Synthesized replacements (starting from plant stocks or whatever) will probably be cheaper at some point. Like some point in the next several decades, not in the far flung future.

That feels like it might be possible, but we would have to stop subsidizing corn in favor of plants with markedly better yields (eg switchgrass). That will require significant political capital.

It would just require a market for switchgrass.

It seems only 4% of the World oil/gas production is used for plastics.

https://www.bpf.co.uk/press/Oil_Consumption.aspx

Good lord, all the plastic in the world being four percent of oil and gas production is terrifying. Implying the rest basically ends up combusted into the atmosphere? The fact that increasing the percentage of oil and gas used for plastic looks like a good option by comparison turns my stomach.

The wonder composites that make electric cars possible are all oil. Carbon fiber is hilariously not-green to produce. Make a tube out of oil and burn it over and over. Now make a car out of it with zero chance to recycle and talk about how green it is.

Two things to your post though. Yes, making things out of oil is probably better than burning it. But don’t mistake how much oil is used in the side-processes.

We will burn the oil one way or another. Until there is a better source of energy with better safety and density than hydrocarbons, we’ll use it all. If not in cars, in power plants, if not there in military, if not there in 3rd world, etc.

> The wonder composites that make electric cars possible are all oil.

I'm sure composites make electric cars better, but I don't think electric cars are impossible without composites.

Not sure how much winds up in cosmetics, cleaners, lubricants and stuff.

The same was likely said of whale blubber 150 years ago.

And we almost used all of it then.

But still managed to avoid hunting any species to worldwide extinction - so perhaps there's some hope.