average nine times fewer greenhouse gases than when the product is emitted and disposed of during production
This means that for every kilogram of carbon dioxide used in the manufacture of silicones, 9 kilograms are saved through energy-saving technologies and more efficient use of energy and materials
This is an impressively large positive factor that has been at the forefront of chemical applications.
In Europe, North America, and Japan, the use of silicon-based chemistry can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
A total of approximately 54 million tons of CO
equivalent to heating 10 million homes for one year in the area covered by the study.
The largest emission reductions are in automotive manufacturing applications and solar applications
Even small amounts of silicone, siloxane, or silane can make a real difference in the efficiency of various products by reducing water use, extending product life, or reducing energy consumption.
This research is the first step we have taken
You can only do better if you know more
Now that we have this data, the industry and its partners can work toward continuous improvement by promoting the use of emerging applications such as chlorosilanes on solar panels or common energy-saving applications such as fiberglass coatings, and society can further reduce CO2 emissions.
-- Quote from GSC[Global Silicone Council].