# Biofuel-Powered Planes United Airlines Flights Will Run on Eco Fuel Made from Food Scraps & Waste By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2015-07-15 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eco-fuel References: [sustainablog.org](http://sustainablog.org/2015/07/united-airlines-will-use-biofuel-made-from-food-and-animal-waste-to-power-flights-this-summer/) & [united](http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/company/globalcitizenship/environment.aspx) In partnership with Fulcrum Bioenergy, this summer [United Airlines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fresh-meals1)' flights will be powered by an alternative sort of eco fuel—a [jet biofuel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bamboo-biorefinery) made from food scraps, farm waste and animal fat. This $30 million investment in biofuel is anticipated to reduce United Airlines' carbon emissions by about 80 percent. To top it off, the sustainable fuel will cost less than a dollar per gallon to produce. As well as exploring the use of alternative fuels, other Eco-Skies initiatives from United Airlines include being mindful of waste management and partnerships that foster a healthy relationship with the environment. Now that the [Environmental Protection Agency](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mozzi-magic-insect-repellent) is calling for stricter regulations regarding fuel use by commercial airlines, developments like these will be much less taxing on the health of individuals and the planet as a whole. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.4/10 - Popularity: 11% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Transportation](https://www.trendhunter.com/transportation) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Alternative Fuels:** The use of biofuels made from food scraps, farm waste, and animal fat presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the aviation industry. - **Sustainable Aviation:** United Airlines' investment in eco fuel underscores the growing trend towards sustainable practices in the aviation sector, opening up opportunities for greener alternatives. - **Waste Management:** The partnership between United Airlines and Fulcrum Bioenergy highlights the trend of utilizing waste materials for fuel production, indicating potential disruptive innovations in waste management and recycling industries. ### Where This Applies - **Aviation:** The adoption of biofuels as an alternative to traditional jet fuel presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the aviation industry, leading to reduced carbon emissions and more sustainable air travel. - **Renewable Energy:** The development and production of biofuels derived from food scraps, farm waste, and animal fat align with the growth of the renewable energy industry, offering disruptive innovation opportunities for sustainable fuel sources. - **Waste Management and Recycling:** The utilization of food scraps and farm waste as feedstock for biofuel production presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the waste management and recycling industries, transforming waste into valuable resources. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sustainable Aviation Fuels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decarbonizing-aviation.md) - [Sustainable Aviation Approaches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-aviation.md) - [Fresh Meal-Focused Flight Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fresh-meals1.md) - [Elevated Aircraft Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elevated-aircraft-interior.md) - [Carbon Offsetting Airline Schemes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/etihad-airways.md) - [Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Engines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airbus.md) - [Hydrogen-Powered Jet Engines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rollsroyce-ae-2100.md) - [Airline Premium Display Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/panasonic-avionics.md) - [Satellite-Powered In-Flight WiFi](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/united-airlines-and-starlink.md)