SAF is produced from a range of sustainable sources, including waste oils, agricultural residues, household waste and other renewable feedstocks. It can be blended with traditional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft and airport infrastructure without requiring significant operational changes.
As organisations look to reduce the environmental impact of business travel, SAF is increasingly viewed as an important part of the aviation industry's journey towards lower-carbon flying.
Why is sustainable aviation fuel important?
Aviation plays a vital role in connecting businesses, people and economies, but it also contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions.
While technology improvements, operational efficiencies and future aircraft innovations all have a role to play, SAF is currently one of the most practical ways to reduce emissions from air travel using existing aircraft fleets.
For organisations seeking to balance business travel needs with sustainability goals, SAF can help support broader environmental and ESG strategies.
How does SAF work?
Sustainable aviation fuel is manufactured from sustainable feedstocks rather than crude oil.
Once produced, SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel before being supplied to aircraft. From a traveller's perspective, there is no difference in the flying experience, aircraft performance or safety standards.
The key advantage is that SAF can significantly reduce lifecycle carbon emissions compared with traditional aviation fuel.
What are the benefits of SAF?
Reduced carbon emissions
SAF can help lower the lifecycle carbon footprint of air travel, making it one of the most effective short-term decarbonisation solutions available to the aviation sector.
Supports corporate sustainability goals
Many organisations have carbon reduction targets and environmental commitments. Supporting SAF initiatives can contribute towards broader sustainability and ESG objectives.
Compatible with existing aircraft
Unlike some emerging technologies, SAF can be used within today's aviation infrastructure, helping airlines reduce emissions without waiting for entirely new aircraft technologies.
Supports the transition to more sustainable travel
SAF is widely recognised as a key component of the aviation industry's long-term sustainability strategy alongside fleet modernisation, operational efficiencies and future alternative propulsion technologies.
How does SAF relate to business travel?
For many organisations, air travel remains an essential part of doing business.
As corporate travel programmes evolve, businesses are increasingly looking for ways to understand, measure and reduce travel-related emissions. SAF can play an important role in this process by helping organisations support lower-carbon aviation while maintaining connectivity and traveller productivity.
Many travel buyers now consider sustainability performance alongside traditional factors such as cost, service and traveller experience.
SAF and corporate travel programmes
Organisations may incorporate SAF into their travel programmes through:
- Airline sustainability initiatives
- SAF contribution programmes
- Carbon reduction strategies
- ESG reporting frameworks
- Sustainable travel policies
- Supplier sustainability assessments
As reporting requirements and stakeholder expectations continue to evolve, SAF is becoming an increasingly important topic within corporate travel procurement and programme management.
How can Clarity support sustainable business travel?
Clarity helps organisations make more informed travel decisions by providing visibility into travel activity, emissions data and sustainability opportunities.
By combining travel expertise, technology and reporting capabilities, organisations can better understand the environmental impact of their travel programme and identify opportunities to support their sustainability objectives. Read more on our sustainability page here.
Is SAF the same as carbon offsetting?
No. Sustainable aviation fuel aims to reduce emissions associated with the fuel used during a flight.
Carbon offsetting involves investing in projects that remove, reduce or avoid emissions elsewhere, such as reforestation or renewable energy programmes.
Both approaches may form part of an organisation's wider sustainability strategy, but they address emissions in different ways.
