TL:DR - we will never run out of raw materials for plastics<p>The resources used for plastic are so vastly plentiful that considering them unlimited is a good approximation -- they may get more expensive but the market will sort that out. A lot of smart, well-meaning people get derailed by belief in imminent scarcity - and waste their time that could be spent on real opportunities.<p>* only a couple of percent of petroleum and natural gas production is used for plastics <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.eia.gov&#x2F;tools&#x2F;faqs&#x2F;faq.cfm?id=34&amp;t=6" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.eia.gov&#x2F;tools&#x2F;faqs&#x2F;faq.cfm?id=34&amp;t=6</a><p>* crude oil reserves (a very conservative measure) are immense and growing - <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.opec.org&#x2F;library&#x2F;Annual%20Statistical%20Bulletin&#x2F;interactive&#x2F;current&#x2F;FileZ&#x2F;XL&#x2F;T31.HTM" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.opec.org&#x2F;library&#x2F;Annual%20Statistical%20Bulletin&#x2F;...</a><p>* natural gas reserves (a very conservative measure) are immense and growing - <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.opec.org&#x2F;library&#x2F;Annual%20Statistical%20Bulletin&#x2F;interactive&#x2F;current&#x2F;FileZ&#x2F;XL&#x2F;T32.HTM" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.opec.org&#x2F;library&#x2F;Annual%20Statistical%20Bulletin&#x2F;...</a><p>* consumption is growing globally (production is outpacing the growth - hence the crash in crude prices), and in the US (the larges consumer) it&#x27;s actually fallen over the last 10 years <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.indexmundi.com&#x2F;energy.aspx?country=us" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.indexmundi.com&#x2F;energy.aspx?country=us</a><p>in a couple of centuries, maybe, we will have some difficulty meeting the petroleum needs for petrochemicals - but only if we keep using the crude and natural gas for vehicle fuel, heating, and electricity (currently 95% goes to these). Since we are already on the cusp of using renewables (and could switch to nuclear if we needed) for most of these while we are swimming in cheap oil - you should not worry about the future of plastics. So, don&#x27;t waste your time opposing biodegradables from a &#x27;finite resources&#x27; perspective - instead consider air pollution and greenhouse gasses on their own merits.