How a facility turning plastic into jet fuel could solve the UK’s next oil crisis
A pilot facility in Kent developed by Clean Planet Technologies is converting non-recyclable plastic waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), offering a potential solution to both the UK's plastic pollution problem and future jet fuel shortages. The process involves heating plastic to create a liquid fuel that meets aviation standards, with government and airline support. The project aims to reduce reliance on imported oil, especially in light of global disruptions like the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war. Certification for the fuel is expected by mid-2027, with commercial use projected by 2029.
- ▪Clean Planet Technologies' facility in Kent converts non-recyclable plastic waste into sustainable aviation fuel through a chemical process that avoids burning.
- ▪Around 80% of the UK’s 5 million tonnes of annual plastic waste cannot be recycled and is currently sent to landfill or incinerated.
- ▪The UK government mandates that 2% of jet fuel must be sustainable in the near term, rising to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040.
- ▪The facility’s fuel is undergoing certification with ASTM, with approval expected by mid-2027 and potential airline use by 2029.
- ▪Global jet fuel demand is 7 to 8 million barrels per day, with less than 1% currently coming from sustainable sources.
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NewsUKHome NewsHow a facility turning plastic into jet fuel could solve the UK’s next oil crisisAs airlines and travellers feel the effect of global jet fuel shortages, scientists in Kent may have figured out a sustainable solution to the crisisHarriette Boucher Tuesday 28 April 2026 13:14 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2965850","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/plastic-jet-fuel-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-b2965850.html","title":"How a facility turning plastic into jet fuel could solve the UK’s next oil…
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