Terminal Green: NJ Restaurateur’s Guide to the SAF Revolution

In 2026, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is transitioning from a “green dream” into a massive commercial reality, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is at the center of this revolution.

The used cooking oil from your NJ restaurant today could be fueling a widebody jet to London tomorrow.

1. Why 2026 Is the “Breakout Year” for SAF

While previous years focused on small test flights and pilot programs, 2026 is the year of commercial integration — when SAF goes from niche to actionable for the airlines.

• The Mandate Push: Governments and aviation regulators have put SAF targets and blending mandates into motion globally. Many jurisdictions are requiring airlines and fuel suppliers to meet ever-higher percentages of SAF use — turning promise into policy.
• The “Age of Proof”: It’s no longer enough to talk about sustainability; digital tracking and transparent supply chains are popping up in proposals. It is early yet, but blockchain-style tracking systems for UCO are in development.  These tracking systems can connect the feedstock origin — including used cooking oil — all the way through to the fuel tank.
• Global Summits: Industry events such as the SAF Global Summit (e.g., summits held in London) and the Sustainable Skies World Summit are focusing the world’s largest airlines, producers, and policymakers on rapidly boosting production and clearing the supply bottlenecks.

2. EWR: The Prime Hub for Green Flight

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — one of the busiest airports in the United States — is uniquely positioned as a strategic hub for SAF due to its infrastructure, existing airline partnerships, and pipeline connections.

• United’s 1-Million-Gallon Commitment: United Airlines has signed an agreement with SAF producers to bring sustainable aviation fuel to Newark and other major U.S. airports — making United one of the first major carriers to operationalize SAF at scale from multiple hubs, including EWR.
• The Pipeline Advantage: Unlike many airports that receive jet fuel only by truck or barge, EWR is part of the East Coast pipeline infrastructure already used to distribute conventional fuels. SAF blended upstream can travel via existing pipelines and reduce carbon emissions associated with transport of SAF to airports.
• The Gateway to the Atlantic: EWR hosts numerous long-haul widebody departures — flights that are especially carbon intensive. This makes every gallon of SAF used here more impactful in terms of total emissions avoided.

3. The Feedstock Frenzy: Where “Jersey Oil” Fits In

The biggest constraint in 2026 isn’t airplanes or refineries — its feedstock availability. That’s where the grease from restaurants and food companies becomes critical.

• HEFA Dominance: Almost all commercial SAF today is produced via Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) — a refining pathway that turns fats, oils, and greases into aviation-grade fuel.
• Why Used Cooking Oil (UCO) Matters: UCO is among the most valuable HEFA feedstocks because it doesn’t compete with food crops and dramatically cuts emissions compared to traditional jet fuel. SAF made this way can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 80%.
• The UCO Premium: Because domestic supplies of waste oils are limited and demand from SAF producers has skyrocketed, the market for UCO is tightening — raising the value used cooking oil for the production of SAF.

4. What’s Next for Newark—and for Your Business?

Looking ahead into the rest of 2026 and beyond:

• JetBlue’s Expansion: Following United’s lead, other carriers like JetBlue are signing commercial SAF agreements in the Northeast triangle of JFK/LGA/EWR — widening demand for feedstocks like UCO.
• Regional Incentives: States like New Jersey are exploring tax incentives and credits to encourage SAF production and new refinery conversions — potentially bringing biofuel facility activity closer to home which could lead to refineries in the Linden/Elizabeth area pivoting toward biofuel production.

For NJ restaurants. Your used cooking oil is no longer just grease — it’s an economic driver for sustainable aviation and a valued feedstock that is reducing gases that drive pollution and climate change.

Derrick Servon is a founder and co-owner of D&W Alternative Energy, a used cooking oil recycling and grease trap maintenance company serving NJ, PA and DE. He studied business management at Rider University and has developed and trained D&W's fleet of employees.