Next time business travellers order a burger and fries at Maccas, they can at least feel good about doing something for the environment.
Airplane biofuels company, Dynamic Fuels says McDonald’s fryer grease is an ideal ingredient for eco-friendly jet fuel, as is vegetable oil and used cooking oil. Other companies are using common algae and waste gases to help power planes.
Leisure and corporate travellers are increasingly interested in carbon-saving initiatives and airlines are responding.
Last month, Continental Airlines was the first to complete a revenue passenger flight partly powered by biofuels. Its green fuel includes genetically modified algae that feeds off plant waste.
Virgin Atlantic is also on board with the industry enviro-push, having been the first commercial carrier to conduct a test flight with biofuels.
Virgin now has plans to develop a low carbon fuel creating half the carbon footprint of normal fuels. It will involve converting waste gases from industrial steel production plants into jet fuel. These waste gases would otherwise be burnt into the atmosphere.
Alaska Airlines has also begun using biofuels on 75 flights.