Human activities consume resources from the Earth. The lifestyle we are having now requires resources from 3.3 times of the Earth to support. Furthermore, we produce Green House Gas damaging the atmosphere. We are over drafting the resources from our children depriving them from enjoying the gift from the Mother Nature. The return period of maximum temperature exceeding 35°C has increased from every 32 years in 1900’s to 4.5 years in 2000’s. The return period of 3-hourly rainfall exceeding 200mm has increased from 41 years in 1900’s to 21 years in 2000’s. By 2050 the average temperature will be increased by 2°C. The situation is alarming.

There are ways that we can reduce our environmental footprint. Biodiesel is one of the available solutions.

Hotels and hospitality industry is a major source of waste grease, biodiesel feedstock. In one of our Integrate 2015 post conference events, IFMA has visited the facility of ASB Biodiesel (HK) Limited on May 23, 2015. Mr. Roberto Vazquez - Acting CEO of ASB had provided us an informative presentation regarding the sustainability condition in Hong Kong and industrial insights. Ms. Sylvia Har – Engineering Manager, and Mr. Dicken Tam – Commercial Manager had toured us around the facilities and supplements us on operations details. It was a rainy day but we are still enthusiastic!

Biodiesel is a specialized production from waste, a high value product. It produces 85% less carbon emission than regular diesel. It is a renewable energy, low carbon, and a key solution to food safety (no more food made from gully oil!). There are technology developments for future biofuels platform. It allow us to have lower reliance of fossil fuels – trade balance and geopolitical considerations, and social benefits when the value remains in local community in terms of restaurant payments, collection labour force and operation, etc..

A number of F&B outlets in Hong Kong are offering used cooking oil, e.g. Burger King, Café de Coral, Calbee, Fairwood, HKJC, Maxims, MOS Burger, Pizza Hut, RHKYC, Watami, etc. In addition to used cooking oil, grease trap waste is another source that supports 35% of ASB’s needs per year. Other sources include waste animal fat and other waste oils. The circular process can simply start in the kitchen and ends in biodiesel.

The facility at ASB consists of a GTW separation unit, feedstock purification unit, wastewater treatment plant and processing unit, attended by professional operators 24x7. Biodiesel has high flaming point and is comparatively safe. It allows complete combustion with no residue. It performs exactly the same as regular diesel but a lot more environmentally friendly. Government incentive is important to encourage use of biodiesel in the market. In some countries, the government offers tax relief for use of biodiesel. In Hong Kong, use of biodiesel is one of the consideration points in government construction tenders.

Next time when you are refilling your backup generators, you may check with your supplier for local produced biodiesel and Go Green. The product complies with EN14214 standard!

A big thank you again to Roberto, Sylvia and Dicken for bringing us this interesting tour.