Overview
Food Waste & FOG as Advanced Biofuel Feedstocks
Food waste-derived lipids represent one of the fastest-growing feedstock categories for advanced biofuel production. Unlike used cooking oil (UCO, a single-origin post-consumer oil), food waste feedstocks encompass a broader range of waste streams including:
Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG) — collected from municipal wastewater grease traps and interceptors in commercial kitchens, restaurants and food processing facilities. After dewatering and lipid extraction, FOG produces a high-FFA brown grease suitable for FAME or HVO production.
Food processing residues — lipid-rich by-products from bakeries (spent frying oils, fat skimmings), dairy processors (butter serum, cream residues), meat processors (rendered fat, bone fat) and other food manufacturing operations.
Municipal solid waste (MSW) lipid fractions — lipids recovered from organic municipal waste streams after mechanical biological treatment (MBT), including post-consumer food waste composting rejections.
Under EU RED III, food waste and MSW are listed in Annex IX Part A — the highest regulatory classification. This means they are uncapped and double-counted, with no volume limit on their use for mandate compliance. They are eligible for ReFuelEU Aviation SAF obligations from 2025.
Key Advantages
Why Food Waste Feedstocks for Advanced Biofuels?
Annex IX Part A — Uncapped
No volume cap. Unlike UCO and animal fats (Part B, 1.7% cap), Part A food waste feedstocks can fill unlimited mandate obligations — maximum regulatory value per tonne.
>85% GHG Savings
Highest GHG default value category for HEFA pathway. Near-zero upstream emissions — virtually all GHG benefit goes to the biofuel product under EU RED III methodology.
Fastest-Growing Category
Food waste collection infrastructure is expanding rapidly across EU cities. Growing volumes as municipal separate collection mandates take effect from 2024 under EU Waste Framework Directive.
Local Supply Potential
Unlike tropical feedstocks, food waste is collected locally in every EU city. Shorter supply chains, lower transport emissions and no deforestation risk. Strong circular economy narrative for corporate buyers.
Technical Data
Quality Specifications — FOG / Brown Grease
Typical quality parameters for recovered food waste lipid (FOG/brown grease grade) as supplied by SUAT Fuels. High batch-to-batch variability — CoA mandatory for each cargo.
| Parameter | Typical Value | Limit | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Fatty Acids (FFA) | 20–60% | max 70% | AOCS Ca 5a-40 |
| Moisture & Impurities (MIU) | 3–10% | max 15% | AOCS Ca 2b-38 |
| Iodine Value | 55–110 g I₂/100g (variable) | — | AOCS Cd 1d-92 |
| Phosphorus | 100–500 ppm | — | EN 14107 |
| Sulfur | 20–100 ppm | — | EN ISO 20846 |
| Water Content | 2–10% | max 15% | EN ISO 12937 |
| Density at 40°C | 0.900–0.940 kg/L | — | EN ISO 3675 |
| Chlorine | 50–200 ppm | — | ASTM D6732 |
Compliance
Regulatory Status & Certifications
EU RED III — Annex IX Part A (Food Waste & MSW, Uncapped)
- Food waste and MSW listed in Annex IX Part A — uncapped, no volume limit for mandate compliance
- Double-counted towards EU renewable energy targets
- Eligible for ReFuelEU Aviation SAF mandates from 2025 (HEFA-SAF from food waste lipids)
- ISCC EU certification required — covers waste origin documentation, chain-of-custody and GHG calculation
- Waste status declaration (proof of food waste origin) required per batch — SUAT provides full waste origin documentation
- No EUDR/deforestation risk — EU-origin food waste streams are fully compliant
End Uses
Applications
HEFA-SAF
Priority application — Annex IX Part A, uncapped, ReFuelEU eligible. Highest-value end use for food waste lipids as SAF mandates scale up through 2030.
HVO Renewable Diesel
Pre-treated food waste lipids (dewatered, demetallised) processed in HVO hydrotreaters. EN 15940-compliant paraffinic diesel output.
FAME Biodiesel
Multi-stage acid/base processing for high-FFA food waste lipids. EN 14214 compliant FAME for B7/B10/B20 blending in land transport mandate markets.
Co-processing
Blend with cleaner feedstocks (UCO, animal fats) to achieve processing plant quality targets while maintaining Annex IX Part A regulatory classification.
Supply Geography
Origins & Availability
Food waste lipids are collected locally across all EU markets, with the most developed collection infrastructure in Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, UK, Spain and France. FOG from municipal wastewater systems is available in all urban areas globally. SUAT Fuels sources certified food waste-derived lipids from established EU collection networks and food processing facilities, with full ISCC EU documentation and waste origin declarations for every cargo.