By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
Go Green? Eliminate petroleum from our lives? Hope you can live without the following, then.
A partial list of products made from Petroleum (144 of 6000 items)
One 42-gallon barrel of oil creates 19.4 gallons of gasoline. The rest (over half) is used to make things like:
Solvents, Diesel fuel, Motor Oil, Bearing Grease,
Ink, Floor Wax, Ballpoint Pens, Football Cleats,
Upholstery, Sweaters Boats, Insecticides,
Bicycle Tires, Sports Car Bodies, Nail Polish, Fishing lures,
Dresses, Tires, Golf Bags, Perfumes,
Cassettes, Dishwasher parts, Tool Boxes, Shoe Polish,
Motorcycle Helmet, Caulking, Petroleum Jelly, Transparent Tape,
CD Player, Faucet Washers, Antiseptics, Clothesline,
Curtains, Food Preservatives, Basketballs, Soap,
Vitamin Capsules, Antihistamines, Purses, Shoes,
Dashboards, Cortisone Deodorant, Shoelace Aglets,
Putty, Dyes, Panty Hose, Refrigerant,
Percolators, Life Jackets, Rubbing Alcohol, Linings,
Skis, TV Cabinets, Shag Rugs, Electrician’s Tape,
Tool Racks, Car Battery Cases, Epoxy, Paint,
Mops, Slacks, Insect Repellent, Oil Filters,
Umbrellas, Yarn Fertilizers, Hair Coloring,
Roofing, Toilet Seats, Fishing Rods, Lipstick,
Denture Adhesive, Linoleum, Ice Cube Trays,
Synthetic Rubber,
Speakers, Plastic, Electric Blankets, Glycerin,
Tennis Rackets, Rubber Cement, Fishing Boots, Dice,
Nylon Rope, Candles, Trash Bags, House Paint,
Water Pipes, Hand Lotion, Roller Skates, Surf Boards,
Shampoo Wheels, Paint Rollers, Shower Curtains,
Guitar Strings, Luggage, Aspirin, Safety Glasses,
Antifreeze, Football Helmets, Awnings, Eyeglasses,
Clothes, Toothbrushes, Ice Chests, Footballs,
Combs, CD’s & DVD’s, Paint Brushes, Detergents,
Vaporizers, Balloons, Sun Glasses, Tents,
Heart Valves, Crayons, Parachutes, Telephones,
Enamel, Pillows, Dishes, Cameras,
Anesthetics, Artificial Turf, Artificial limbs, Bandages,
Dentures, Model Cars, Folding Doors, Hair Curlers,
Cold cream, Movie film, Soft Contact lenses, Drinking Cups,
Fan Belts, Car Enamel, Shaving Cream, Ammonia,
Refrigerators, Golf Balls, Toothpaste, Gasoline
Note: While many of these items could be still produced without petroleum, the cost of production would rise dramatically, sending the price up so high that for some people purchasing those items would be difficult, if not price prohibitive.