It’s that time of year! We’re hurrying to decorate our homes, buy presents and plan for family gatherings. In the midst of all the hustle, petroleum products play a key role in making our holiday wishes come true.

From toys and decorations to electronics and clothing, the majority of products you’ll purchase this holiday season are derived from petroleum products. And for items that aren’t directly made of oil or natural gas byproducts, fuel is required at some point in their journey to your home. We all rely on our country’s superhighway of underground pipelines to safely transport the oil and natural gas that is essential to making just about everything we touch.

Let’s consider some specific ways petroleum products are an integral part of our modern way of life:

Holiday Decorations

Artificial Christmas tree popularity has dramatically risen due to their convenience and cost efficiency. These life-like trees are made of PVC plastic for durability and fire-retardant properties, and are reused year after year. Often, trees are adorned with shatterproof ornaments and LED string lights made with plastic. Oil and natural gas byproducts are also key components of adhesive tape, wrapping paper, tinsel, ribbon, stockings, Styrofoam, artificial snow/flocking spray, paraffin candle wax, Santa costumes, fragrances, and artificial wreaths.

Holiday Travel

Traveling to see loved ones over the holidays is always a treat. Whether you travel by car, bus, airplane or train, all transportation requires petroleum products in some form. This includes electric vehicles that rely on charging stations, which are connected to local power grids predominantly supplied by natural gas. In some cities, diesel-powered buses have been retrofitted to run on natural gas which reduces overall emissions. All these modes of transportation are made safer, more efficient and affordable with interior parts made of plastic.

Holiday Toys

Dolls, balls, toy cars, model trains, toy soldiers and more are commonly made of plastic which is softer than wood or metal, and more flexible. That makes toys safer and lighter. Plastic isn’t just limited to toys for small children, but is also an important component in video game consoles, TVs, cell phones, computers, cameras, and drones. Your holiday shopping might include sports equipment that is made with petroleum products including footballs, yoga mats, golf balls, fishing rods, life jackets, basketballs, golf bags, and more.

Holiday Hosting

Whether you’re carefully basting your roast turkey or sautéing vegetables on the stove, your holiday meal is cooked with natural gas—either directly from pipelines or through your local power grid. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), fossil fuels supplied 60% of U.S. net electricity generation used by Americans in 2020 for dependable heating, air conditioning, lighting, refrigeration, industrial production, and other essential power. Hosting friends and family requires more than just food; there are hundreds of household items made from petroleum products that we rely on such as mattresses, pillows, trash bags, kitchenware, countertops, detergents, shower curtains, toilet seats, mops, deodorant, and much more.

Holiday Energy

Petroleum products support the use and development of solar and wind energy by providing the fuel source for electricity generation when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. Oil and natural gas are also inextricably linked to the production of wind turbines and solar panels. They not only power the manufacturing plants but are also used as raw materials such as carbon fiber and plastic resin.

So while you indulge in food, family and other blessings during the holiday, remember to add oil and natural gas to the list of items you are thankful for this season.