Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): types & benefits

Your customers have never been more concerned with your environmental practices. Discover the important role DHL’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel initiative is playing in helping enterprises of all sizes improve their sustainability – and how your business can join them.

What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a drop-in replacement for conventional jet fuel, offering a significantly reduced carbon footprint. It's crafted from a diverse range of renewable sources, ensuring a greener future for air travel and sustainability in shipping.

SAF's production process involves diverse feedstock¹ which includes repurposed waste cooking oil and fats, agricultural residues, crops cultivated on marginal land, and even non-recyclable municipal waste.

 SAF offers a significant reduction in carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels². While traditional fuels release carbon that has been stored for millions of years, SAF is produced from renewable sources.

These sustainable feedstocks, such as waste oils and agricultural residues, absorb CO2 during their growth, which offsets emissions when the fuel is burned. This critical difference allows SAF to cut the lifecycle emissions of conventional aviation fuels by up to 80%, making it a vital component in the effort to combat climate change.

How is SAF made?

Now that we know what SAF fuel is made of let’s explore the diverse ways it is produced:

• Hydroprocessing: Converting fats, oils, and greases into hydrocarbons suitable for jet fuel.
• Gasification and Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Transforming solid biomass into synthetic gas, subsequently converted into liquid fuel.
• Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ): Converting sugars from biomass or waste into alcohols, then upgrading them into jet fuel.
• Pyrolysis: Thermally decomposing biomass into bio-oil, further refined into SAF.

Types of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Some examples of Sustainable Aviation Fuels include:

• HEFA-SPK: Produced from hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids, derived mainly from used cooking oil and fats.
• FT-SPK: Synthesized from Fischer-Tropsch technology, using biomass or waste-derived syngas.
• ATJ-SPK: Created from alcohols produced through fermentation, primarily sourced from sugars.

Why SAF is important

Aviation, while essential for global connectivity, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional jet fuel combustion releases substantial amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), accounting for approximately 3.1% of all global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion3.

In contrast, the main benefit of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is that it offers a dramatic reduction in carbon footprint. Depending on the type, feedstock and production pathway, SAF can slash lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%⁴ compared to conventional jet fuel. This substantial decrease is crucial in the aviation industry's journey towards decarbonization. 

The urgency for sustainable aviation solutions is underscored by the recent commitment of 193 countries, under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050⁵. Additionally, the European Union has implemented directives aimed at curbing aviation emissions, including the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the promotion of SAF usage⁶.

SAF emerges as a key player in meeting these ambitious targets, offering a viable and scalable solution to mitigate the environmental impact of air travel. By transitioning to SAF, the aviation industry can make significant strides toward a greener and more sustainable future.

Benefits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Reduced carbon emissions

The most significant benefit of SAF is its substantial reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. This helps mitigate climate change and reduces the environmental impact of air travel.

Works with existing aircrafts

SAF is a "drop-in" fuel⁷, meaning it can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft without any modifications. This makes it a practical and readily available solution for reducing emissions.

Promotes energy security and reduces reliance on fossil fuels

SAF is produced from renewable sources, which diversifies the energy supply for the aviation industry. This reduces dependence on fossil fuels, enhancing energy security and mitigating the risks associated with volatile oil prices.

Supports long-term environmental goals for the aviation industry

The aviation industry has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve net-zero emissions. SAF is a crucial tool in achieving these goals, providing a sustainable pathway for the future of air travel.

Meets global regulatory and environmental compliance targets

As governments and international organizations implement stricter regulations to address climate change, SAF helps the aviation industry comply with these requirements and avoid penalties. It also demonstrates a commitment to environmental responsibility. Businesses interested in going further to reduce their carbon footprint can access our sustainable logistics resources to learn more.

Are there any disadvantages to SAF?

While Sustainable Aviation Fuel offers significant environmental benefits, it's important to acknowledge the current challenges associated with its production and use.

Higher production costs compared to traditional jet fuel

Currently, the production process of SAF is more expensive than that of traditional jet fuel. This is primarily due to the developing technologies, smaller economies of scale, and the cost of feedstock acquisition and processing. However, as the industry matures and production increases, costs are expected to decrease.

Limited availability and scalability

Although SAF production is growing, it still represents a small fraction of the total jet fuel market. The limited availability can pose challenges for airlines looking to transition to SAF on a large scale. Expanding production and supply chains to meet the growing demand will be crucial.

Requires significant infrastructure investment for widespread adoption

The widespread adoption of SAF requires investments in new infrastructure, including production facilities, storage tanks, and distribution networks. Additionally, some airports and airlines may need to upgrade their fueling systems to accommodate SAF blends. These infrastructure investments can be significant, but they are necessary to enable a seamless transition to a more sustainable aviation fuel.

How is DHL contributing to SAF with GoGreen Plus

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It’s one of the most significant trends to impact all industries in recent times. Within the e-commerce sector, for example, online shoppers are increasingly concerned with the environmental impact of their purchases, with 88% saying they are more likely to be loyal to a business which supports environmental issues⁸.

Perhaps your business has already made some greener changes – switching to recyclable packaging or joining a carbon offsetting scheme. But there’s an exciting new way to transform your logistics. DHL Express has recently launched GoGreen Plus, a dedicated solution to help businesses reduce the carbon emissions associated with their shipments through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

How GoGreen Plus works

You now have two options to select GoGreen Plus with DHL Express: either on a contractual basis, or when choosing your shipping service through MyDHL+, DHL Express’ online shipping and tracking platform.

Via the contractual model, your business decides how much it would like to reduce its CO2e and how much to invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Full flexibility is offered in this case. DHL Express uses the contribution to invest in SAF. An independent auditor will annually verify the emission reduction value of the purchased SAF, as well as ensure that all investments have been exclusively used for SAF.

Your company will receive a certificate with the emission reduction value, which can be used to reduce your own Scope 3 footprint.

DHL will invoice you via your preference of a lump sum or a per lb. charge, along with a complimentary Carbon Footprint report.

You can reach out to your DHL Express representative for more information.

Via the MyDHL+ option, you can select GoGreen Plus on an individual shipment level, which comes with a standard CO2e reduction of ~30%.

Benefits of GoGreenPlus

51% of consumers say understanding the carbon footprint of their delivery will be “very important” in the next 5 years⁹. With GoGreen Plus, your business has a unique opportunity to tailor its CO2e reduction and the amount of SAF it uses.

In contrast to “offsetting” – where businesses “neutralize” their emissions through environmental programs like reforestation and habitat restoration projects – GoGreen Plus is “insetting”. This means businesses can take actions to reduce their Scope 3 emissions, the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in their value chain. This method is a more direct and meaningful way to measure progress in reducing emissions. It can be used for DHL customers’ own voluntary emission reporting and follows the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) philosophy.

The GoGreen Plus service can be selected for individual shipments, making it a flexible option for SMEs and e-commerce businesses with smaller cargo loads.

Commit to change

Sustainability matters – to the planet, to your customers, and to your business’s bottom line. With DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, your business can demonstrate its commitment to a more sustainable future.

Open a DHL Express Account to discover how GoGreen Plus can help your business grow.