A New Zealand co-op project is looking to reduce greenhouse gases by creating biodiesel from waste cooking oil.
The idea for a biodiesel co-op came from Matt Lamason, founder and director of the People’s Coffee in Kapiti, the lower North island of New Zealand. The coffee shop sources Fairtrade coffee from co-operatives in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia and Peru.
Mr Lamason says he became “increasingly unhappy” with using fossil fuel in his business and while driving his family. Together with some friends, he decided to set up a biodiesel co-op to reduce waste and lower their greenhouse gas emissions by 86%.
The co-op will collect cooking oil from local businesses and restaurants and then filter and process it in it biodiesel processor BioPro190. The biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine without modification.
The members of the co-op will provide the equity capital needed but they are also looking to raise money via crowdfunding to purchase a mini-tanker to take as much fuel to as many of their members.
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Ramsey Margolis, who advises co-op start-ups has helped shape the co-op structure of the business, is currently helping Kapiti with governance, member enagegement and education. He says: “Unlike most investor-owned startups the co-op is not looking to scale up, rather they’re wanting to inspire – and help – other small, consumer-owned biodiesel co-operatives to get off the ground.
The first biodiesel will be going to the co-op’s members in January 2018.
Photo: founding members of the co-op
