Could leftover hot pot oil power your holiday flight?

Feb 21

Hot pot, also known as "huoguo"（火锅） in Chinese, is an immensely popular cuisine in China that has been enjoyed for centuries and is often considered a social activity that brings people together. As a matter of fact, hot pot restaurants can be found in every corner of the country, from upscale establishments to street-side vendors.

However, it also generates a lot of oil waste. As a matter of fact, hot pot is reportedly responsible for 12,000 tons of waste oil per month just in the Chinese city of Chengdu alone. But could this be recycled? Or be turned into valuable resources？

Hot pot-fueled jets

**In 2016, a Chinese start-up came up with the idea to recycle waste hot pot oil to recycle it into fuel pure enough to fly airplanes.**

The company, Sichuan Jinshang Environmental Technology, then began exporting some of that leftover restaurant grease to Europe and Singapore, where it gets recycled to be turned into biofuel that can power planes. It’s not exactly a perfect solution to the greenhouse gas emissions that the aviation industry is responsible for, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Based in Chengdu, Sichuan Jinshang Environmental Technology takes waste oil from around the city and refines it into something called industrial mixed oil. Refined oil is then exported to be turned into jet fuel or biodiesel by companies such as BP or Neste Oyj, the biggest producer of sustainable jet fuel in the world.

Meanwhile, one of China's most well-known hot pot restaurant chains, Haidilao, has partnered with a state-owned energy company, Sinopec, to turn its used hot pot oil into aviation fuel. The two companies have established a pilot plant to convert waste oil into SAFs, which will be used by commercial airlines. While the project is still in its early stages, it has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry and promote sustainable practices in the food service sector.

Sustainability takes flight across the aviation industry

**Did you know:**

**Responsible for around 2% of the world’s total emissions of planet-warming gases, the aviation industry is under pressure to find greener ways to power its jet engines.**

The aviation industry is taking steps to become more sustainable and reduce its impact on the environment. Airlines, airports, and aircraft manufacturers are implementing a range of initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and promote sustainable practices.

For instance, several major airlines, including British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Delta Air Lines, have pledged to replace about 10% of their jet fuel with a sustainable alternative by 2030, and more than 50 have begun to experiment with it, but cleaner substitutes are still being developed. With this new requirement for airlines to use more biofuel in their planes, there’s a lot of demand despite the fact that it’s still more expensive than regular jet fuel.

Last year, Neste announced plans to spend more than $2 billion expanding its capacity to manufacture sustainable jet fuel. By 2026, it hopes to be able to produce 1.2 million tons of stuff. Other companies such as Chevron, BP, and TotalEnergies are producing it on a smaller scale but also plan to increase their output soon.

Waste as raw materials

Waste cooking oils are valuable by-products of the food chain, which can be employed as green raw materials for the production of chemicals. Apart from biofuel production, there are some effective ways to upcycle used cooking oil and reduce waste while providing alternative sources of energy, products, and materials.

Soap production

Used cooking oil can also be used to make soap. The oil is combined with lye and other ingredients to create soap bars, which can be sold or donated to local communities. This is an effective way to upcycle waste and reduce the amount of oil going to landfills. For instance, Clean the World is a non-profit organization that collects and recycles soap and other hygiene products from hotels, then donates them to people in need. The organization also produces its own soap, which is made from recycled waste cooking oil.

Animal feed production

Used cooking oil can also be used to produce animal feed. This is an effective way to upcycle waste and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the disposal of food waste. For instance, waste cooking oil can be used as a feed ingredient for swine, which is a good source of energy and can replace a portion of traditional feed ingredients such as corn and soybean meal.

Plastic production

Researchers have developed a way to use used cooking oil to produce bioplastics, which are a renewable and biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. This innovative solution has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production. For instance, US-based Meredian Holdings Group produces biodegradable and compostable plastics using waste cooking oil as a feedstock. Their technology involves converting oil into a biopolymer that can be used to make a range of plastic products, including food packaging.

Fertilizer production

Used cooking oil can be used to create organic fertilizers, which can be used to improve soil quality and plant growth. The oil is combined with other organic materials, such as food waste and animal manure, to create a nutrient-rich fertilizer. For instance, US-based Valley Proteins provides rendering services, including the production of organic fertilizers. They work with restaurants and other food service providers to collect and recycle their waste cooking oil, which is then used as a feedstock for the production of organic fertilizers.

L. Danie