Abstract
Used cooking oil (UCO) can be our carbon handprint, helping to reduce our carbon footprint. Transitioning to low-emission biofuels is crucial for achieving Net Zero 2050 objectives. However, gaps in traceability, ineffective UCO collection systems, and outdated sustainability practices impede genuine reductions in carbon footprints. This study examines how regenerative and traceable systems can validate biofuels while advancing sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. This research addresses critical challenges through extensive ethnographic fieldwork across the lifecycle of used cooking oil (UCO) to biofuels, gathering valuable insights from industry stakeholders, street food vendors, and UCO collectors. By integrating systems, service, and strategic design with approaches from the digital and circular economy, the study establishes a framework that optimises UCO collection, enhances transparency and traceability through innovative solutions, and encourages public participation in sustainable recycling initiatives. Applying various design frameworks reframes sustainability principles, enabling more efficient and scalable implementation. The outcome proposes a structured, transparent, and accountable UCO collection and validation system that fosters behavioural and cultural change while aligning with policy incentives, business viability, and community-driven action. By bridging technology, behavioural shifts, and industry regulations, this research illustrates how UCO can transition from waste to a regenerative energy resource, actively reducing emissions and restoring ecosystems. Ultimately, this research redefines UCO biofuels as a low-emission catalyst for net-positive environmental and social transformation, driving the shift toward a regenerative future.
Presenters
Sheng Jin AngStudent, MA Design, University of the Arts Singapore, LASALLE College of the Arts, Central Singapore, Singapore
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Thinking, Learning, Doing: Plural Ways of Design
KEYWORDS
REGENERATIVE, NET-POSITIVE, BIOFUELS, CARBON HANDPRINT, CARBON FOOTPRINT, TRACEABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, SUSTAINABILITY
