Here are some of the energy-using steps involved in making plastic bags from oil and transporting them to the grocery store:
- Oil needs to be pumped from the ground with large fuel-burning machinery.
- The oil is then delivered by truck or pipeline to a refining facility. It takes energy to build the pipeline and to drive the truck
- The refining facility, which usually runs on electricity, makes the oil into pellets.
A
component of oil called polyethylene is used to make plastic bags.
A machine heats the polyethylene
to a very high temperature—this takes heat energy.
- Other energy-using machines cut the bags, cut holes for handles, and print things on the bags.
- Then trucks use energy to deliver the bags to warehouses and stores.
- If you throw plastic bags away, it takes energy to get them to the dump or landfill.
