Dubai’s Emirates Flight Catering commissions mega biodigester to cut CO₂
EKFC’s circular economy initiatives integrate food, packaging, and energy
DUBAI – Dubai-based Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) has taken a major leap in sustainable operations with the commissioning of a large-scale biodigester at its Central Commissary Unit.
The Power Knot LFC-3000 system, one of the largest of its kind in commercial scale, allows EKFC to process organic waste on-site, reducing landfill dependency.
A biodigester uses aerobic digestion – combining oxygen, heat, and microorganisms – to naturally break down food waste. The process generates grey water for non-potable reuse and grows more efficient over time as microbial cultures adapt to varying organic material. Unlike mechanical systems, its performance improves with continued operation.
Shahreyar Nawabi, EKFC CEO, said: “At EKFC, we focus on handling waste responsibly, diverting it from landfill, and repurposing it productively. Commissioning a biodigester of this scale marks a major milestone in accelerating our landfill diversion efforts. Collaboration across teams and consistent waste segregation were key to its successful delivery.”
EKFC’s waste revolution
Since December 2025, the biodigester has steadily processed up to 3.5 tonnes of food waste daily. Projections suggest capacity will rise to around 6 tonnes per day as the system reaches full biological maturity.
Using DEFRA-aligned GHG conversion factors, diverting one tonne of food waste from landfill prevents approximately 0.7 tCO₂e, primarily by reducing methane emissions. At full capacity, the biodigester could avoid more than 2,000 tonnes of CO₂e annually.
Sustainability efforts
The biodigester forms part of EKFC’s wider sustainability agenda, which includes solar panels generating 4,000 MWh last year, avoiding 1,600 tonnes of CO₂e. Electric vehicles are being introduced across operations, with the region’s first electric hi-loader expected by mid-2026.
On waste and circularity, EKFC processed nearly 75,000 kg of food waste through its first LFC-50 biodigester last year and eliminated 45,000 kg of plastic via packaging updates. It has developed 47 recipes using production trimmings and sourced pesticide-free lettuce for 28,000 Emirates salads daily. AI-driven automation and smart camera systems further support quality and waste reduction across operations.