Pigs might fly but their fat shouldn’t, environmental experts warn
- EU subsidies meant to encourage the use of rendered fats for road and air travel have doubled demand for animal-fat biodiesel over a decade
- That’s driven up prices for other fats, such as palm oil, creating environmental fallout as plantations led to deforestation in countries like Indonesia
Europe’s airlines are quickly tying up the supply of available animal fats to produce biofuels, creating unintended ecological knock-on hazards that include a surge in palm-oil production, according to a new report.
A flight from Paris to New York powered solely by waste biofuels such as animal fats requires some 8,800 dead pigs, according to sustainable transport advocacy group Transport & Environment, which commissioned the research.
The study, carried out by consulting firm Cerulogy, found that European Union subsidies meant to encourage the use of rendered fats for road and air travel have doubled demand for animal-fat biodiesel over a decade.
With supplies limited, that’s driven up prices for other users of rendered fats in areas such as soap, cosmetics and pet-food manufacturing. Palm oil is the most likely alternative – creating a new environmental fallout because the vast plantations have led to deforestation in countries like Indonesia.
“For years we’ve been burning animal fats in cars without drivers knowing”, said Barbara Smailagic, biofuels specialist at T&E. “Now they will be fuelling your next flight. But that can’t be sustained without depriving other sectors”.