Virgin Atlantic Cargo has announced the launch of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificate (SAFc) programme to help freight forwarders and shippers manage their carbon emissions and support the scaling of the SAF industry.
Customers participating in the scheme will contribute to Virgin Atlantic's purchase of SAF, receiving a SAF certificate for the associated scope 3 emissions reductions. Customers will also benefit from detailed insight into their Scope 3 air freight emissions via Virgin Atlantic Cargo's own air freight carbon calculator.
DB Schenker is the first customer to participate in the scheme, purchasing several thousand tonnes of scope 3 emissions reductions. The global logistics service provider is continuously expanding its SAF based air freight solutions.
The SAF programme is driven by the airline's commitment to 10% SAF by 2030 on the pathway to Net Zero 2050. The scheme creates a broader industry coalition that can provide further proof of the demand and support needed to scale a UK SAF industry which is key to decarbonising aviation.
Virgin Atlantic's first UK SAF supply of 2.5 million litres of Neste Oyi neat SAF delivered into London Heathrow in 2022 is fuelling the programme. This is an important milestone as the airline scales it's use and commitment to SAF in the UK.
Phil Wardlaw, Vice President and Managing Director, Cargo, Virgin Atlantic, commented: "It's through collaboration and partnership that we'll be able to find more sustainable ways to fly. Our new SAFc programme allows us to collaborate with customers and support them in making lower carbon choices to meet sustainability targets, easily understand their emissions and support future SAF contributions - a key step towards our Net Zero commitments."
"We already have one of the youngest and most fuel efficient fleets in the sky, but after this, SAF represents the greatest opportunity to decarbonise aviation in the short to medium term, but we still require cross industry and Government action to support commercialisation of SAF at scale, particularly in the UK. Our fuel programme will help us as we continue to work closely with our sustainability and cross industry partners to find innovative solutions to achieve this goal."
Thorsten Meincke, Global Board Member for Air & Ocean Freight at DB Schenker, said: "Climate neutrality is an ambitious goal - but it must be our guiding principle. That is why we are steadily expanding our portfolio of fossil-free air freight solutions. We are delighted to be Virgin Atlantic Cargo's first partner for the application of SAF. Together, we provide our customers with new opportunities to make a substantial reduction in their carbon footprint."
The launch of the Virgin Atlantic Cargo SAFc programme is a positive step forward for the aviation industry in its efforts to reduce its environmental impact. The programme provides a way for customers to offset their carbon emissions and support the development of SAF, which is essential for decarbonizing the industry.
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