Used Cooking Oil Fuels India’s Sustainable Aviation—IndianOil’s Breakthrough Initiative

As India’s demand for cleaner transport solutions grows, IndianOil has launched an innovative programme to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from used cooking oil, pioneering a new circular economy for the country’s aviation sector. Leveraging advanced refining and processing technology, IndianOil is collecting waste cooking oil from restaurants, food processors, and bulk suppliers, converting it into high-quality biofuel at its refineries for use in domestic flights.

The process involves filtering, de-odorising, and upgrading the used oil into a ‘drop-in’ SAF that meets international standards for jet fuel. This SAF can be blended with traditional aviation fuel—typically at up to 50%—with no modification required to aircraft or fueling infrastructure. By using a non-food feedstock, IndianOil’s initiative overcomes many of the food vs fuel obstacles faced by first-generation biofuels.

This breakthrough reduces aviation’s carbon footprint, as lifecycle emissions from SAF are up to 80% lower than those from conventional hydrocarbons. Large-scale waste oil collection also helps mitigate urban pollution: waste oil is often illegally sold or disposed of, causing sewage clogs or reuse risks for human consumption. IndianOil’s supply chain partnership with state urban development bodies, waste management firms, and logistics companies enables the secure transport and traceability of every litre collected.

Scaling up, IndianOil aims to supply its SAF blend to all major airports, complementing India’s national goal to decarbonise aviation as the sector grows post-pandemic. By supporting rural and urban jobs in waste collection, technology services, and logistics, the scheme creates green employment opportunities throughout the value chain.

However, challenges persist: improving collection rates in smaller towns, maintaining supply chain transparency, and securing steady demand from airlines require sustained policy support and public-private cooperation. Nonetheless, the project has won praise from environmental groups and global industry partners, positioning India at the forefront of sustainable aviation solutions in Asia.