1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

Ruthie Menzies edited this page 2025-01-12 05:47:05 +00:00

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest market program in Las Vegas high-end jets are luring buyers with their streamlined silhouettes, luxurious cabins - and increasingly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel manufacturers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel types of air travel fuel deemed less harmful to the climate, from utilized cooking oil to the definitely less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airline companies, have actually acquiesced ecological pressure on aviation and dedicated to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that adopting renewable fuel to curb emissions might make company jets more appealing to ecologically conscious buyers - especially corporations dealing with concerns over sustainability from investors or green project groups.

The accessibility of less polluting personal jets could also spare the abundant and well-known the negative publicity experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his better half Meghan over a recent private jet journey to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on display screen in Las Vegas are using California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The most recent waste-based fuels include "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food market," stated Bryan Sherbacow, chief commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste used by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

Some of the other 79 airplane on display are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other eco-friendly fuel mixes expected to be pumped at the show.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets represent less than 0.1% of total annual carbon emissions globally, but can produce, typically, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per traveler mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter firm Victor.

Prince Harry has his periodic use of personal jets to ensure his household's security, and has actually stated that on the uncommon events he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers state events such as the furore over his travel plan have included fresh obstacles for a market already aiming to validate its contribution to cutting corporate costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of personal jets are regrettable when you think about that our market has actually provided fuel efficiency enhancements of 40% over the previous 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier thinks increased sustainable fuel use will assist the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy purchasers. According to market information, billionaires only have a 19% organization jet ownership rate.

But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for checking out planes - is unlikely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet occasion.

Environmentalists and some analysts stay doubtful that biojetfuels, generally blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant impact on public perceptions about luxury travel.

"No amount of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make organization jets look eco-friendly," said aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from company jet operators for sustainable fuels now far goes beyond supply and their interest might drive future production, Sherbacow said.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, might expand production as much as 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter companies and specialists are likewise seeing more interest from clients who wish to purchase carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, stated emissions played a role in a business jet utilization study his business just recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I think that rate, cost per hour, range, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I think individuals are ending up being more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the world." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)