Virentis Fuels
The UK is burning plastic that should be powering vehicles and aircraft.
1.8–2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste is incinerated, landfilled, or exported from the UK every year. Virentis Fuels converts it into EN590 road diesel today, and sustainable aviation fuel tomorrow.
A waste crisis and a fuel crisis. One solution.
The Waste Crisis
of UK plastic waste sent to incineration, landfill, or export every year
Source: DEFRA, 2024
recycling plants closed in two years — domestic reprocessing now covers just 23% of UK packaging
Source: RECOUP UK, 2024
of plastic waste exported in 2024 alone — up 84% year-on-year
Source: HMRC, 2024
UK ETS cost on energy-from-waste incineration from January 2028 — making burning plastic increasingly expensive
Carbon liability per tonne of plastic incinerated from January 2028 when UK ETS expands to energy-from-waste — fundamentally changing disposal economics
The Fuel Crisis
SAF mandate by 2030. Rising to 22% by 2040 and 75% by 2050
Source: UK Energy Act 2023
of UK SAF in 2025 was sourced from China — geopolitically exposed and dominated by cooking-oil-based HEFA fuel
Source: HMRC trade data, 2025
of SAF needed annually by 2030 to meet the mandate — against virtually no domestic advanced fuel production
Source: DfT SAF Mandate Order, 2024
projected domestic SAF supply shortfall by 2030
Source: Rystad Energy, 2025
buy-out penalty for airlines that cannot source enough SAF
Source: DfT SAF Mandate Order, 2024
The UK does not have a SAF feedstock problem. It has a conversion-infrastructure problem. Millions of tonnes of polyethylene, polypropylene, and mixed plastic film are being incinerated every year for want of a buyer.
The Virentis Fuels Journey
Today: diesel. Tomorrow: aviation fuel.
We are building production facilities that serve two markets — road diesel for the waste industry now, and SAF for airlines as the mandate accelerates.
Phase 1 — Now
EN590 Road Diesel
- • Our UK and UAE plants convert non-recyclable plastic into specification-grade EN590 diesel
- • 860–870 litres of diesel per tonne of plastic input
- • Drop-in fuel — no vehicle modifications required
- • RTFO-eligible as a Recycled Carbon Fuel — earning 1 dRTFC per litre
- • We supply diesel back to the same waste collectors who provide our feedstock — closing the loop
- • Built on ESAF TradeCo's proven six-stage catalytic refining process — patent pending, SGS certified, and operationally validated
Carbon credits generated on every tonne processed — 2.02 tCO₂e per tonne of plastic diverted from incineration
Phase 2 — In Development
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- • Our on-site laboratory is actively working on the SAF refinery pathway
- • ESAF holds patent PCT/CH2025/050030 for converting plastic pyrolysis oil into aviation turbine fuel
- • SGS tested and certified to ASTM D1655 (Jet A-1) and D7566 (SAF)
- • Freezing point below −50°C — exceeding standard requirements by 12°C
- • The UK Revenue Certainty Mechanism (CfD-style) expected end-2026, with the first contract round reserved for non-HEFA producers — directly favouring waste-plastic-to-jet pathways
- • 75% GHG reduction versus fossil fuel production — exceeding the UK mandate's minimum 40% threshold
1.35 billion litres of SAF from just 1.5Mt of UK reject plastic
For Waste Collectors & Recyclers
Your reject plastic becomes your fleet diesel.
Non-recyclable fractions currently cost you £95–130 per tonne in gate fees to incinerate. We take that material and give you fuel back.
Take Your Rejects
Multilayer films, contaminated packaging, mixed polymer bales, MRF/PRF residuals — the material that currently has nowhere to go except EfW. We take it.
Return Your Diesel
EN590 diesel produced from your own waste stream, supplied back to your collection fleet. Turn a disposal cost into a fuel supply.
Generate Carbon Credits
Every tonne of plastic diverted from incineration generates verified carbon credits through ESAF's Verra methodology — 2.02 tCO₂e per tonne processed. An additional revenue layer on top of the fuel.
For Airlines, Airports & Government
Enough reject plastic to fuel UK aviation.
The numbers are striking. Converting the UK's addressable reject plastic stream would more than cover the entire projected 2030 SAF shortfall.
of SAF from just 1.0Mt of reject plastic — the confirmed packaging gap alone
from the mid-case 1.5Mt scenario — enough to cover the entire 2030 mandate shortfall
coverage of Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, and Jet2's combined 2030 SAF needs from the conservative 1.0Mt case
buy-out penalty for non-compliance — no airline wants to pay this when SAF supply exists
Source: DfT SAF Mandate Order, 2024
| Airline | SAF needed at 10% (2030) | Volume (litres) | Coverage from 1.0Mt feedstock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic | ~121,000 t | ~151 million L | 5.9× covered |
| easyJet (UK share) | ~180,000 t | ~225 million L | 4.0× covered |
| Jet2 | ~91,000 t | ~113 million L | 7.9× covered |
| Combined | ~392,000 t | ~489 million L | 1.84× covered |
Note: Jet2's primary SAF supplier Fulcrum NorthPoint is in serious doubt after its US parent filed for bankruptcy in September 2024 — illustrating exactly the supply-side fragility that domestic plastic-to-SAF production solves.
Competitive Landscape
Multiple announced UK pyrolysis projects have collapsed: Recycling Technologies (administration 2022), Quantafuel Sunderland (cancelled 2024), Powerhouse Protos (terminated 2025), Abundia UK (never materialised). Virentis brings patent pending, SGS-certified technology with operational facilities already running.
For airports: your own terminal waste plastic can fuel your own aircraft. This is the circular economy story that passengers, regulators, and investors want to see.
Production facilities.
UK — Shrewsbury
Virentis Fuels' first UK production facility, currently in planning. Phase 1: EN590 diesel from non-recyclable plastic. On-site laboratory developing the SAF refinery pathway. Located in a region with approximately 115,000 tonnes per year of polyolefin flowing to incineration — and zero pyrolysis competition within 100km.
UAE — Ras Al Khaimah
ESAF TradeCo production facility. 8,000 tonnes per year capacity. EN590 diesel and carbon credit generation.
In Partnership with ESAF TradeCo
Powered by ESAF TradeCo.
Virentis Fuels is the UK delivery partner for ESAF TradeCo LLC-FZ, a Dubai-based climate technology company with patent pending fuel conversion technology and operational facilities.
Patent Pending Technology
ESAF's six-stage catalytic refining process (Patent PCT/CH2025/050030) converts plastic waste into specification-grade fuel meeting ASTM D1655 and EN590 standards. 75% GHG reduction versus fossil fuel production.
Carbon Credit Integration
ESAF works with Verra to develop dedicated methodologies for carbon credits from pyrolysis operations. Every tonne of plastic processed generates verified emission reductions — 1.8 tCO₂e avoided per tonne of fuel produced.
Proven Performance
60–75% liquid fuel yield. Sulfur content below 10 ppm. Energy density ≥42.8 MJ/kg. Freezing point ≤-50°C. SGS tested and certified.
The Policy Tailwind
Every policy trend accelerates this.
The regulatory environment is moving decisively in favour of domestic plastic-to-fuel production.
UK SAF Mandate
2% in 2025, 10% by 2030, 75% by 2050. Airlines that cannot source SAF face a buy-out penalty of £4.70/litre. Statutory demand floor with no opt-out.
Revenue Certainty Mechanism
The government's CfD-style mechanism for SAF expected end-2026. First contract round reserved for non-HEFA producers — directly favouring waste-plastic-to-jet pathways like ours.
UK ETS Expansion to EfW
From January 2028, energy-from-waste incinerators face UK ETS costs of approximately £125/tonne. This makes burning plastic increasingly expensive — and diversion to pyrolysis increasingly attractive.
Plastic Export Restrictions
UK plastic waste export restrictions tightening from 2026. Domestic processing capacity becomes more valuable as the export route closes.
Why Plastic-to-SAF Is Structurally Advantaged
Why plastic-to-SAF has a protected market.
The UK government has deliberately designed the SAF mandate to create space for advanced fuels like ours — and to prevent cooking-oil-based fuel from dominating.
HEFA Cap
The UK is capping how much of the mandate can be met by HEFA (cooking oil fuel). By 2030, at least 25% of the mandate must come from advanced pathways. By 2040, 65% must be non-HEFA. Our plastic-to-SAF pathway is uncapped — structurally protected demand.
Revenue Certainty Mechanism
The government's CfD-style guaranteed strike price for SAF — expected end-2026 — is explicitly reserved for non-HEFA producers. A Virentis plant with an RCM contract becomes a bankable infrastructure asset with government-backed revenue.
Recycled Carbon Fuel Status
Fuels derived from non-recyclable plastic waste are explicitly eligible as Recycled Carbon Fuels under both the SAF mandate and the RTFO. This is not a loophole — it is deliberate policy designed to divert plastic from incineration into productive use.
Let's build the supply chain together.
Feedstock Partners
If you're a recycler, waste processor, MRF, or PRF with non-recyclable plastic fractions — we want your rejects and we'll give you diesel back.
Discuss Feedstock SupplyAviation & SAF
If you're an airline, airport, fuel supplier, or government body interested in UK-produced SAF from plastic waste — the feedstock is here, the patent is filed, and the mandate is ticking.
Discuss SAF OpportunityLearn more about the underlying technology on our ESAF Pyrolysis page, or explore Virentis Carbon for credit generation from mechanical recycling.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Let's talk.
Whether you're a UK recycler looking to unlock carbon credit revenue, or a defence prime seeking next-generation materials — we'd like to hear from you.