Outlook for the Availability of Automotive Plastics

The same energy concerns which have promoted increased use of plastics have lead some to question their future availability since they depend on petroleum as raw materials. Plastics have an advantage of being less energy intensive in their manufacture than metals. During the transition period from oil and natural gas to coal for production of feedstocks, plastics should maintain a preferred position in allocation of fossil fuels on the basis of their economic benefit and end-use energy savings. Overall energy conservation, reduced gasoline consumption, and the switch to coal and other energy sources should aid plastics in meeting future automotive demand projections of 300 to 400 pounds per car by the late 1980’s.