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EPA Proposal Threatens Access to Ethylene Oxide for Key Industries

Recently, the EPA proposed stringent new regulations on emissions of chemicals, including ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide is an important building block in many industries. These are some ways industries are affected by the EPA’s proposed new regulations:

  • Electric Vehicles: Ethylene oxide is needed in the manufacturing process for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicle (EV) production. Learn more in our electric vehicle batteries infographic
  • Oil & Gas: Ethylene oxide derivatives are used in natural gas purification to reduce corrosion and scale in oil and gas processing, oil well remediation, enhanced oil recovery aids, freeze protection for finished goods, gas dehydration, and carbon capture in gas processing, which ultimately helps enable the energy transition. Learn more in our oil and gas infographic
  • Product & Industrial Applications: Ethylene oxide is an essential raw material for many downstream products including polyester, furniture cushioning, and appliance insulation. Learn more in our raw material infographic
  • Healthcare: Ethylene oxide is used in healthcare to sterilize medical equipment including heart valves, pacemakers, surgical kits, gowns, drapes, ventilators, syringes, and catheters. Learn more in our healthcare infographic
  • Construction: Ethylene oxide is needed in building and construction for architectural coatings, asphalt and cement additives, and metalworking fluids. Learn more in our raw material and other infographic
  • Agriculture: Ethylene oxide and its derivatives are used to produce a wide variety of active ingredients used in insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides. Learn more in our agriculture infographic
  • Cleaning: Ethylene oxide-based surfactants are the workhorse of the cleaning industry used in hospitals, cafeterias, hotels, restaurants, and transportation cleaning. Learn more in our cleaning industry infographic

While we support updating emissions standards in a technically feasible and economically efficient manner, we have substantial concerns with several aspects of EPA’s proposal. We believe that these restrictions could jeopardize access to ethylene oxide. In proposing unrealistic regulations for ethylene oxide based on flawed data and science, the EPA is targeting a building-block chemistry essential to producing many of the products we use every day. 

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