New NNFCC report slams UK’s use of imported UCO for biofuels

July 15, 2019 |

In the UK, NNFCC has released a new report on the ‘Implications of Imported Used Cooking Oil as Biodiesel Feedstock.’ The report discusses how UK biofuels policy:

  • Is driving the growing use of imported Used Cooking Oil to produce biodiesel
  • Why there’s a need for rigorous checks on the providence of Used Cooking Oil sourced from outside the EU to ensure its sustainability
  • Could indirectly lead to the unintended increase in the use of virgin vegetable oils, such as palm oil, as animal feed

The current import of UCO is predominately from China, Indonesia and Malaysia; estimates of UCO capacity and availability within these countries are inherently difficult to validate; indeed, without a proper understanding of the current volumes of waste oil generated, it is almost impossible to substantiate the GHG savings associated with the feedstock. Additionally, it is difficult to assess if additional wastes and/or the use of unsustainable virgin materials is being indirectly stimulated as a result of the EU’s policy support for imported UCO.

If the use of imported UCO is to continue, then confidence in its supply chain should be paramount; the certification process of UCO – specifically when sourced from outside the EU, where it is likely to be used as an animal feed – should be robust, helping to ensure that the feedstock meets necessary levels of traceability and sustainability.

This report reviews the potential sustainability and fuel quality implications of a biofuels policy which stimulates the import of UCO from outside the EU as a biodiesel feedstock.

Category: Policy

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