With fall in full swing, Canada’s farmers are hard at work harvesting the various grains and crops that help keep the country and the world fed.  

Diesel and gasoline help power trucks, tractors and combines collecting the harvest. Through long days and long nights in the fields, refined petroleum products make sure the job gets done. 

Synthetic rubber made from petrochemical products called styrene and butadiene, combined with natural rubbers, help improve tractor tires tread abrasion and sidewall shock resistance. 

Lubricants derived from petroleum distillates keep machinery like grain augers and bale elevators working at peak performance, reducing energy expenditure and helping prevent corrosion and rust, reducing the chance of fire. 

Natural gas is used to heat shops, greenhouses and keep livestock barns full as winter approaches. With Canada’s cold climate, ensuring farmers have warmth is crucial to Canada’s economy.  

According to a Government of Alberta report, 77 per cent of the natural gas used on a 100-cow dairy farm is for water heating which is critical for cleaning and eliminating bacteria in the milking barn. 

Natural gas is also critical for drying grain and removing moisture from the crop so farmers can deliver it to elevators and customers overseas. 

A critical part of growing crops is fertilization which helps increase crop yields and plays a vital role in maintaining the world’s food supply.  

Some studies estimate that fertilizer is responsible for at least 30-50% of a crop’s yield. Natural gas is used as feedstock by combining it with nitrogen to form nitrogen-based fertilizer. Petroleum distillates like mineral oil, naphtha, waxes and benzene play key roles in pesticide manufacturing which helps control pests and keep crops safe. 

When doing work around the farm, it’s important to keep hands protected from cuts and scrapes. Synthetic materials like petrochemical based vinyl and polyvinyl chloride made from naphtha or ethylene used in work gloves help keep hands safe and warm. 

Without oil and gas products, Canada would not be the world’s fifth largest exporter of agricultural products.  

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Without lights or camera, the film industry would have very little action. 

Whether going to the movie theatre or curling up on the couch to stream the latest Hollywood blockbuster, it’s worth taking a minute to consider that bringing the stories we love to the screen takes more than just actors and scripts. 

Making movie magic would become exceedingly difficult without oil and gas, as well as petroleum products, playing a starring role. 

From running generators that fuel massive sets in remote areas to transporting crews around the world to the perfect location, Hollywood leans heavily on oil and gas. Meanwhile, petrochemical products are used extensively for creating props, set design and pyrotechnics. 

But just how big of a part do fossil fuels play in filmmaking? 

According to a 2021 report by the Sustainable Production Alliance, the average blockbuster has an average carbon footprint of 3,370 metric tonnes, the equivalent emissions from powering 656 average homes for an entire year. Even large- and medium-scale productions use plenty of oil and gas, creating 1,081 metric tonnes and 769 metric tonnes of carbon emission respectively. 

Of that, nearly half is directly used for fuel for production vehicles and generators. About a quarter is used for air travel and some 22 per cent for utilities. 

Last year, 449 movies were released in Canada and the U.S. 

Streaming giant Netflix said its carbon footprint in 2021 was 1.5 million metric tonnes, more than half of that attributed to production of films and TV. The company is looking to slash emissions in half by 2030 and use oil and gas industry-pioneered innovations like carbon capture to ultimately bring its footprint to net zero. 

Beyond transportation and power, the basic building block of any film requires an abundance of gear that rely on petrochemical products. 

From durable carbon fibre used in sound booms and set design, to plastics used to make cameras and movie props, to assorted polyester, nylon and spandex used in costume design, it would be nearly impossible to find a movie set without a healthy dose of equipment derived from oil and gas. 

Gas generators are essential to keep shooting going into the night as well as providing reliable power for trailers used by actors for relaxing. 

Even the director’s clapperboard used to set the scene is commonly made from a white acrylic so it can be used with dry erase markers. 

Once produced, films are then displayed at movie theatres on large white vinyl screens to theatre-goers sitting on seats packed with polyurethane foam. 

So next time you reach for the popcorn and hunker down for some silver screen escapism, spare a moment to thank the contributions of oil and gas. 

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The Adidas OCEAUNZ, official ball of the 2023 Women’s World Cup of Soccer, soars through the air, its polyurethane skin a blur as it arcs toward the goal. 

The goalie makes a desperate dive across the emerald green natural turf – strengthened at the root for durability by flexible polypropylene fibres – to make the stop. 

The ‘keeper’s hands, sheathed in high-tech gloves made primarily from latex and polyurethane, reach for the streaking ball. 

The crowd leaps up from their moulded plastic seats as the ball hits the back of the net, an interlacing spiderweb most commonly made from polyethylene or nylon. 

As soccer fans prepare for the Women’s World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand, it’s difficult to imagine how different the event, which is expected to be viewed by a staggering 2 billon people around the world, would look and feel without products derived from oil and gas. 

At field level, nearly every practical aspect of the game relies on or is impacted by petroleum-based gear. 

From the synthetic leather turf cleats and polyester jerseys to the players’ benches, water bottles and medical equipment that adorn the sidelines, all are made possible from the contributions of oil and gas products. 

When a referee flashes a yellow or red card, it’s often made from a sturdy polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as PVC. 

Extending beyond the field, that trend continues. 

From plastic spectator seating to polycarbonate scoreboards to advertising placards in and around the arena, all are thanks to the contributions of oil and gas. The event lights that encircle the arenas and the broadcasting equipment that allow the world to cheer their countries also rely heavily on products derived from petroleum. 

Even the competing nations’ flags that drape the facilities are made from nylon and polyester. 

With an expected 1.5 million spectators taking in the action in Australia and New Zealand, most will have had to travel by air or vehicle, which largely require oil and gas to operate. 

And when Canada’s women return home – unfortunately without the result they wanted (Tokyo’s Olympic gold medal helps to ease the pain a bit) – they’ll arrive on an airplane built with light-weight polymers and carbon fibre that will touch down on a smooth runway made of asphalt and concrete, neither of which would be possible without oil and gas. 

So while some may yearn for a return to the days of less aerodynamic leather balls, heavy cotton jerseys and fragile natural turf, the impact on “the beautiful game” would be enormous. 

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It’s morning, and your alarm is ringing. It’s time to roll out of bed and begin the day.  

Once you step into your bathroom, you are surrounded by products with ingredients derived from oil and gas.  

Jump in the shower, and your soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner and shaving cream all likely include propylene glycol, which has several benefits including moisturizing skin, softening hair, and helping make other ingredients more effective, according to Healthline.  

It also helps preserve products by preventing the overgrowth of microorganisms.  

Propylene glycol – also found in many deodorants and antiperspirants – is formed by adding water to petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly, a cosmetic product that has been in use since the late 1800s.  

According to skincare brand CeraVe, petrolatum creates a water-resistant barrier on the top of your skin, making it an ideal moisturizer. Petrolatum is also a common ingredient in antibiotic ointment, providing comfort and treatment for mild cuts and scrapes as you get ready for your day.  

Now that you’re all clean and fresh, it’s time for hair and makeup. As you’re spritzing up your ‘do, the petroleum-based propellants in your aerosol hairspray help evenly distribute the product as a fine mist. 

As you move on to your face, petroleum products like petrolatum and mineral oil are found in many of the makeup products you may use, including foundation, bronzer, eye shadow, eye liner and mascara.  

Mineral oil helps a product attract moisture from the air and bind it to the skin – and has been found to have anti-aging properties, according to Clarins.    

Touch up those nails with a coat of polish made from multiple petroleum-derived products like ethyl acetate (which helps polish spread and dry) and triphenyl phosphate (which helps polish last longer), according to nailpro.com.   

Synthetic substances like these are safe and often no different in composition than “natural” ingredients, according to Cosmetics Alliance Canada.  

“A synthetic substance that mimics a natural one can sometimes provide a purer, more stable ingredient which gives the product a longer shelf life,” the Alliance says, noting that Health Canada considers both natural and synthetic ingredients suitable for use in cosmetics.  

Without petroleum products, your personal care routine would look a lot different. 

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After a long winter, spring has finally arrived.  

With nice weather finally sticking around (knock on wood), it’s time to crack out the bikes, tools, and other things made possible by the petrochemical industry. 

Bikes  

• The saddle or seat of the bike can be made of molded plastic such as nylon, derived from diamine acid extracted from crude oil. Seats can also be made from carbon fibre. 
• Bike tires are made of a combination of natural rubber and synthetic rubbers made from naphtha, derived from oil. 

Tools 

• Tools like hammers, axes, and shovels, and rakes are common in the garage. Their handles can often be made from fiberglass, a plastic product that is reinforced with glass.  
• Even containers like socket sets and portable toolboxes can be made from plastic.

Paint

• Many paints are oil-based and contain organic solvents in the form of aliphatic compounds which are a form of hydrocarbon.  

Extension cords 

• The rubber used for the outer sleeve in extension cords is usually made from polyvinyl chloride but can be also made from other synthetic rubbers. 

Sports equipment 

• Garages provide easy storage for any manner of sports equipment. Dirt bike boots, for example, can be made from different types of plastic like polypropylene, or thermoplastic polyurethane.  

Storage Bins 

• Plastic storage bins are made using thermoplastic polymers derived from petroleum. 

Petrochemicals help drive Canada’s $35-billion plastic production industry, which employs nearly 100,000 people. 

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada estimates 70,000 products used by Canadians every day are made from plastics. 

Canada’s plastic industry is committed to advancing manufactured products in a so-called “circular economy.”  

“Compared to a traditional linear economy, where most of the products start as raw materials and are eventually thrown away in a landfill, a circular economy for plastics is an economic model where plastics never become waste,” says Elena Mantagaris, vice-president of plastics with the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC). “Rather, they are reused, recycled, and recovered at the end of their life so that they can forever stay in the economy as new products and new plastics.” 

From bikes to storage bins, oil and gas products play an important role in our everyday lives and can be found all over the garage. 

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It’s that time again. New year, new resolutions.

A common resolution for many people is getting more active and working out at the gym. Though there is never a bad time to start getting in shape, a new year provides a new perspective and vigor toward accomplishing those objectives.

Here’s how oil and gas products help you crush those fitness goals.

Equipment:

• The synthetic leather used for the bench can be derived from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane, which are both derived from petroleum.
• The rubber used on dumbbells and other weights is also made synthetically using petroleum-based monomers.
• The resistance bands you use to help shake up your weight training or to help rehabilitate an injury can be made from synthetic rubber.
• Those exercise balls you use for yoga or to build stabilization for your workouts are also made of PVC.

Clothing:

• Your workout clothes can also be made from petroleum-based products such as nylon, polyester, and polypropylene.
• Those shoes that stabilize you while biking or running on a treadmill are also made from oil and gas products like synthetic suede, nylon and rubber.

Carpets/Mats:

• Over 90 per cent of carpets made today are made with synthetic fibers. About 75 per cent is made from nylon along with polypropylene or polyester.
• Those gym mats that you use to stretch can also be made from polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic and other petrochemical products.

As much as fitness is a critical part of health and well-being, the petrochemical production industry in Canada is vital to the economy. Petrochemicals help drive the $35 billion plastic production industry which employs nearly 100,000 people.

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada estimates 70,000 products used by Canadians every day are made from plastics.

Projects like Inter Pipeline Ltd.’s $4.3 billion Heartland Petrochemical Complex near Edmonton are incredibly important, and it will convert locally sourced, low-cost propane into 525,000 tonnes per year of polypropylene.

Some of that might even be helping you reach your personal record next time you hit the gym.

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‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the seasonally decorated house 

Not a creature was stirring, not even your night cream-lathered spouse; 

The synthetic fibre stockings were hung on the natural gas fireplace mantel with care, 

In hopes that petrochemical-based gifts would soon be placed there; 

The children were nestled all snuggling their poly-filled teddies, 

While remnants of freshly baked cookies danced in their bellies; 

And Ma in her nylon kerchief, and I in my fleece cap, 

Had just settled in our down alternative blanket for a long winter’s nap, 

When out on the fertilized lawn there arose such a clatter, 

I sprang from the upholstered bed to see what was the matter. 

Away to the fiberglass framed window I flew like a flash, 

Tore open the polyvinyl shutters and threw up the fabric sash. 

The moon on the driveway’s mountains of new-shoveled snow 

Gave the lustre of mid-day to cars and sports equipment stored below, 

When, what to my spectacled eyes should appear, 

But petroleum-based products our lives depend on, so dear, 

With a responsible industry that is keen to innovate, 

We recognize their contributions that make life so great. 

More rapid than F1 race cars these energy sources they came, 

Let’s whistle, and shout, and call them by name; 

“Now, Oil! Now, Gas! Now, Polypropylene and Hydrogen! 

On, Helium! On Plastic! On, Nylon and Nitrogen! 

From the music festival tickets wrapped underneath the tree! To the television playing holiday films on your wall! 

Now dash away flash away! Fuel and energize us all!” 

They speak not a word, and expect little thanks, 

Fill our vehicles with gasoline, and jet engine tanks, 

From clothing our bodies, to delivering our food, 

Giving us everything to uplift our mood; 

This holiday season do not take for granted, 

The gifts energy has brought us, any and every time we wanted, 

From the Canadian Energy Centre to you reading this on your phone screen’s bright light, 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! 

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At this point in September, you’ve successfully rounded up all the supplies required by your children to fuel a productive school year. Perhaps you’ve already replaced a few items that have been lost in the chaos and excitement. 

But without oil and gas and petrochemical products, the school year would look quite different. 

Imagine the following items being removed from your child’s day-to-day: 

Elements of these items, and more, are made with products derived from oil and natural gas.  

• The plastics found encasing mechanical pencils, pens, markers, scissors, calculators, binders and gym class equipment are made from hydrocarbon polymers obtained from refining petroleum. 
• The synthetic fabrics that make up your child’s backpack material, pencil cases, and clothing are also made from petroleum-based polymers that have been shredded and spun into yarns.
• Supplies aside, whether walking, riding a bicycle, taking the bus, or driving to school with a parent, your child’s commute also involves oil and gas and petrochemical products in one form or another.  

Canada’s plastic resin production industry is concentrated in Ontario and Alberta and is dependent upon crude oil and natural gas as its source of chemical raw materials.  

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada members are committed to making 100 per cent of plastic packaging recyclable or recoverable by 2030.   

Through innovation and technology, the petrochemical industry is transitioning towards a “circular economy” in which materials are reused and recycled in a closed and sustainable loop.   

So, when those pens run out of ink and the pants that fit in September are two inches shorter in June, look for office supply-specific recycling depots in community drug stores, as well as textile recycling bins to minimize the impacts of these annual essentials.   

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Decorations, and costumes, and candle-lit pumpkins, oh my! 

Halloween is the second most commercially successful holiday in Canada.  

Spooky festivities often occupy the latter half of the month and come the evening of October 31 you are guaranteed to find costumed children trick-or-treating through decorated streets.  

Here’s how oil and gas and petrochemical products bring your favourite Halloween activities to life: 

Pumpkin carving 

• The tools used to carve pumpkins are generally either fully plastic in their composition or have a plastic handle. 
• Paraffin wax candles, or their waxy-coated faux flame counterparts that light your completed jack-o-lantern are made from petroleum. 

• Pinterest-inspired painted pumpkins are widely popular. A common synthetic resin commonly used in paint is polyurethane.  

Decorations 

• Plastic spiders, skeletons and limbs hiding under trees, climbing your house, or sitting on the porch are made of plastics and synthetic, lifelike latex.  
• Those artificial cobwebs that you thought were a spooky idea, but will take months to peel from the branches of the tree in your front yard? They are made from polyethylene terephthalate, the most common thermoplastic polymer resin in the polyester family.  
• Nylon inflatables brighten up the neighbourhood at all hours and are a big, colourful hit with children. 

Trick-or-Treating 

• Colourful costume make-up and stage blood are commonly made from oil-based paints. The sponges and brushes used to apply your Halloween alter-ego are also petroleum-based.  
• Store-bought costumes are largely made of synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester. 
• Scary masks, whether hard plastic or soft synthetic latex, are made from polymers. 
• Plastic flashlights and glow sticks keep children safe as they walk along dimly lit streets. 

• Candy wrappers, bowls, bags, and buckets are also comprised of petrochemical-based materials such as plastic and polyester. 

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