SÃO PAULO — Over the past two years, JBS S.A. has directed 1.2 million tonnes of animal waste toward renewable fuels, with plans to increase its efforts.

JBS operations in the United States, Canada and Australia have been transforming beef tallow and pork grease into low carbon intensity fuels for the transportation and shipping sectors since 2022.

In 2022, the company converted approximately 465,000 tonnes of tallow and grease into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other renewable fuels. In 2023, JBS’s operations accounted for over 700,000 tonnes.

Currently, the company’s Friboi brand in Brazil is testing the feasibility of supplying residual animal products for aviation fuel production.

“The aviation sector was historically challenged in decarbonizing since they depend on fossil fuel,” said Jason Weller, global chief sustainability officer at JBS. “By repurposing human inedible animal residuals, we contribute to the environment and help this critical sector in their decarbonization process.”

With carbon emissions reductions by up to 70%, SAF presents itself as a climate friendly alternative to fossil fuel, JBS said. It can be used as a mixture of up to 50% in the fossil-based jet fuel tank used in commercial aircraft.