• Why is cooking oil so popular in Japan?
  • The reason for the sudden demand is that used cooking oil can now be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. About a third of the 400,000 tons collected in Japan in the past year was used for fuel for planes and other vehicles. SAF is the aviation industry’s term for fuel derived from non-fossil sources.
  • Can cooking oil be converted into renewable jet fuel?
  • The project will convert used cooking oil locally collected in Japan into renewable jet fuel meeting ASTM D7566 standards with start-up scheduled in 2025. Honeywell pioneered the production of sustainable aviation fuel with its UOP Ecofining process, which has been used to produce SAF commercially since 2016.
  • Where did Marubeni get SAF oil?
  • Marubeni procured SAF derived from vegetable oil (used cooking oil) that was produced by HD Hyundai Oilbank, a Korean oil refining company, at its refinery, and supplied it to All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. at the Chiba terminal of Marubeni Ennex Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Marubeni.
  • Is used cooking oil a viable waste source?
  • Used cooking oil is the main substance used for production, but research is underway to identify other viable waste sources. In October, the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, set a target for international carriers to slash carbon emissions to virtually zero by 2050.
  • Can you get free cooking oil from an izakaya?
  • Tsuboi Yasuyuki, the manager of an izakaya in Tokyo, says his restaurant typically runs through several 18-liter drums of cooking oil every month. He usually pays a disposal service to collect the used oil. But recently, he has started receiving inquiries from firms interested in taking it for free. Some are even offering to pay for it.
  • Who is a member of a cooking oil group?
  • Members include major carriers All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, as well as firms not in the aviation industry, such as Itochu, Idemitsu Kosan, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. One of the group’s key focuses is procuring used cooking oil.