Ethical concerns of using biodiesel from waste vegetable oils

Global energy demand is growing dramatically and affects the global energy matrix. Energy consumption reflects fuel prices, natural resource consumption, and climate change and furthermore contributes to the strategies aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, energy plays a fundamental role in all ethical debates, particularly when considering the human right to food, heating, etc. There is a strong relationship between the use of land and the supply of water and the human need for energy that could be produced from biofuels. Although energy challenges can potentially be resolved through the use of biofuels, the process of producing and utilizing such fuels is confronted by a number of technical, social, economic, environmental, and ethical concerns as a result of ethical factors related to rights, duty, virtue, utilitarianism, and sustainability. Furthermore, all stakeholders have an ethical responsibility to ensure that biofuels are being produced and used properly by taking into account citizens’ rights to nourishment, well-being, and employment. The use of human food in the production of biofuels has led to various concerns as it could impact the human right to access enough food to ensure a healthy lifestyle, while the existing production and usage of biodiesel do not satisfy demands for environmental sustainability. This research tries to lead light in regarding the ethical concerns of using biofuels from waste vegetable oil. The results could be useful to policymakers and stakeholders to redo their strategies for energy production from biowastes as a possible solution to reduce natural consumption and at the same time to participate in the European green deal (EGD) targets and the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs).