FOG waste to biodiesel: sustainability opportunities for food factories

Food manufacturers across the UK face increasing pressure to improve sustainability performance. From packaging and energy use to responsible sourcing, the industry has made significant progress in addressing environmental challenges.

But one by-product often remains overlooked: fat, oil and grease (FOG) waste.

Everyday production in food factories creates unavoidable FOG streams. Traditionally, these are managed as a compliance task, collected, disposed of, and considered a cost of doing business. Yet this conventional approach misses a crucial opportunity.

How is FOG a sustainability opportunity?

At Eco Clarity, we recover FOG from wastewater streams and transform it into renewable feedstock for biodiesel. Every litre of FOG recovered can save up to 2.34kg of CO₂e, helping manufacturers cut emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Unlike traditional disposal routes, Eco Clarity not only recovers valuable FOG waste from wastewater but also provides certified carbon data for ESG reporting. This builds transparency and credibility with regulators, investors and customers, turning what was once a compliance burden into a measurable sustainability outcome.

“At Argent Energy, our commitment is to create sustainable fuels from waste materials that would otherwise have no value. Eco Clarity’s work with food manufacturers is a vital part of this journey, recovering fat, oil and grease (FOG) from production and converting it into renewable feedstock for biodiesel.

 

In our UK operations, we run a FOG Recovery Hub that treats wastewater streams and recovers residual fats and oils for conversion into high-quality biodiesel. This helps us stay compliant, cut emissions and demonstrate measurable progress towards net zero.

We are proud to work alongside Eco Clarity as they unlock new waste streams at source and return it to the value chain, ensuring no resource is wasted.” – Jan Jaap Rodenburg, Argent Energy

Argent Energy, where waste is converted into sustainable biodiesel.

Environmental benefits

Recovering and recycling FOG delivers tangible environmental benefits that extend beyond compliance:

• Carbon reductions
  Each litre of FOG recovered can save up to 2.34kg of CO₂e, directly contributing to carbon reduction targets.
• Low-carbon fuel
  Through Argent Energy, FOG is converted into biodiesel that produces up to 87% fewer emissions than traditional fossil diesel.
• Circular value
  What was once waste is returned to the value chain as renewable fuel, supporting a more resource-efficient food system.

These benefits directly support the UK’s net zero ambitions and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Why this matters for food manufacturers

The UK food system is facing tighter regulations under the Environment Act 2021 and growing pressure to deliver on Scope 3 emissions. For food manufacturers, this means that every by-product and waste stream is now under greater scrutiny, with compliance and sustainability performance closely linked.

By rethinking their approach to FOG waste, manufacturers can reduce operational risk and ensure compliance with the Water Industry Act 1991, avoiding costly blockages, fines and reputational damage. Beyond compliance, managing FOG responsibly also demonstrates leadership in sustainability. With credible, data-backed reporting, manufacturers can show progress on ESG targets and provide transparency to regulators, investors and customers.

Finally, turning FOG into renewable fuel directly supports circular economy goals. Instead of being treated as a costly waste stream, FOG becomes a resource that contributes to carbon savings and reduces reliance on fossil fuels. This positions food manufacturers not only as compliant but as active participants in building a more sustainable food system.

Your FOG sustainability report: measurable waste recovery and carbon savings

Looking ahead

FOG waste will always be a by-product of food manufacturing, but it does not have to be a burden. Managed effectively, it can become part of a broader sustainability strategy, delivering carbon savings, supporting compliance, and contributing to the circular economy.

Eco Clarity’s FOG Recovery Hubs show how innovation can turn an overlooked waste stream into measurable value. By working with partners like Argent Energy, we are proving that food manufacturers can play an active role in decarbonisation while continuing to focus on their core operations.

As regulations tighten and the pressure to deliver Scope 3 emissions reductions increases, those who act early will be best placed to show leadership. FOG recovery is not just about waste management, it is about unlocking a new resource that helps the industry move closer to net zero.

Find out how Eco Clarity can help your food manufacturing operations turn FOG waste into measurable sustainability outcomes. Or try our Carbon Savings Estimator to see how much CO₂ your business could save.