Sushi chain Sushiro to turn its waste cooking oil into aviation fuel

Food & Life Companies Ltd. (F&LC), the operator of the Japanese conveyor belt sushi chain Sushiro, will supply its waste cooking oil to create sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

F&LC said it will be the first leading restaurant chain operator to provide waste cooking oil for the production of aviation fuel on a nationwide scale.

According to F&LC, it intends to work with other enterprises to supply cooking oil used at its restaurants nationwide.

F&LC will begin making the fuel in fiscal 2024 to provide a steady supply to Japanese airlines in 2025.

F&LC signed a basic agreement with plant contractor JGC Holdings Corp., Revo International Inc., which recycles used cooking oil, and SAF maker Saffaire Sky Energy in early April.

Oil waste generated from the cooking of French fries, tempura, and other fried food will be recovered from the 680 outlets of Sushiro as well as the Sugidama “izakaya” Japanese-style gastro pub chain under the F&LC umbrella.

The company projected that 900,000 liters of waste cooking oil will be collected annually.

SAF emits less carbon dioxide (CO2) than jet fuel made from petroleum.

The Japanese government has set a goal of replacing 10 percent of fuel consumption by airlines in country with SAF by 2030.

Almost all SAF used in Japan currently originates from overseas. The proportion of domestically produced SAF is lower than 1 percent.