Keeping sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) simple

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has become an increasingly important topic for organizations looking to enhance the sustainability of their travel programme. However, it can be difficult to navigate the complex world of alternative fuels, with information often presented in a high-level and technical manner.

As companies continue to seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their sustainability objectives, it’s helpful to have an understanding of what SAF is, how it differs from traditional aviation fuel, and what impact it can have on a company’s sustainability goals.

We sat down with Corporate Travel Management’s (CTM’s) Head of ESG and Sustainability to learn more about SAF to help you make informed decisions about your travel programme and sustainability goals.

What is sustainable aviation fuel and how is it produced?

“Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is the main term the aviation industry uses to describe a non-fossil-based fuel for aircraft. SAF is the preferred term when referring to all forms of alternative aircraft fuels, including sustainable alternative jet fuel, renewable jet fuel, or bio-jet fuel.

“SAF is produced from biological resources such as corn grain, oil seeds, algae, and organic waste materials. However, SAF technology has advanced to also allow for non-biological materials such as waste chemicals and other hydrocarbon-based waste materials.”

How does sustainable aviation fuel differ from traditional jet fuel?

“SAF is a ready-to-drop-in fuel which in simple terms means it has the same properties and behaves almost identically to fossil fuels. To clarify any mistaken beliefs, one litre of SAF will generate the same carbon footprint as one litre of fossil-based fuels when combusted through a jet engine. However, the production of SAF is where the fuel creates its benefit, creating approximately 80% less carbon emissions during the production process.”

What are the benefits of using sustainable aviation fuel for the environment?

“Airlines can greatly reduce their carbon footprint by using SAF because SAF creates up to 80% less carbon in the fuel production process.

“Additionally, with other carbon technologies, such as Direct Air Capture, the industry can draw carbon from the atmosphere, liquify it, and turn it into alternative fuel sources, closing the loop on fuels and further reducing the need to rely on fossil fuels.

“According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), SAF alone could account for 65% of the reduction in emissions needed for the aviation industry to reach net zero in 2050.”

How does booking airlines that use SAF impact a company's carbon footprint?

“The production of SAF is known to have a significantly reduced carbon footprint of up to 80% compared to fossil fuels, therefore the emission factor for a SAF flight is greatly less than that of a fossil-fueled flight.

“The calculation of travel-related carbon emissions involves the overall kilometres from origin to destination, and booking class, multiplied by a specific emission factor. An emission factor is a representative value that attempts to relate to the quantity of carbon-related pollutants released into the atmosphere. The “cleaner” the fuel, the smaller the emission factor, which equals a smaller carbon footprint.”

What is the future of sustainable aviation fuel and how will it impact the aviation industry?

“Currently, there are SAF production issues in the aviation market. It is estimated that only 1% of all aviation fuel used today is derived from SAF. Some global regions are introducing mandated policies for all incoming and departure aircraft to have a minimum volume of SAF onboard.

“The future of the environment is looking a little brighter. The International Aviation Transport Association (IATA) has committed to Fly Net Zero by 2050 which is something we can all celebrate. This target includes the use of at least 65% of SAF flights used across the aviation industry. The 65% target means approximately 450 billion litres of SAF will be produced annually by 2050. Reaching this target will allow passengers to continue to travel freely whilst minimizing their travel footprint in the process.”

The growing use of SAF (IATA)

What are some examples of successful sustainable aviation fuel initiatives?

“In 2021, CTM partnered with Delta Airlines to support a multi-year SAF agreement which aims to reduce lifecycle emissions by 209 metric tons of carbon dioxide – equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by 256 acres of forest.

“More recently, CTM has invested in United Airlines’ EcoSkies Programme to allow CTM customers to contribute to SAF production, and to utilise carbon offsets to reduce the overall net carbon footprint of their corporate travel.”

How would CTM customers know if they are booking an airline that used SAF?

“There is growth in client-facing SAF solutions available to the market. The trend increase is for travellers’ ability to utilise SAF via airline partnership programmes such as the United Airlines’ EcoSkies programme. These programmes allow companies to invest in small bulk purchases of SAF upfront (minimum of US$100k), which allows them to then utilise carbon credits directly against their flight-related emissions.”

How can CTM customers measure and report on their use of SAF to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability?

“Unless a company has joined a SAF airline partnership programme, such as United Airlines’ EcoSkies, there is currently no other means to report on the use of SAF.”

How can companies incorporate the use of SAF into their travel programmes and sustainability goals?

“Due to the limited SAF volumes available to the market today, CTM customers can incorporate SAF into their travel programmes through a small bulk purchase of SAF via CTM’s SAF airline partnership with United Airlines. We encourage our clients to discuss their sustainability objectives with their CTM Account Manager to explore all available sustainable travel solutions.”

What role can a business play in supporting the development and adoption of SAF?

“Organizations can best support the development and adoption of SAF by participating in SAF airline partnership programmes. Investing in SAF programmes creates demand, which will increase pressure on private and government institutions to continue to invest in SAF production and increase supply capacities.”