Sainsbury’s has launched a new program to convert its supermarket food waste into biofuel, which will then power 30 trucks at its Emerald Park distribution centre, reports Circular.
This initiative allows the company to recycle food scraps that cannot be donated or used for animal feed. By transforming this waste into biogas and then a liquid biofuel, Sainsbury’s estimates it will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by over 3,000 tonnes annually.
The supermarket is working with waste processor RenECO, which uses anaerobic digestion to convert food waste into biogas. Sainsbury’s will now utilize this biogas to produce a liquid biofuel suitable for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
A key aspect of this system is that all fuel is derived directly from Sainsbury’s waste, distinguishing it from traditional biomethane methods that often blend certified biomethane with non-renewable gases.
“Today’s announcement underscores the power that collaboration has in driving impactful change across the business,” said Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Director of Property, Procurement, and EV Ventures. “We are proud to have worked closely with our supplier RenCo to deliver a pioneering move that supports our commitment to circularity and helps us to take a further step towards becoming net zero across our operations by 2035.”
