Business case

Impact on the availability of resources as well as their effect on living organisms, ecosystems, and components of the environment.

Ecological Impact

Impacts on the social fabric of the community and well-being of the individuals and families.

Social Impact

Impacts on the financial condition of a company, as well as the the economicconditions of its stakeholders and on economic systems at local, national, andglobal levels.

Economic Impact

Impact on increased knowledge and understanding as a result of the case study

Increase Awareness

Direct and indirect effects that increase revenues or the potential for new revenues, for example from new products, customer segments, partnerships or business models

Revenue Potential

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Reduced use of fossil fuel energy sources and/or increased use of renewable energy

Reduce Energy Consumption

Extracting resources and processing them to produce materials for use bysociety

Materials and Fuels

Producing and refining oil, gas, and other consumable fuels related to the generation of energy

Consumable Fuels

Ensure renewable, reusable, non-toxic resources are utilised as materials and energy in an efficient way

Prioritise regenerative resources

Utilise waste streams as a source of secondary resources and recover waste for reuse and recycling

Use waste as a resource

Use digital, online platforms and technologies that provide insights to track and optimise resource use, strengthen connections between supply chain actors, and enable the implementation of circular models



Incorporate digital technology

Replace energy sources with less impactful alternatives and enact energy efficiency measures

Regenerative energy

Recover waste energy or generate fuels and energy from waste streams

Energy recovery from waste

Employ technologies to gather and analyse data to provide insights on resource use

Data and insights

Using renewable energy like solar, wind, etc. or renewable fuels like biomass, etc.

Renewable energy, fuels

Generating energy from waste through processes such as anaerobic digestion, gasification, incineration, etc.

Generating energy from waste

Processing waste streams into fuels such as biogas, biofuels, pellets, etc.

Processing waste into fuel

Utilising data and models to to identify, enable and/or implement circular strategies (eg. effective resource use & logistics planning, circular business models & design)

Data analytics, modelling

Installing sensors to gather data from products and services to identify, enable and/or implement circular strategies (eg. effective resource use & logistics planning, circular business models & design)

Sensors, monitoring systems

Regenerate strategies phase out hazardous or toxic materials and processes and substitute them with regenerative biomass resources. A circular economy aims to mimic natural cycles—by shifting to more regenerative farming practices, for example—while also maximising the share of circular biomass that enters the economy. Regeneration can happen both at the systems level (by designing regenerative processes) as well as at the product level (by switching synthetic to organic fertilisers, for example).

Regenerate

Cycle strategies aim to cycle and reuse materials at their highest value: they maximise the volume of secondary materials re-entering the economy, ultimately minimising the need for virgin material inputs and therefore also narrowing flows. Of course, virgin materials will always be needed to a degree: all materials degrade and can’t be cycled infinitely, use energy, and require blending with virgin materials to maintain strength and functionality.

Cycle

Impacts

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Industries

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The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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Sunway Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality division of Malaysian conglomerate Sunway Group, has partnered with compatriot FatHopes Energy Sdn Bhd for the recycling of its used cooking oil (UCO) into biodiesel. Through this sustainability initiative, more than fifty percent of the participating Sunway Hotels' UCO is expected to be recycled and collected by FatHopes Energy on a weekly basis at the hotels' respective collection centres to be converted into biodiesel.Colin Yeoh (left) Sunway Hotels & Resorts’ Group Director of Food & Beverage with Vinesh Sinha, CEO and Founder, FatHopes Energy at the hotel’s used cooking oil (UCO) collection centre (photo courtesy Sunway Group).Sunway Hotels & Resorts currently operates a portfolio of 11 hotels in Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam, representing over 3 000 guestrooms, suites, and villas at its owned and managed properties. A subsidiary of Sunway Berhad, one of Malaysia’s leading property developers that operates a diverse portfolio of hospitality assets and services that includes ownership and management of an integrated resort city with a cluster of hotels with large scale convention, meeting and exhibition facilities, to private villa resorts, a wellness retreat and a collection of 5, 4 and 3-star hotels in mixed-use development.The partnership with FatHopes Energy includes six participating Sunway Hotels & Resorts in Malaysia – Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, Sunway Pyramid Hotel and Sunway Clio Hotel located in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, Sunway Putra Hotel in Kuala Lumpur city centre and Sunway Hotel Georgetown and Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya in Penang.By partnering with FatHopes Energy, we are assured of not only the conversion of the used cooking oil into an ecologically beneficial energy stream but also to the environment, which has become a priority to the business while being mindful towards the efficiency of our operations and stakeholders value, said Colin Yeoh, Sunway Hotels & Resorts’ Group Director of Food & Beverage.Sunway Hotels & Resorts has reported that at minimum, fifty percent of its used cooking oil (UCO) is expected to be recycled into biodiesel.Cooking oil in the hotel is used for various methods of cooking including as part of an ingredient in dishes and not just for deep frying. However, with proper recycling, data monitoring and collection now in place with FatHopes Energy, our Hotels can expect the percentage to increase in the long term, Colin Yeoh added.FatHopes Energy’s primary focus is in collecting waste vegetable oil, consolidating and processing it for the production of biofuels. The company also operates a biodiesel plant in its premises located at Subang New Village, Shah Alam, Selangor.We are honoured by the stewardship and commitment of Sunway Hotels & Resorts as it is a milestone for the groups sustainability journey and an exemplary initiative that should be adopted across the country. This long-term partnership will also help raise awareness and spur other related industries to take this significant step in creating a sustainable future with us, said Vinesh Sinha, CEO and Founder, FatHopes Energy.Without proper collection, cooking fats, oil and grease (FOG) end up down the drain, which can clog sewage lines due to the build-up of fats, so-called fatbergs. Around the world and in Malaysia, this issue has become a real concern.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Once surreptitiously dumped down drains in the dead of night, Asia’s used cooking oil is fast becoming one of the most sought-after commodities in Europe - as a feedstock for biodiesel.A worker at FatHopes Energy filters the collected used cooking oil to remove impurities at their facility in Shah Alam, outside Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur October 6, 2018. REUTERS/Emily ChowAggressive green energy targets in the European Union that were bolstered further this year are pushing fuel makers to churn out biodiesel containing recycled cooking oils and fats, phasing out the use of fresh vegetable oils in the process by 2030.That has unleashed a wave of demand for used oil from places such as China and Southeast Asia, where cooking oils are widely used to prepare everything from stir-fries to piping hot samosas.Amizuri Abdullah, who picks up used oil from restaurants, fast food outlets and food factories for Malaysian waste oil collection firm FatHopes Energy, said his job had been getting markedly busier.“When I first joined the company a year ago, there were about 15 or 16 stops to make in a day. Now there can be as many as 25, and more people are asking about it,” said Amizuri, who wears bright blue protective gloves to pump used oil into a tank on the back of his truck on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.The oil is unloaded at a collection center where it is filtered to remove food scraps like chicken bones and skin, before being processed to reduce contamination. It is then transferred into tankers for export to Europe.FatHopes Chief Executive Vinesh Sinha said the company’s exports of waste-based feedstock to European oil majors had grown 40 percent in the last three years, forecasting a threefold increase in Europe’s demand for such feedstock by 2030.Used cooking oil makes up a good chunk of what the company collects from thousands of sites across Southeast Asia, but it also buys coffee grinds, animal fats and palm oil mill waste.“My clients are struggling to find feedstock in anticipation of the EU policy,” he said.(GRAPHIC: Biodiesel production by region since 2000 - tmsnrt.rs/2oYrmJI)GOING UPAsia’s used cooking oil industry was estimated to be worth around $500 million a couple of years ago, but analysts said more recent estimates were not available due to the rapid growth in the number of new collectors and traders.Justin Yuan, chief executive of the used cooking oil division at Chinese consulting company STIN Group, said shipments from China would likely hit 300,000 tonnes this year, up from 200,000 tonnes in 2017.He said most cargoes go to Europe and that volumes were set to keep surging in coming years.“More overseas biodiesel plants will source used cooking oil in China. With soaring demand from home and abroad, it will put great pressure on used cooking oil supplies,” Yuan said. “The competition will be fiercer.”Indeed, waste oil demand is already outstripping supply around Asia, with traders estimating that the premium it fetches over crude palm oil prices has doubled from around two years ago to stand at about 10-15 percent.Used cooking oil is traded at prices pegged to crude palm oil, typically trading at a premium due to its greener credentials. Traders said it currently cost around $600-700 a tonne on average.That appetite is also good news for the thousands of restaurants and other businesses where the used oil is collected, which typically earn around 40 U.S. cents per kilo of the commodity.Analysts said that in the past many restaurants and food manufacturers poured old oil down the drain when the time came to replace it, often breaking rules designed to protect sewage systems that are very difficult to enforce.FAT-FINDING MISSIONToday, collectors are competing to lock up supplies from around the region to feed expanding biofuel operations in Europe.In June, the European Union agreed to phase out crude vegetable oils usage in transport fuel from 2030 as part of a broader plan to increase the share of renewables in the bloc’s energy production.“The industry here (in Asia) is about whether you have the capacity to get more oil. Competition is very fierce now, so the margins we have are little,” said Rick Ng, business advisor for Singaporean waste oil collector Go Green Recycle Oil.In May, French oil major Total said waste material would account for 30-40 percent of feedstock supplies at its new 650,000 tonnes capacity biofuel refinery in southern France.Britain-based biofuel supplier Greenergy in July acquired an idle vegetable oil processing plant in Amsterdam to turn waste oil into biodiesel.Greenergy, Europe’s largest producer of biofuels made from waste, in September also acquired Singapore-based used cooking oil exporter Rexon Energy to help secure raw material supplies.Meanwhile, Finnish biofuel producer Neste told Reuters by email that it was planning to double its waste-based refining capacity in Singapore to 2 million tonnes.All that means that Amizuri back at FatHopes Energy in Kuala Lumpur could be set to get busier.“I think there is going to be more used cooking oil collected as awareness that it can be recycled rises. I think this industry is going to grow,” he said.“Instead of throwing it out, collect and sell it. There is value there.”(This version of the story was refiled to correct spelling error in 3rd paragraph)Reporting by Emily Chow in KUALA LUMPUR; Additional reporting by Nigel Hunt and Ron Bousso in LONDON, Bate Felix in PARIS; Editing by Gavin Maguire and Joseph RadfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.



FatHopes Energy technically began in Vinesh Sinha’s kitchen, when he would filter used cooking oil through an old t-shirt to make biofuel. 
He launched FatHopes Energy in 2010 after dropping out of school, that converts used oil of various purity levels into usable, standard biofuel quality. 
FatHopes Energy was bootstrapped, and persevered despite naysayers because to Vinesh, the unit economy always made sense. 

When he was still in school, Vinesh Sinha was given a diesel car by his father. And because he was a frugal youth, Vinesh would often peel his eyes for ways to cut his fuel costs.
It was in this process that Vinesh would come across his goldmine.
This came in the form of Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear, who operated a diesel Mercedes Benz using straight waste vegetable oil. Vinesh saw that he did, and wanted to try it for himself.
“It initially caused me issues, as the waste cooking oil that I topped up my car with was filled with food scraps which clogged the fuel lines,” said Vinesh.
He eventually figured out the problem, and in a home kitchen, began heating the oil to remove water residue, then filtering through an old t-shirt to remove sediments.
He would blend it with the conventional diesel on a 50:50 ratio to run his vehicle, and not only did he halve his fuel spending, Vinesh realised that his concoction meant that the engine oil took longer to degrade or become dirty, which significantly improved his servicing costs.
This discovery did not lead to much else at the time, but when Vinesh went to the UK to continue his studies, his eyes were suddenly open to the potential of biodiesel when he saw that they had petrol pumps for them.
Image Credit: FatHopes Energy
What surprised him more was when home-brewed biodiesel became taxable in the UK, which proved that enough people were doing this there that the government has decided to tax them on it.
Vinesh considered this as an opportunity for the Malaysian market, and began volunteering with waste-oil biodiesel production companies to learn more.
However, he had been skipping classes to do this.
Push came to shove, and Vinesh eventually decided to quit university at 18 to focus on biodiesel.
The FatHopes Energy team today / Image Credit: FatHopes Energy
“I realised that if I am going to try and work on something noble and new, I might as well do it when I was young and full of energy, instead of when I am older—this will also give me the first mover advantage.”
He eventually christened this business FatHopes Energy, because they have a hope of producing energy from fats, and because in its early days, many naysayers sarcastically told Vinesh that his vision was just fat hopes.
Established in 2010, FatHopes Energy develops sustainable fats, oils and grease for advanced biofuel production.
By 2017, FatHopes Energy has been able to ethically utilise in excess of 150,550,000 kilogrammes of waste vegetable oil, consisting of waste cooking oils, among others.
Their proprietary system allows them to produce a steady output quality of biofuels despite the quality they arrive in. According to Vinesh they’re also the only organisation in the region that can convert a large variety of feedstocks into biofuels.
Image Credit: FatHopes Energy
Their efforts have also landed Vinesh a spot in 2018’s Forbes 30 Under 30.
Vinesh said, “I did not know if [quitting school] was the right move, but I guess the proof is in the pudding.”
He chose to see his lack of experience as a blessing, and it helped them to think differently throughout their journey doing FatHopes Energy.
“Our industry is also unique, as there has been no precedent for us to follow in the region and this has further enabled us to think out of the box without any limitation—this I think is our biggest asset.”
In FatHopes Energy’s early days, many disagreed with his choice in life, but Vinesh carried on.
“At every juncture of this business I persevered mainly due to the fact that the unit economics always made sense, especially from day one,” said Vinesh.
“It was obvious that demand was extremely strong and is even higher today because of a global shift towards alternative energy streams and we continue to deliver value to all our cornerstone participants in our business.”
“But what better way to find profitable models that generate responsible profit than solving problems that matter?”
Vinesh bootstrapped the business, because to him, “results for effort is always valued far higher than equity or investment”.
“Retrospectively I surely would have wanted an investor to come in at an earlier stage, but I believe we would not have been as frugal as we were, which has grown a much more robust foundation and internal culture.”
This also allowed them to be more thoughtful about their investors, as FatHopes Energy chooses partnerships instead. Of course, this tends to take longer, and FatHopes Energy may change this as the organisation grows.
FatHopes Energy has cemented a 70% market share in Malaysia and Singapore for some of the materials in isolation, like used cooking oil.
So the question is, how would they convince Malaysians to switch to biodiesel instead of normal diesel?
Vinesh’s answer: “I don’t.”
Instead, they educate Malaysians about disposing waste vegetable oils with Fathopes Energy. According to him, many Malaysians are unaware that most of the vegetable oils in Malaysia finds its way back into our food streams.
Vinesh also stands by being transparent and accountable about what happens to the waste oil after they are collected, which differentiates them from their waste oil competitors.
Image Credit: FatHopes Energy
“We guarantee all organisations that dispose with us that all waste materials are utilised in industrial biofuels applications by way of robust certification programs that we instigate, embrace and co-developed with in-depth knowledge of the industry in the region.”
After cementing their 70% market share, Vinesh considers this the main driving force for them to venture into other countries. Their ambition is to triple their capacity, by expanding into all other SEA countries by 2020.
Green campaigns often speak about saving the planet, but Vinesh thinks that the planet will still be here long after we’re gone. What we do need to save is the human race itself, which is driving itself to extinction due to greed.
This is the force that drives him to this day, and will continue to do so as FatHopes Energy continues to grow.

You can find out more about FatHopes Energy and what they do on their website here. 
 Feature Image Credit: FatHopes Energy


 



FatHopes Energy specialises in waste and residue biofuels feedstock origination, aggregation, purification and supply of the same to be used as advanced biofuels feedstocks to global oil and gas majors. We have developed a state-of-the-art technology and digital solution that tracks the entire supply chain to prove originations of the material and all the information is available remotely via the internet. Towards the second half of the previous decade we have vigorously focused on securitisation of waste-based biofuels feedstock that has been enabled via our technology platform that not only provides an equitable counter party option but is transparent and accountable providing all stakeholders peace of mind and advancements within their business process.
Integrity is paramount at FatHopes Energy and this has been the driving force for us to push the digital solution into the market. This move has significantly improved business processes and increased customer satisfaction by leaps and bounds – showing the world that a digitised platform for waste-based bio fuels feed stock is viable and beneficial.
At FatHopes Energy we understand the value of building a reliable supply chain which has been the essence of our organisation – which enables our customers simple / easy access to the complex and multi stakeholder supply chain without any development requirements. With state-of-the-art pre-treatment centers and assets located in strategic locations across South East Asia, we are able to be extremely competitive and are confident to meet and surpass the standard requirements without any challenges.



 

With our extensive experience of over a decade we have pioneered the adoption of sustainability guidelines, requirements and certification as we understand the advantages of a global alignment toward a unified carbon emissions reduction strategy. 
We are not only fully licensed by local authorities within our operating jurisdiction such as the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), the Ministry of Plantations Industries & Commodities (MPI) of Malaysia, and the National Environmental Agency in Singapore. Apart from this, we are also familiar with global certifications systems like the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) as well as, but not limited to Italian National Bio Fuels and Bio liquids Sustainability Certification System and several other such as the REDII and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard for the California market.
 

   © Copyright - Fat Hopes Energy 2020. All rights reserved.   

    Malaysia A large amount of grease and waste was manually removed from a culvert in Taman Kinrara.       

The growth and success of FatHopes Energy is very much tied to its willingness to collaborate with—instead of crucifying—major oil and gas players. “What I’ve learned over the years is that everyone has their own priorities and it’s not right to say another’s isn’t right just because it doesn’t align with yours,” says Sinha.  “If we, small companies, want to go up against these big guys and provide alternative energy options to try and win them, it’s never going to work. Instead of working against one another, I feel that we should work together to reach our climate goals as fast as possible.” He admits, however, that he didn’t start off his journey with this mindset. “I was initially of the perspective that we needed to take down these big companies, who are harming our planet.” But over the years, seeing some of them publicly commit to transforming their business and moving away from fossil fuels has made him more open-minded about them.  “The intent is there and that’s what matters. And over time, I realised—and many of these major players too—that finding a middle ground and collaborating with each other is more crucial to helping our planet.”  Explaining why many large oil and gas companies haven’t gone full speed with putting in place more responsible practices, Sinha says, “The biggest factor for change is deployed capital.” Many of these companies have already invested millions, if not billions of dollars, into multiple projects with the aim of receiving their returns on investment (ROI) across an extended period of time. “They aren’t going to consider or want to listen to conversations that governments and the world are having about wanting to change the way we live, because they haven’t received the ROI for their last project yet.” “They’re instead going to ask one simple question: ‘If I halt my projects today, who’s going to recover the losses and answer to my shareholders?’ The reality is that it doesn’t make economical sense to these big companies to drop what they’re doing and reinvent themselves.”  Sinha says the biggest challenge for large companies to effect change now is to learn how to manage capital that has already been deployed. “When do they make the decision to pivot away? My take is to do this slowly and steadily, such as when a project is nearing expiration or you’ve gotten your ROI,” he says. See also: Casetify Founder Wesley Ng On How To Pivot Your Business Amidst A Global Crisis

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FatHopes Energy is a multi-faceted business that was established in 2010 with the primary focus of developing sustainable fats, oils and grease solutions for the primary purpose of advanced biofuel production. Over the years we have managed to cement our position as a robust and reliable supplier of ready to use biofuels as well as biofuels feedstock to global markets.

The organisation has grown to be able to meet global standards as we regularly supply products to numerous oil and gas companies locally as well as globally. Constantly at the forefront of the sustainable biofuels industry has enabled us to gain trust from the global market and we believe we can bring the same value into your organisation.

We understand the value of building a reliable supply chain which has been at the epitome of our initiatives – which enables our customers simple or easy access to the complex and multi stakeholder supply chain without any development requirements. With state of the art refineries and assets located in strategic locations across South East Asia, we are able to be extremely competitive and are confident to meet and surpass the standard requirements with any challenges. (Taken from official website)

FatHopes Energy Sdn Bhd

<p>The dumping of used cooking oil into drains and sewers causing grease clogs called fatbergs is becoming a widespread issue in Malaysia. FatHopes Energy was established in 2010 with the aim of collecting used cooking oil all over Malaysia to be refined and processed for export to Europe to produce cleaner fuel - biodiesel.&nbsp;</p>