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1 Clean Getaway: Meat Waste Joins Biofuels At Luxury Jet Show

By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's biggest industry show in Las Vegas luxury jets are drawing buyers with their streamlined silhouettes, luxurious cabins - and significantly, their use of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are keen to showcase novel forms of air travel fuel considered less harmful to the environment, from used cooking oil to the clearly less attractive meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airlines, have actually acquiesced environmental pressure on aviation and devoted to cutting in half carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that embracing renewable fuel to curb emissions might make service jets more appealing to environmentally mindful buyers - particularly corporations facing concerns over sustainability from investors or green project groups.

The accessibility of less polluting private jets could also spare the abundant and popular the unfavorable promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a current private jet trip to southern France.

Five Gulfstream jets on display screen in Las Vegas are utilizing California-produced fuel from inedible beef tallow.

The current waste-based fuels consist of "fats, grease and oils that are byproducts of the food market," said Bryan Sherbacow, chief business officer of Boston-based biofuel producer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.

"All of our item is inedible."

Some of the other 79 airplane on display screen are anticipated to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other renewable fuel blends anticipated to be pumped at the program.

FLIGHT SHAMING

Private jets account for less than 0.1% of overall yearly carbon emissions globally, but can release, usually, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has actually protected his periodic use of private jets to ensure his safety, and has actually stated that on the uncommon celebrations he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his itinerary have included fresh obstacles for a market already making every effort to validate its contribution to cutting business costs.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are regrettable when you consider that our market has actually delivered fuel efficiency enhancements of 40% over the past 40 years," said Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel usage will help the industry make inroads with corporations and rich purchasers. According to market information, billionaires only have a 19% business jet ownership rate.

But even an image makeover - with jets sporting stickers like "this aircraft flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers including alternative fuel pumps for checking out planes - is not likely to satisfy all critics at the Oct 22-24 high-end jet occasion.

Environmentalists and some analysts remain hesitant that biojetfuels, typically mixed 50-50 with kerosene, will make a significant influence on public understandings about luxury travel.

"No quantity of jatropha curcas or Brazil-nut fuel can make business jets look eco-friendly," stated aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia.

Demand from business jet operators for eco-friendly fuels now far exceeds supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow stated.

World Energy, which produces 40 million gallons of biofuel at its California plant, could expand production approximately 150 million gallons by 2022.

Corporate charter business and specialists are likewise seeing more interest from customers who desire to purchase carbon credits to balance out emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, said emissions contributed in a business jet usage research study his business recently finished for a Fortune 500 company.

"At the end of the day, I believe that rate, cost per hour, variety, speed and performance, that's still the (sales) chauffeur. But I believe people are becoming more familiar with the sustainability of operations and how it affects the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)