Sustainability initiatives target used cooking oil and renewable fuel sectors

The rendering and used cooking oil (UCO) sectors in Australia and India are addressing sustainability and supply chain challenges related to resource recovery and renewable fuels.

In Australia, the Australian Renderers Association (ARA), in collaboration with KPMG, has launched the ‘ARA Sustainability Framework’. This industry-wide initiative aims to establish consistent measurement for environmental and market priorities. The framework focuses on four strategic areas: circular economy, resource efficiency, environmental protection, and market access. It seeks to provide industry baselines for operational emissions and resource use to meet global demand for credible sustainability data.

In India, efforts to scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production face feedstock collection hurdles. While India generates between 1.8 and 2.6 million tonnes of UCO annually, only about 6% is currently collected through organized supply chains. As the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) enters its mandatory phase in 2027, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation is reviewing national preparedness to build a robust SAF ecosystem and improve traceability and certification.