Microplastics are everywhere. Here’s why that matters to big oil

Published

12 hours ago

August 20, 2025

admin

Microplastics are increasingly being found in our bodies and food supply.

They are defined as pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters — about the size of a pencil eraser. But they can also be much smaller, like the size of a virus particle or a strand of DNA.

Petrochemicals, the building blocks of plastic, are produced from oil and gas. The business is a small but profitable area of the fossil fuel industry, and any push back on the use of plastics is seen as a threat to the oil and gas industry.

“Where the industry is most vulnerable is on the human exposure to microplastics,” said Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity. “They’re going to have to try to tell us that exposure to microplastics every day, from birth to death is just fine. It’s just great. You should just eat more of it. It’s no problem. And I just don’t think they can win that argument.”

Scientific research on microplastics has spiked over the past few years. The National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database reported that the level of published scientific research related to the search term “microplastics” has nearly doubled from 2021 to 2024.

One study, published in Nature Medicine in February, found that human brains from 2024 had an average of about 7 grams of plastic, which is about 50% more plastic than brains examined from 2016. Scientists involved in the study told CNBC that those samples came from the frontal cortex, which ongoing research suggests may contain the highest levels of microplastic.

“If people think there are watchdogs measuring and understanding these types of nanoplastics as they are coming in, our food, our water, our air, I have not seen any evidence of that happening on any meaningful scale,” said Andrew West, a researcher at Duke University and one of the co-authors of the study.

Microplastics also have been found by scientists in the muscle tissue of fish and even in the fibers of fruits and vegetables.

“Thanks to advances in monitoring technology, we can now detect incredibly tiny amounts of substances like microplastics,” said Kimberly Wise White, vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs at the American Chemistry Council, a trade association for the plastics industry. “But finding something at extremely low levels does not mean it’s harmful. Plastics deliver proven benefits in health care, food safety, transportation and technology — benefits we can’t afford to lose.”

Industry giants are investing heavily into chemical production as oil demand is declining from electrification, U.S. tariffs and slowing economic growth in China and India. The International Energy Agency said electric vehicle adoption, for example, has displaced more than 1 million barrels of oil consumption per day in 2024 and that is expected to increase to 5 million barrels by 2030.

In its 2024 outlook, BP said the declining use of oil in transportation was being offset by oil use for petrochemical production. While chemical uses include a variety of products like detergent and paints, polyethylene plastics are a major part of the chemicals business.

“Major oil and gas companies are playing a key role in the supply chain for plastics. And then there are a whole set of many other companies [on] the downstream side that are involved in creating the plastics,” said Yale University energy and environmental economics professor Kenneth Gillingham. “The surplus of natural gas is coming about because of fracking, and it’s led to low prices of natural gas.”

In the U.S., about 1.5% of natural gas is converted into chemicals that are used to make plastics and other consumer products, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Saudi Aramco, the biggest oil company in the world, has also increased its activity in the space. In 2020, it bought a 70% stake in petrochemicals company SABIC. While fourth-quarter 2024 results were lower than expected, SABIC made nearly $35 billion from petrochemicals last year.

“We’re unquestionably, as a society, better off having plastics than no plastics, but we’re facing the consequences of having those plastics,” Gillingham said.

Watch the video to learn more about how microplastics have become a major issue for big oil.

Environment

CNBC Daily Open: The U.S. tech-sell off extends to its second day — but don’t let it ruin your summer

Published

2 hours ago

August 21, 2025

admin

CNBC Daily Open: The U.S. tech-sell off extends to its second day — but don't let it ruin your summer

Palantir Technologies signage on an options contract ticker as traders work on the floor of American Stock Exchange at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, U.S., on Friday, June 20, 2025.

Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

If you have any U.S. technology stocks in your portfolio (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?), you might want to look away.

For the second day in a row, tech stocks dragged markets lower, with the Nasdaq Composite slipping 0.67%. Juggernauts such as Apple, Amazon and Alphabet were more meh-nificent than magnificent, falling more than 1%.

Palantir — the standout S&P 500 stock, having more than doubled so far this year — spent its sixth consecutive day in the red and lost its place among a ranking of the 20 most valuable U.S. companies.

While Palantir’s slide was partly triggered by a report from short seller Andrew Left’s Citron Research, which called the company “detached from fundamentals and analysis,” there was no single trigger for the broader pullback.

Investors could have been spooked by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s caution about an AI bubble forming, although some analysts dispute that assertion. “In our view the tech bull cycle will be well intact at least for another 2-3 years,” said Wall Street tech bull Dan Ives.

Or it could be something benign, like traders locking in profits. “Tech stocks,” said Carol Schleif, chief market strategist at BMO Private Wealth, “have had an incredibly strong run – with some up over 80% since the early April lows.”

Summer, after all, is far from over. Some investors might have just wanted to cash out for another round of margaritas.

What you need to know today

Fed officials divided over inflation and employment worries. Central bank governors generally agreed there were risks on both sides. But a couple — breaking from the majority — saw the labor market woes as more pressing, according to minutes of the Fed’s July meeting.

Trump likely to pick Kevin Hassett as next Fed Chair. The director of the National Economic Council firmly led the pack, according to a CNBC Fed Survey. However, respondents think the president “should” pick former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh.

No new solar or wind power projects, Trump says. Renewable energy projects will no longer receive approval, Trump posted Wednesday on Truth Social. His comment comes after the administration already tightened federal permitting last month.

Fourth day of losses for the S&P 500. Investors continued selling off technology stocks on Wednesday, with Palantir having its sixth straight losing day. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 closed at another high despite inflation in July coming in hotter than expected.

[PRO] The Fed is expected to cut just as markets trade at highs. This is what tends to happen when both factors coincide, according to Goldman Sachs research.

And finally…

United States President Donald Trump participates in a Multilateral Meeting with European Leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US. Picture date: Monday August 18, 2025.

Aaron Schwartz – Pa Images | Pa Images | Getty Images

Trump has snapped up more than $100 million in bonds since taking office

U.S. President Donald Trump has been on a multimillion-dollar bond-buying spree since taking office in January, investing in debt issued by local authorities, gas districts and major American corporations.

Across 33 pages of filings with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, or OGE, dated Aug. 12, the president outlined 690 transactions that have taken place since he took office. The documents were made public on Tuesday.

— Chloe Taylor

Correction: This report has been updated to correct the spelling of Kevin Hasset’s name.

Environment

Tesla offers used car leases with $0 down as it desperately tries move cars

Published

5 hours ago

August 20, 2025

admin

Tesla has started offering leases of certified pre-owned cars, which is relatively rare in the industry, with $0 down as it desperately tries to move vehicles before the end of the quarter.

With the federal tax credit for electric vehicles set to expire at the end of the quarter, automakers in the US are all trying to optimize EV sales, as demand is being pulled forward.

This also applies to used EVs, as the $4,000 federal incentive for used electric vehicles will also expire on September 30th.

Now, leasing used vehicles is much less common than leasing new cars, but some automakers, or mainly dealers, do offer it.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Tesla is getting into this business for the first time.

In California and Texas, Tesla is now offering leases on certified pre-owned (aka used) Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

These are reasonably priced and can be as low as $215 per month with $0 down for a 24-month lease and 10,000 miles per year.

Tesla also offers a 12-month lease and up to 15,000 miles annually. While there’s no down payment needed, there’s an “Acquisition Fee” of $695.

That, and the first month, is all you need to get in a used Tesla for the next year or two.

This is undoubtedly the cheapest way to get into a Tesla vehicle right now.

Tesla is trying to sell as many vehicles as possible in the US this quarter, as demand for EVs has been pulled forward due to the end of the tax credit. This is expected to result in a record quarter in the US, but it also going to create a few difficult ones in the future.

With demand being pulled forward and future buyers feeling like they missed out on EV discounts, the US EV market is expected to experience a significant slowdown over the next 12 to 18 months.

Tesla sales are down about 13% globally so far this year. While this quarter is expected to be better, many analysts still anticipate Tesla’s year-over-year performance to be down.

This year alone, Tesla added more than 50,000 electric vehicles to its inventory.

Used cars have also been piling up.

Tesla owners rushed to sell their vehicles as Tesla’s brand perception dived following its CEO’s involvement in politics.

We previously reported that the average used Tesla sale price has recently dipped below the overall average used car sale price in the US.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Environment

E-quipment highlight: HG E3000 3 tonne electric site dumper

Published

6 hours ago

August 20, 2025

admin

E-quipment highlight: HG E3000 3 tonne electric site dumper

HG adds its largest electric site dumper

Danish equipment makers HG build job site dumpers that help move sand, rocks, debris, construction waste, and building supplies across rugged, uneven urban job sites. And with the introduction of their newest E3000 model, they’re helping move more than three tons of that stuff without emissions and — just as crucially — without noise.

HG announced the E3000 electric site dumper just this week, adding the new 3 tonne capacity to its growing lineup of 1 and 2 tonne dumpers (that’s over 6,600 lbs., in “landed on the Moon” units). With a 180° swivel tip on the bucket as standard equipment and an optional high tip version available at launch, it should be able to handle just about anything a hard working construction crew can throw at it.

“With the HG E3000, we once again prove that electric dumpers are not only better for people and the environment. They are also more efficient, cheaper to operate, and can run more than a full working day on a single charge,” explains Nikolaj Birkerod, CEO of HG, told Power Progress. “With 3 tonne dumpers, we are proving, as we already have with 2 tonne dumpers, that we can deliver on both performance and reliability while enabling customers to save 15% per operating hour compared to a diesel dumper.”

Exact specs haven’t been released, but HG claims the E3000’s 29 kWh is good for 12 full hours of continuous, loaded operation, and that it can be fully recharged on a “standard” 220 charger (L2) in about four hours. If you’re curious about what has been released, I’ve got all that for you right here:

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The only all-electric dumper on the market that gives you 12 working hours while carrying 3 tonnes payload.

Our latest addition to accelerate 100% machinery:

3-ton payload for high-capacity material handling

12-hour working – a full day’s work without recharging

Optional high tip for quick and flexible unloading into containers and trucks

180° swivel tip as standard for precise placement of loads

Fast charging: 0–100% in approx. 4 hours with the integrated charger

Lithium 29 kWh battery with automatic heating for all-season use

One-pedal drive for smooth and intuitive operation

The E3000 is built for contractors and rental companies who demand maximum productivity without compromising on environmental responsibility.

With a carrying capacity of 3 tonnes and an industry-leading 12 hours of eﬀective runtime on a single charge, it’s proof that heavy-duty work and zero emissions can go hand in hand.

At the heart of the E3000 is HG’s patented articulated drivetrain with four independent in-wheel motors. This unique design delivers the most energy-eﬃcient power transfer in the industry, using significantly less power than conventional electric system. This translates directly into lower operating costs and more hours on site between charges.

HG MACHINES

No word yet on pricing or whether or not the new dumper will eventually be sold outside the European market, but we do know that HG plans to deliver the first examples of its new machine to customers by early 2026.

Electrek’s Take

Meet the world's most energy-efficient 3-tonnes dumper
The only all-electric dumper on the market that gives you 12 working hours while carrying 3 tonnes payload. — E3000 w/ high-tip bucket; via HG.

While there are a lot of people outside the urban construction space who may scoff at environmental concerns, the quest for improved efficiency and cost reduction among commercial fleet managers knows no political ideology. Add in more restrictive noise regulations and the side benefits of improved job site safety and fewer sick days, and electric equipment is a no-brainer.

Simply put: If it’s better or cheaper, fleets will buy it. If it’s better and cheaper, they’ll buy two — and battery powered equipment is proving to be consistently better, in a broader scope of use cases, than diesel.

SOURCES | IMAGES: HG Machines, Power Progress.

If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.