A growing initiative in Bengaluru is transforming used cooking oil into a viable source of biofuel. While the oil has already been utilized to power some buses and trucks, the industry is now scaling up to meet the demands of the aviation sector. This transition represents a significant shift in how India manages its waste, moving toward a model where discarded kitchen oil is repurposed as a sustainable energy source.

The current supply chain for this oil remains largely inefficient and fragmented, characterized by numerous small-scale collectors. As larger buyers enter the market, there is an ongoing effort to consolidate these collection points to ensure a steady supply for biofuel production. The move is part of a broader national push to reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels by utilizing homegrown, renewable ingredients. By integrating this waste product into the fuel supply for both road transport and aircraft, proponents argue that the country can improve energy security while simultaneously addressing waste management challenges. The success of this endeavor depends on the ability of stakeholders to organize the informal sector and scale production to meet the high-volume requirements of the aviation industry.