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International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways, has announced an investment in Wastefront, a company planning to convert used tyres into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The funding will support the construction of a £100 million plant in Sunderland, slated to begin operations in 2026 and reach full capacity the following year.
The facility will process up to 10 million waste tyres annually, addressing a significant portion of the 50 million tyres the UK discards annually. Currently, most of these tyres are exported to countries like India, where they are incinerated or buried, contributing to environmental pollution.
The SAF produced at the plant will generate 70% fewer carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel, representing a significant step toward decarbonizing the aviation sector. However, SAF remains significantly more expensive to produce.
As part of the UK’s push for greener aviation, a new SAF mandate was introduced on 1 January. By 2025, SAF must constitute 2% of all jet fuel used in UK flights, with this percentage set to rise annually to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2034. The UK government has described these targets as “ambitious but achievable.”
To encourage SAF production, the government has pledged to implement a revenue certainty mechanism. This will reduce producers' financial risks and attract further investment in UK-based SAF facilities.
According to Vianney Vales, Wastefront's CEO, the company’s mission is to transform “a problematic waste stream into a highly valuable resource.” The Sunderland facility represents a significant innovation in addressing waste management while advancing sustainability in aviation.