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EnglishViews: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-04-02 Origin: Site
The global push for sustainability and carbon neutrality has brought Used Cooking Oil (UCO) into the spotlight as a valuable feedstock for renewable energy. UCO, often discarded as waste, is now being transformed into biofuels like biodiesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), offering significant environmental benefits. Innovations in transportation methods, particularly the use of flexitanks, have further streamlined the logistics of UCO, ensuring its efficient and cost-effective delivery to refineries worldwide.
UCO is becoming a critical resource in the biofuel industry, due to its ability to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to fossil fuels. The global biofuel market is expanding rapidly, up from 16.5 million metric tons in 2023. This growth will drive the demand for UCO and efficient logistics solutions like flexibags.
Current Situation and Development of UCO
● China has emerged as the largest exporter of UCO, with exports reaching 2.12 million metric tons in the first nine months of 2024, a 55% year-on-year increase. The primary destinations include the U.S., Europe, and Singapore.
● The EU has implemented regulations like the ReFuel EU Aviation initiative, mandating that 2% of aviation fuel at EU airports come from SAF by 2025, rising to 70% by 2050. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a biofuel demand target of 3.35 billion gallons by 2025.
Advantages of UCO as a Biofuel Feedstock
● Environmental Sustainability: UCO-based biodiesel can reduce GHG emissions by up to 80% or higher compared to fossil fuels. Repurposing UCO prevents improper disposal, such as clogging sewage systems or polluting waterways.
● Circular Economy: Transforming waste into fuel aligns with the principles of a circular economy, reducing reliance on virgin oil crops and avoiding deforestation linked to biofuel production.
Flexitanks have become the preferred solution for transporting bulk liquids like UCO due to their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
● High Capacity and Efficiency: A single flexibag installed in a 20-foot container can carry up to 24,000 liters of UCO, significantly more than traditional drums or intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). This reduces shipping costs and carbon emissions per liter of UCO transported.
● Cost-Effectiveness: Flexitanks eliminate the need for return shipments, as they are single-use and recyclable. This reduces operational costs, particularly for long-haul transportation, where return logistics for reusable containers can be expensive.
● Product Protection: Made from food-grade, multi-layer polyethylene and polypropylene, flexibags create a sealed environment, preventing contamination and leakage. This ensures that UCO arrives at its destination in optimal condition.
● Sustainability: Flexitanks are made from recyclable materials, aligning with the sustainability goals of the biofuel industry. Their lightweight nature also reduces fuel consumption during shipping.
The synergy between UCO and flexitank technology represents a pivotal step toward sustainable energy and efficient logistics. As the global biofuel market expands, leveraging advanced transportation solutions like flexitanks will be essential for meeting rising demand while minimizing environmental impact. By transforming waste into energy, UCO and flexibag technology are at the forefront of the transition to a greener, circular economy.
