How a facility turning plastic into jet fuel could solve the UK’s next oil crisis

NewsUKHome NewsHow a facility turning plastic into jet fuel could solve the UK’s next oil crisisAs airlines and travellers feel the effect of global jet fuel shortages, scientists in Kent may have figured out a sustainable solution to the crisisHarriette Boucher Tuesday 28 April 2026 13:14 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2965850","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/plastic-jet-fuel-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-b2965850.html","title":"How a facility turning plastic into jet fuel could solve the UK’s next oil crisis"}}Pilot facility converts non-recyclable waste plastic into jet fuelYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read more{}A world-first facility that turns plastic into jet fuel could be part of Britain’s solution to the next global oil crisis.Scientists in Kent are converting non-recyclable waste plastics into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to address the challenges posed by plastic waste and aviation decarbonisation.With the backing of the government and airlines, Clean Planet Technologies, part of the Clean Planet Group, said it could provide security for the UK the next time it faces major jet fuel shortages. if (document.cookie.split(';').some(cookie => cookie.trim() === '__DEBUG__=true')) { console.log('Ad logs: "mpu1", renderedAtParagraph: 3'); }if (document.cookie.split(';').some(cookie => cookie.trim() === '__DEBUG__=true')) { console.log('Ad logs: "mpu1", injectedAtParagraph: 3'); }The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war has caused widespread disruption to the flow of oil across the world, sending jet fuel prices soaring to roughly twice as high as they were before the conflict.Some European airlines have already cancelled flights amid the crisis, while others have warned of possible disruption and a rise in airfares. Clean Planet Group chief executive Bertie Stephens said: “When the strait closes, and there’s a scare on jet fuel, we can’t self-generate that [fuel] and there isn’t an alternative... So we have to find a solution where we can be self-dependent in some way. if (document.cookie.split(';').some(cookie => cookie.trim() === '__DEBUG__=true')) { console.log('Ad logs: "taboola-carousel-thumbnails", injectedAtParagraph: 6'); }“We have [a solution] in our country, we have millions of tons of waste plastic we’re just putting in a…

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