Briefing

EU biodiesel market briefing

May 30, 2016

This briefing details the feedstock used in biodiesel in Europe between 2010 and 2014. It is based on official industry data from Fediol obtained by T&E. The analysis shows that all of the 34% growth in EU biodiesel since 2010 comes from imported palm oil. The expansion of these plantations into natural rainforest is both having a devastating impact on biodiversity and causing net greenhouse gas emissions, to the effect that palm oil biodiesel is three times worse for the climate than fossil diesel.

In 2010, just 8% of palm oil used in Europe was for biodiesel, a share which grew to 45% in 2014. A further 15% of palm oil was burned for heat and power. Other uses of palm oil, such as for food and cosmetics, have actually declined by one-third in these four years. On average biodiesel is now 80% worse for the climate than fossil diesel, up from 40% in 2010. All forms of support for first-generation biofuels needs to end in 2020.

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