However, concerns have been raised about the sustainability of HVO, particularly regarding feedstock sources.
A recent BBC article highlighted specific issues surrounding the inclusion of waste products from palm oil production—such as palm oil mill effluent (POME)—a feedstock considered high risk for potential fraud due to limited supply and high demand. This creates the risk of virgin palm oil being misrepresented as waste.
In regions like Southeast Asia, where palm oil cultivation has historically had serious environmental and biodiversity impacts, increased demand could further intensify these problems.
While HVO is widely recognised for its potential as a low-carbon fuel option, its environmental benefits depend heavily on the sustainability of its feedstock.
An accountable industry
In response to these concerns, the UK has implemented stringent government measures to limit the use of high-risk feedstocks in biofuels. Due to these regulations, use of POME is minimal in the UK – accounting for less than 2% of all UK renewable fuel (HVO and biodiesel combined).
The Department for Transport (DfT) oversees a robust audit process involving several independent verification bodies. This ensures that UK HVO supply is certified by an independent body and derived from waste, with no palm oil present.
Reinforcing their commitment to sustainability, leading UK HVO suppliers have confirmed that they neither support nor sell palm oil-derived HVO and do not use POME in UK supply chains.
Full traceability
To substantiate the provenance and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings of renewable fuels, the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) – designed and operated by Zemo Partnership – mandates full supply chain traceability.
Approved suppliers undergo continuous compliance checks, including annual audits, to verify GHG performance and feedstock origin.
In response to the BBC’s report, Zemo Partnership issued the following statement:
“Zemo has full confidence in the sustainability of HVO verified through the Renewable Fuel Assurance Scheme (RFAS). All HVO in the UK is produced from voluntary scheme-certified biomass waste and residues, the vast majority of which is used cooking oil.”
The RFAS serves as the gold standard for verifying the downstream chain of custody for renewable fuels. It enables suppliers to meet growing demand for independently assured, sustainable fuel, covering both feedstock origin and lifecycle GHG emissions.
All renewable fuels produced or imported into the UK are independently verified by the DfT to ensure compliance with sustainability regulations under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).”
Zemo also expressed confidence in the DfT’s verification process and stressed that any allegations of fraud must be backed by credible, evidence-based findings.
The Renewable Transport Fuel Association echoed this stance, fully supporting the DfT’s increased efforts to investigate irregularities in the imported biofuels market:
“Our industry – the UK renewable fuels industry – is rightly proud of our high standards of traceability and sustainability, and anything that tarnishes our image (by association) should be rooted out.”
To this end, the DfT recently updated its guidance to enable deeper investigations into feedstock supply chains where origins may be unclear. Though this adds administrative burden for some suppliers, it is essential to ensure that only genuinely sustainable biofuels enter the UK market.
Leading by example
The UK’s renewable fuels industry continues to lead by example, upholding rigorous standards of transparency, sustainability, and accountability. While public scrutiny is essential to maintaining integrity, the existing frameworks—underpinned by independent verification and robust regulation—demonstrate a clear commitment to ensuring that low-carbon fuels like HVO deliver on their environmental promise.
The sector welcomes open dialogue and continuous improvement but stands firm in its dedication to delivering genuinely sustainable solutions.
Image from stock.