Pioneering Biofuel Firm ReFeed Secures Vietnam Foothold, Unlocking Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Potential
The future landscape of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production hinges critically not just on manufacturing processes, but more significantly on the efficient and ethical collection of its raw materials, asserts Lee Chung-ho, CEO of innovative biofuel firm ReFeed.
ReFeed is strategically constructing its entire business model around used cooking oil (UCO) – a resource CEO Lee Chung-ho aptly terms “liquid gold.” This ‘liquid gold’ is becoming an indispensable feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). As SAF mandates broaden across Europe and are scheduled for implementation in Korea by 2027, the global demand for reliable UCO feedstock is projected to surge.
During an exclusive interview with The Korea Herald, held in anticipation of H.eco Tech Festa 2026, Lee emphasized, “The ultimate success of the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry will not be defined solely by fuel production capacity, but fundamentally by our ability to secure and manage its critical feedstock supply chain.”
This profound insight propelled ReFeed into the vast market for used cooking oil (UCO), particularly abundant across Southeast Asia. Three years prior, the pioneering company established a strong presence in Vietnam, meticulously building a comprehensive UCO collection network from scratch, bolstered by patented technology that digitizes the entire sourcing and verification process.
Lee elaborated on the challenges faced: “In Vietnam, the used cooking oil market is largely controlled by traditional collectors who, unfortunately, lack the technological infrastructure for proper certification, leading to market opacity and potential illegal reuse. Conversely, newer market participants often struggle with insufficient practical field experience.”
ReFeed’s distinct competitive advantage stems from its integrated approach: actively operating its own robust collection network while simultaneously developing cutting-edge technology meticulously aligned with stringent global sustainability standards. Their innovative portable devices accurately measure crucial parameters like water content and weight even within opaque containers, facilitating real-time verification in scenarios where visual inspections are inadequate. Developed directly from extensive field experience, these sophisticated solutions are, in Lee’s own words, poised to be a “game-changer” for the entire UCO supply chain.
With an ambitious vision, ReFeed is now setting its sights across the broader Asian market, a region rich in used cooking oil (UCO) supply but currently hampered by underdeveloped collection and certification infrastructures. The company is strategically prioritizing emerging markets, with established economies like Japan slated as the next phase of expansion.
Focusing on the domestic landscape, Lee highlighted the significant untapped potential within Korea’s used cooking oil market, estimated at an impressive 200,000 to 300,000 metric tons annually. To fully unlock its capabilities as a vital SAF feedstock, Lee advocates for clearer legal classifications, robust governmental incentives, and more stringent traceability protocols at the crucial collection stage.
Looking ahead, Lee projects that for the foreseeable future, the demand for high-quality biofuel inputs will significantly outstrip current supply, driven by the aggressive expansion of SAF mandates and parallel decarbonization initiatives emerging within the global shipping industry. He stressed, “As global SAF production capacity continues to scale, competition for reliable feedstock will undeniably intensify, underscoring the critical importance of transparent, verifiable, and data-driven sourcing methodologies.”
However, Lee cautions that establishing such a complex and far-reaching business cannot rely on narrow, siloed expertise. He explained, “Successfully collecting waste oil, rigorously verifying its quality, and effectively selling it to global refiners each demand a distinct and specialized set of skills. No single field of expertise is sufficient to fully complete this intricate puzzle.”
Precisely this inherent complexity, Lee suggests, is where immense opportunity resides. The nascent climate tech sector remains in its early stages, presenting a vast frontier for innovators willing to proactively engage, clearly define existing challenges, and architect groundbreaking solutions independently.
He passionately concluded, “The circular economy has unequivocally transcended beyond mere philanthropic endeavors. It now represents a monumental, global-scale business opportunity where the imperatives of protecting environmental values and fostering professional advancement are no longer in conflict. This transformative era has decisively commenced.”
Lee Chung-ho is scheduled to be a prominent speaker at H.EcoTech Festa 2026 on May 7, hosted at Yonsei University in Seoul. He will actively participate in crucial discussions centered on transforming innovative sustainable ideas into tangible global business opportunities.
