Australia’s rendering and used cooking oil (UCO) recycling sector has launched what it says is its first industry-wide sustainability framework, aimed at establishing consistent measurement and improvement across environmental and market-related priorities.
The Australian Renderers Association (ARA) said the “ARA Sustainability Framework”, developed with KPMG, is intended to respond to changing customer expectations and domestic and global market requirements, including growing demand for credible sustainability information.
ARA chair Peter Milzewski said the framework was designed to provide a shared direction for the industry as it navigates shifting expectations across sectors the industry intersects with, including food production, agriculture, manufacturing, resource recovery, energy and international trade.
According to the ARA, the framework sets out four strategic focus areas for collective action: circular economy, resource efficiency, environmental protection, and market access. The market access pillar includes product integrity, traceability, biosecurity and supply chain assurance.
The ARA said the priorities were informed by a double materiality assessment, considering both the industry’s impacts on the economy, environment and people, and sustainability-related risks and opportunities that could affect the sector financially.
Rather than prescribing a single approach for companies of different sizes, the framework outlines actions including establishing industry baselines for resource use and operational emissions, developing common measurement tools, sharing resource-efficiency solutions, strengthening guidance on emissions, air and odour management, and continuing work on traceability, accreditation and market access.
ARA executive officer Jess Bloomfield said the association would introduce a voluntary reporting guide and technical resources to support consistent data collection, with a phased roadmap beginning with baseline measurement and capability-building.
The framework was launched at the ARA Symposium 2026, with the association citing consultation with industry stakeholders and members during its development.
