What are Cat 3 Animal Fats?
Category 3 animal fat is produced from animal by-products that are not intended for human consumption but remain fully safe for a range of uses under EU regulation. These materials come directly from the food system and enter a controlled, traceable chain designed to ensure responsible handling.
Where animals are processed, a new flow begins; instead of remaining waste, Cat 3 fats begin their journey down another supply chain to recover what value can still be found.
Rendering: The process that unlocks value.
After primary meat processing, the parts of the animal that do not enter the human food chain are collected from slaughterhouses, meat processors, and integrated production facilities. These materials are transported to rendering plants, where their transformation begins.
Rendering uses heat and pressure to convert by-products into usable fats and protein meals. In some industries, such as gelatine production, fat and protein fractions arise as residues of the main production process.
Once processed, Cat 3 fats are directed to their respective markets based on quality, including pet food, animal feed, oleochemical uses, or renewable fuels.
Where Connex turns Challenges into Opportunities
This is where Connex steps in. We bridge the gap between what suppliers produce and what the market truly needs. Through our network, we connect Cat 3 fat producers with buyers they often can’t reach on their own, including the regulated export market.
Our support extends across the practical barriers suppliers and buyers face: market access, documentation, compliance requirements, and logistics. By guiding both sides through these complexities, Connex makes it easier for Cat 3 fats to move efficiently and reach outlets where they have the strongest value in GHG savings.
In a category defined by both opportunity and constraint, Connex creates the connection that unlocks better outcomes for everyone involved.