GreenAir’s roundup of the latest news and comment from around the world on efforts by the aviation sector to decarbonise and reduce its environmental impact
NEWS EXTRA
August 2025
Lufthansa Cargo and global online fashion and lifestyle retailer SHEIN have signed an MoU to explore a range of initiatives on sustainable solutions for airfreight. The two companies have confirmed their intention to finalise the adoption of SAF offsetting solutions for SHEIN deliveries within the next six months, as well as a range of other initiatives to promote the transition to renewable and lower-carbon energy sources for air transport operations. The cargo operator will provide SHEIN with ‘proof of sustainability’ certificates for the used SAF quantities. Additionally, the two companies are exploring further areas of cooperation, such as knowledge exchanges and approaches to strengthen traceability and reporting of operational and environmental data. Lufthansa Cargo has also signed an MoU with global logistics provider CEVA Logistics to expand their collaboration on sustainability efforts, with a focus on the use of SAF. The agreement aims to enable measurable CO2 reductions in airfreight operations “through joint efforts, mutual learning and transparency”.
Dublin-based Tao Climate has unveiled what it claims is the world’s first real-time carbon removal platform for travellers. Its FlyGuiltFree.com app provides air travellers a means to measure and address their flight’s carbon footprint in real-time by using verified nature-based industrial hemp-powered carbon removal. Tao Climate says it uses AI, IoT and satellite imaging to verify removals in real time and promises travellers will receive a compliance-grade carbon removal certificate. The company reports it is in talks with major airlines, airports and online travel platforms to integrate its carbon API into the booking flow.
Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, has launched four daily market-based California and Illinois SAF assessments following feedback from market participants. Additionally, it says, stakeholders – particularly airlines seeking clarity on the intrinsic value of SAF itself and aviation fuel buyers – have expressed the need for assessments that reflect the market value of SAF, independent of environmental credits such as Renewable Identification Numbers, Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits and 45Z tax credits.
Legal analysis finds countries must include aviation non-CO2 emissions in their climate action plans
28 August 2025
Legal advice provided for environmental NGOs Transport & Environment and Opportunity Green shows that all countries have a legal obligation to include aviation non-CO2 emissions, such as those that cause climate warming aircraft contrails, in their national climate plans to comply with commitments under the Paris Agreement. The legally-binding climate change treaty adopted by 195 countries in 2015 requires the Parties to submit to the UNFCCC their plans, known as national determined contributions (NDCs), to communicate actions they will take to reduce GHG emissions in line with the target to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The legal conclusion by environmental law barristers Cornerstone argues that the treaty stipulates reductions in CO2 emissions must occur simultaneously with reductions in non-CO2 emissions, including those caused by aviation, and uncertainty over the science is not a reason to hold back action.
SAF production and procurement deals inked in China and other Asia regions
28 August 2025
The development and use of sustainable aviation fuel is increasing in both mainland China and Hong Kong, with multiple announcements of new partnerships to advance low carbon air transport. China National Aviation Fuel Corporation (CNAF), the country’s largest distributor of jet fuel, has announced it will acquire a stake in a SAF plant operated by Henan Junheng Industry Group Biotech Co, a private Chinese biofuel producer. Hong Kong-based renewable fuels producer EcoCeres has concurrently announced a partnership with China’s Xiamen Airlines, which will collect used cooking oil from a network of restaurants for reprocessing into SAF. Plus global airfreight company DHL will source 2,400 tonnes of SAF from Cathay Pacific Group for use on DHL freight flights operated by Cathay-owned cargo carrier Air Hong Kong. In a similar deal, Neste is to supply 7,400 tonnes of SAF to DHL Express in Singapore for co-branded freight flights operated by Singapore Airlines.
Unifuel’s 100% drop-in SAF production technology passes first test in ASTM qualification process
27 August 2025
A major step for a new patented technology that can potentially produce 100% synthetic drop-in sustainable aviation fuel from multiple renewable feedstocks has been achieved by California-based Universal Fuel Technologies (Unifuel). Ethanol-to-Jet SAF produced by the company’s Flexiforming technology has been accepted into the ASTM D4054 Clearinghouse, which supports the technical evaluation of new aviation fuels, for qualification. Acceptance requires demonstrating, by independent testing, that a fuel is not only technically credible and can be produced at a meaningful scale, but also that it has met strict quality and safety criteria. For the testing, Unifuel produced 100 litres of sample material for four different SAF pathways in a five-month pilot project. The company will now proceed with producing larger fuel samples for detailed Tier 1 and Tier 2 testing required for ASTM qualification, which it hopes can be reached by the end of 2026.
NATS survey shows a continuing disconnect of public attitudes to the environmental impact of flying
26 August 2025
The latest annual survey by UK air traffic management organisation NATS of public attitudes towards the environmental impact of flying shows that while the public has a strong concern and awareness of the climate cost of flying, individuals’ behavioural change continues to lag behind expressed environmental values. Based on the survey of over 1,200 UK adults in April, 56% of interviewees identified emissions reduction by the aviation sector as a key area for improvement, up from 53% in 2024 but still a significant decrease compared with 2022 (62%) and 2020 (70%). Asked who should take the most responsibility for reducing the sector’s environmental impact of flights in the UK, 30% said it was the government’s, 26% airlines, 23% bodies such as the CAA and NATS, and just 4% said it was up to individual passengers. The percentage of interviewees who had already stopped taking flights within the UK and using other public transport has also fallen to its lowest level over the past five years. A new report by Greenpeace, meanwhile, says short-haul flights remain cheaper than the equivalent train journeys on the majority of cross-border routes in Europe, “creating a perverse incentive that encourages polluting air travel.”
Air India signs MoU with IndianOil for SAF supply to meet country’s 2030 blending target
22 August 2025
Air India has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Oil Corporation (IndianOil) for the supply of sustainable aviation fuel as part of efforts to meet the nation’s target of 5% SAF blending by 2030 and a broader aim of achieving the industry’s net zero by 2050 emissions goal. IndianOil has recently become the first Indian company to receive ISCC CORSIA certification for SAF production at its Panipat Refinery. The certification, granted under ICAO’s CORSIA scheme, establishes IndianOil’s capability to produce SAF that meets stringent international sustainability and lifecycle carbon emission standards. Details of SAF quantities are yet to be disclosed but both parties say they will collaborate on the supply of SAF to meet CORSIA targets for international flights and that they intend to reinforce India’s aim to be a front-runner in sustainable aviation.
Commodities trader STX Group enters the SAFc market and completes first trade
21 August 2025
Environmental commodities trader STX Group has completed its first delivery of sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc). The move is part of a series of SAFc trades by the company, which says it is aiming to expand the corporate buyers’ market access to SAFc and leverage its global sourcing network. SAFc has become an established market-based mechanism to decouple the environmental attribute of SAF from the physical product through a book-and-claim system, enabling corporates to reduce the climate impact of their business travel or airfreight Scope 3 emissions. STX believes its global presence and industry expertise will allow the sourcing of high quality SAFc at competitive prices, which will always be traded on a third-party public registry and third-party certified. Meanwhile, Dublin-based Future Energy Global recently concluded a first transaction on the CADO SAF Registry, established by IATA and other stakeholders, of SAF certificates to Microsoft.
UK government announces grant funding awards totalling £63m to 17 SAF projects
18 August 2025
The UK Department for Transport has awarded a total of £63 million ($85m) under its Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) to 17 sustainable aviation fuel production startups, bringing overall financial support after three rounds up to £198 million ($267m). The AFF competition provides grant funding to first-of-a-kind commercial demonstration-scale projects in the UK at development stages up to construction starting, with projects having to demonstrate their potential to produce SAF capable of reducing emissions by more than 65% on a lifecycle basis compared with conventional fossil jet fuel. The biggest awards went to LanzaJet UK’s Project Speedbird (£10m), Alfanar Energy’s Lighthouse Green Fuels (£8m), LanzaTech UK’s DRAGON 1&2 (£6.4m) and Carbon Neutral Fuels’ ASAP-DAC (£6m). Meanwhile, a new European consortium planning a SAF production facility in the UK has decided it is now unlikely to proceed with the project, citing a failure to win AFF funding in the latest window.
Southwest Airlines sells ethanol technology subsidiary SAFFiRE Renewables to Conestoga
18 August 2025
Southwest Airlines has sold SAFFiRE Renewables, a subsidiary company with specialised technology to convert corn stover into ethanol, which can then be upgraded to sustainable aviation fuel. The divestment comes just 16 months after SAFFiRE was acquired by the carrier’s investment platform, Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures (SARV), and three years after the airline initially invested in SAFFiRE, highlighting the deal as part of a major decarbonisation plan. The company has been bought for an undisclosed amount by Conestoga Energy, whose Kansas plant will host a pilot facility for SAFFiRE’s corn-to-ethanol process. Production is due to start next year. Southwest’s exit from SAFFiRE comes as major US SAF producer World Energy confirms the suspension of operations at its California plant after a key partner, Pennsylvania-based industrial gases group Air Products, pulled out of the project earlier this year.
4AIR and CADO to collaborate on harmonising their respective SAF registries
8 August 2025
Aviation sustainability firm 4AIR is to collaborate with the Civil Aviation Decarbonization Organization (CADO) on their respective sustainable aviation fuel registries. The key focus, say the partners, will be to enhance data integrity, mitigate double issuance risks and facilitate efficient cross-registry SAF certificate handling between commercial and business aviation. 4AIR has developed the Assure SAF Registry as a blockchain-based management platform for business aviation, with the aim of accelerating the adoption of SAF in the sector. The platform enables auditable and traceable documentation of environmental attributes from physical and book-and-claim transactions. The CADO SAF Registry was developed by IATA and launched in March 2025, and is now owned and operated by Montreal-based non-profit CADO, with IATA continuing to provide ongoing technical and operational support.
SWISS integrates first supplies of Synhelion solar SAF into flight operations
4 August 2025
Swiss renewable synthetic fuel start-up Synhelion has delivered its first consignment of sustainable aviation fuel produced using solar energy to its launch customer, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), part of the Lufthansa Group. A 190-litre barrel of the product has been supplied from Synhelion’s DAWN production facility in Jülich, western Germany, to a refinery in the country’s north for blending into Jet A-1 aviation fuel, then delivered to SWISS through the fuelling system at Hamburg Airport. The SAF is produced by using concentrated solar heat to power a thermochemical reactor, in which biogas extracted from mainly agricultural waste is mixed with water, creating syngas which is then converted to liquid fuel. The SAF delivery to SWISS follows the companies’ 2020 formation of a strategic partnership, and Lufthansa Group’s subsequent investment in Synhelion made in 2022.
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