A world-first facility in Kent that converts non-recyclable plastic into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could help the UK weather future oil crises. The plant, operated by Clean Planet Technologies, aims to address both plastic waste and aviation decarbonisation.
With backing from the government and airlines, the company says its technology could provide fuel security during disruptions like the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war, which has sent jet fuel prices soaring. Some European airlines have already cancelled flights amid the crisis.
Clean Planet Group CEO Bertie Stephens noted that the UK produces millions of tonnes of waste plastic annually, much of which ends up in landfill. The pilot facility heats plastic waste to create a liquid, which is then treated to produce SAF meeting commercial specifications.
Stephens said that if the UK could convert 2 million tonnes of waste plastic into aviation fuel, it would make a significant dent in demand within five to ten years. The project has received cross-party support and interest from three airlines.
The government's SAF mandate requires 2% of UK jet fuel to be SAF, rising to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040. Clean Planet Technologies has received Department for Transport funding and expects ASTM certification by mid-2027, with commercial use possible by early 2029.
Dr Andrew Odjo, CEO of Clean Planet Technologies, highlighted that 30,000 tonnes of plastic enter the ocean daily, equivalent to 2,000 garbage trucks. The facility demonstrates that this waste can be turned into a premium product while reducing aviation's carbon footprint.
