Turning Waste into Wealth: Honduras Innovates with Recycled Cooking Oil

In Honduras, where deep-fried foods are a staple, the innovative NGO Sustenta Honduras is pioneering a project to convert used cooking oil into environmentally friendly soap and dog food. Hugo Daniel Chávez, the project manager, explains that millions of tonnes of cooking oil are consumed in Latin America annually, leading to various health and environmental risks when discarded improperly. To address these issues, Sustenta offers local businesses a solution that encourages proper disposal and creates new products. Their initiative, which has garnered international recognition and funding, involves purchasing used oils at competitive rates and processing them into soap through a method called saponification. This allows the organization to establish a circular economy and generate green jobs, while also collaborating with major retailers like Walmart to ensure a consistent supply chain. The project not only addresses waste management but also empowers local communities. Sustenta, led by a passionate youth team, embraces an innovative approach, focusing on actionable solutions to combat climate change and environmental degradation instead of solely opposing existing practices.