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

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By Allison Lampert

LAS VEGAS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - At the world's greatest industry show in Las Vegas luxury jets are enticing purchasers with their smooth shapes, luxurious cabins - and progressively, their usage of alternative fuels.

Fuel producers and jetmakers are eager to showcase unique types of aviation fuel deemed less harmful to the environment, from used cooking oil to the definitely less glamorous meat waste.

Business jet operators, like airlines, have acquiesced environmental pressure on air travel and dedicated to halving carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005.

Their hope is that adopting sustainable fuel to curb emissions could make organization jets more attractive to ecologically mindful buyers - specifically corporations facing concerns over sustainability from investors or green campaign groups.

The accessibility of less contaminating private jets could likewise spare the rich and popular the negative promotion experienced by Britain's Prince Harry and his partner Meghan over a recent personal jet journey 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 include "fats, grease and oils that are by-products of the food market," said Bryan Sherbacow, primary commercial officer of Boston-based biofuel manufacturer World Energy, which produces fuel from meat waste utilized by Gulfstream.

"All of our product is inedible."

A few of the other 79 aircraft on screen are expected to be powered by 150,000 gallons of other sustainable fuel mixes 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 produce, on average, approximately 20 times more carbon emissions per passenger mile than jetliners, according to the London-based private charter company Victor.

Prince Harry has protected his periodic use of private jets to guarantee his household's safety, and has actually stated that on the unusual occasions he does not fly commercially he offsets his emissions.

But planemakers say incidents such as the furore over his schedule have actually added fresh obstacles for a market currently making every effort to validate its contribution to cutting business expenses.

"Incidents of flight shaming including making use of private jets are unfortunate when you think about that our industry has actually provided fuel performance improvements of 40% over the past 40 years," stated Bombardier Aviation President David Coleal.

Bombardier believes increased sustainable fuel use will help the market make inroads with corporations and wealthy buyers. According to market information, billionaires just have a 19% company jet ownership rate.

But even an image remodeling - with jets sporting sticker labels like "this aircraft flies on eco-friendly fuels" and organisers adding alternative fuel pumps for checking out planes - is not likely to please all critics at the Oct 22-24 luxury jet event.

Environmentalists and some experts remain hesitant that biojetfuels, typically blended 50-50 with kerosene, will make a considerable impact on public perceptions about luxury travel.

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

Demand from organization jet operators for sustainable fuels now far surpasses supply and their interest could drive future production, Sherbacow said.

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

Corporate charter companies and experts are also seeing more interest from who wish to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions from their flights.

Brian Proctor, CEO of Mente Group, a U.S. consultancy, said emissions played a role in a corporate jet usage research study his company just recently completed for a Fortune 500 business.

"At the end of the day, I believe that price, cost per hour, range, speed and efficiency, that's still the (sales) motorist. But I think people are ending up being more mindful of the sustainability of operations and how it impacts the planet." (Reporting By Allison Lampert, Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexandra Hudson)