The Vital Role of Australian Renderers in the Circular Economy
Australia’s rendering industry plays an important role in a more sustainable and circular economy. It recovers value from animal by-products generated by the meat processing sector that are not suitable for human consumption and converts them into valuable fats, oils and protein meals for use in biofuels, pet food, stockfeed, aquafeed, cosmetics and industrial applications.
This includes tallow and, alongside Australia’s used cooking oil recycling sector, biofuel feedstocks that are increasingly important to renewable fuel supply chains. Each year, more than 2.7 million tonnes of material is processed into valuable products rather than being lost from the supply chain, supporting resource efficiency and reducing waste.
Tallow and UCO in renewable fuels
Australia is the world’s largest exporter of tallow, and tallow and used cooking oil are already supporting global renewable fuel industries. In 2025, Australia exported 650,000 tonnes of tallow and used cooking oil. These feedstocks are recognised in major international frameworks as sustainable biofuel feedstocks for low carbon liquid fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Important environmental benefits include:
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and resource efficiency: The rendering industry helps to divert valuable animal material from landfill, where it would produce methane a potent greenhouse gas and promotes resource efficiency.
Lowering energy and water consumption: Rendering facilities use less energy and water compared to other animal waste disposal methods such as incineration, which can be energy-intensive and produce air pollution.
Circular economy: The industry is an integral part of the circular economy by converting animal by-products into valuable ingredients for animal feed, pet food, biofuels and more.
Food security: Rendered products produced by the industry are used in animal feed and pet food, contributing to food security by providing a reliable source of nutrition for livestock and pets.
Supporting local communities: Rendering facilities provide employment opportunities and can support local communities, particularly in regional areas where the industry is often located.
For a comprehensive list of accredited plants, along with their country registrations and copies of the ARA Codes of Practice, please explore our resources section.