For a nation that virtually runs on chips, the UK has been a bit slow to catch on to biodiesel – fuel made from vegetable oils – and its emissions-reducing potential.
Good to see then, that PwC, one of the leading accountancy firms, plans to source a good chunk of the energy needed to run its new building from a local biodiesel producer. Uptown Oil manufactures heating and vehicle fuels from oil it collects from local venues. Taxis can fill up at its Southwark base and the company delivers fuel nationwide.
As part of biodiesel’s beauty is that it can be produced locally, perhaps we’ll see the company able to expand – Manchester, Leeds perhaps – as more businesses look for lower-carbon alternatives to regular fuels. There’s certainly no shortage of chip fat around.
Maybe next time you’re in London, tucking into a plate of chips, ask where the oil is going to end up. And if you’re working at PwC, fried food might not be such a sin anymore.
