We are proud to share that Eco Clarity, in partnership with Southern Water, has won the Best Closed Loop Project Award at this year’s Waste2Zero Awards. Waste2Zero is the leading national platform that recognises excellence in waste prevention and resource management across the out of home sector.

This award celebrates organisations that are proving what is possible through genuine circularity. For us, it marks an important milestone. Fat, oil and grease (FOG) is no longer an avoidable waste problem. It is a valuable resource that can be kept in circulation rather than ending up in sewers.

Tackling a waste challenge that will not go away

Across the UK, waste remains one of the biggest barriers to sustainability. Food and packaging dominate the conversation, yet hidden within both is a persistent challenge. FOG waste blocks sewers, contributes to fatbergs, increases carbon emissions and drives millions of pounds in reactive maintenance every year.

Eco Clarity’s patented FOG Recovery Hub technology changes this completely. Instead of being disposed of at the lowest value, FOG is recovered, upgraded and transformed into a high-value renewable feedstock. This supports a cleaner wastewater network and cuts CO₂ emissions at scale.

Our closed-loop model keeps this material in use and supports local decarbonisation by feeding into renewable fuel production. This is circularity in action, built for scale and already delivering measurable impact.

Why the award matters

Waste2Zero was the first awards programme in the UK that focused entirely on waste innovation when it launched in 2017. Now in its ninth year, it is judged by an expert panel across sustainability, packaging, resource management and operational strategy.

Winning the Best Closed Loop Project shows that Eco Clarity is not only addressing a national environmental problem. We are leading the transformation of how organisations think about and manage FOG.

Southern Water’s commitment to innovation has been essential to this success. Together, we have shown that utilities, technology partners, local communities and wider stakeholders can build a fully circular model that prevents pollution, strengthens regional engagement and supports wider net zero goals.

A platform for national change

This award is more than recognition. It is momentum and proof that the industry is ready for a new approach that keeps waste in use, reduces reliance on fossil fuels and supports cleaner environments for communities across the country.

A huge thank you to Southern Water for their partnership, to the Waste2Zero judging panel and to everyone who supports our mission.

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.