You could one day be driving a car fuelled by chip fat, just like MacDonald’s plans to do with its delivery vehicles in the UK.

This has thrilled my Euro-MP Robert Sturdy, who is a firm believer in biodiesel, and hopes it will boost rapeseed production in the region too which will also be to make the fuel.

I remember Robert telling me about a German MP who is a farmer and produces his own biodiesel which he himself uses in his own vehicles. He made it sound so easy.

We have just issued a press release praising the MacDiesel approach:

Euro-MP Robert Sturdy, who has been championing the cause of biodiesel, is delighted that fast food chain MacDonald’s is to convert its discarded chip fat in the UK to run its delivery vehicles.

It could give a boost to the Eastern region’s rapeseed industry as MacDonald’s intends to use a combination of 85% cooking oil collected from its restaurants, mixed with 15% rapeseed oil to create green fuel. Over half of all rapeseed grown in the UK comes from the Eastern region and the drive towards alternative fuel allows for much needed product diversification in the regions agricultural community.

Mr Sturdy said:

“Following the reform of the sugar sector, which has seen many farms and refineries close and the disastrous handling of the farm payments scheme which resulted in chaos and severe financial difficulties for thousands of farmers, I welcome any attempts to revitalise farming and processing in the Eastern region and throughout the UK.

“For many years, major companies have been criticised for not taking their environmental responsibility seriously. This move by MacDonald’s proves that global companies can take swift and effective action to reduce the impact they have on the environment. I hope it encourages other companies to pursue greener approaches to business management and that MacDonald’s itself expands its scheme to other countries. Although it is a costly and ambitious task, large scale adoption of these greener practices can be financially sustainable for the future.â€?

Mr Sturdy, who is a member of the Environment Committee, said similar schemes have been operating successfully – particularly in Austria – and there are many good practice examples in Europe.

MacDonald’s will collect oil from 900 of its 1,214 outlets each week in the UK, after which the cooking fat will be taken to a separation tank in East Anglia to remove the food particles before being converted to biodiesel at a plant in Buckinghamshire.

MacDonald’s believes it will save more than 1,650 tonnes of carbon every year. This is equivalent to removing over 2,500 cars from the road annually or offsetting annual emissions of over 300 family homes.