JAL initiates household used cooking oil collection for SAF Feedstock

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Japan Airlines (JAL) is actively engaged in the “FRY to FLY Project”(*1), which endeavors to achieve a decarbonized society by recycling domestic resources. As part of this initiative, JAL is spearheading efforts to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by repurposing used cooking oil as a feedstock.

In collaboration with Yokohama City, a fellow participant in the project, JAL has entered into a partnership agreement to establish and execute a system for collecting household-used cooking oil for its conversion into SAF. Commencing March 2024, the endeavor to gather used cooking oil from households in Yokohama City will commence, starting at the AEON Food Style Kamoi store operated by Daiei

Collaborative Initiatives
1. Establishing and integrating a comprehensive system for utilizing used cooking oil as the feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a focus on social implementation.
2. Promoting public awareness and engagement in the recycling process of converting used cooking oil into SAF, among other initiatives.

Process of Collection and Recycling
1. Utilize dedicated collection bottles for each household to gather used cooking oil, depositing it into designated collection boxes at participating stores. Emphasize the reusability of the bottles at home.
2. Once the collection boxes are filled to capacity, designated operators will transport the used cooking oil to either a SAF production facility or another appropriate manufacturing plant.
3. The produced SAF will subsequently be utilized by airlines to mitigate CO2 emissions. (*2)
(*2) The practical application of collected used cooking oil as SAF is slated to commence post-2025. Until then, it will serve as feedstock for biodiesel and other purposes.

The JAL Group has set ambitious targets to replace 1% of total fuel onboard with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2025 and 10% by 2030. To achieve these goals, JAL is actively sourcing SAF both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, the company is facilitating the development and commercialization of domestically produced SAF by collaborating with various stakeholders across industries in Japan. In Sakai City, Osaka, construction is underway for Japan’s inaugural SAF manufacturing plant, with plans to commercialize domestically produced SAF by 2025. While used cooking oil is poised to be the primary feedstock for this and future plants, a significant amount of household used cooking oil currently goes to waste. JAL is committed to encouraging the adoption of collection systems for these underutilized resources from households and intends to expand this initiative beyond Yokohama City to other regions nationwide.

Schedule of the Collection of Used Cooking Oil
The initial phase of this initiative will involve establishing a collection system at the AEON Food Style Kamoi store (*3). Simultaneously, an awareness-raising event titled “FRY to FLY” will be organized to promote understanding about SAF. Further details regarding these activities will be communicated through the social media channels of JAL, Yokohama City, and Daiei.
(*3) Location: AEON Food Style Kamoi store (1-6-1 Kamoi, Midori-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture). It is a 3-minute walk from the South Exit of Kamoi Station on the JR Yokohama Line.

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