Lufthansa Cargo and Best Services International Freight are partnering to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel as both companies step up their sustainability initiatives and drive the decarbonization of the air cargo industry.
Lufthansa Cargo and Best Services International Freight (BSI) have agreed to reduce the Chinese logistics company's CO2 emissions associated with airfreight.
BSI will invest in a total of around 137,000 litres of SAF at Lufthansa Cargo to offset the CO2 emissions caused by its flights.
"Best Services International Freight is our first customer in China to opt for the use of more than 100 tons of SAF," said J. Florian Pfaff, head of region Asia Pacific.
"Examples like this help reduce our CO2 emissions and promote the use of SAF worldwide. Every customer who takes advantage of this opportunity is making a significant contribution to the decarbonization of logistics. The interest shows us that there is great potential for this, especially in Asia."
Dr. Wilson Wong, Group CEO of BSI, noted that the cooperation with Lufthansa Cargo further strengthens the partnership.
"As China's leading air cargo logistics company and an industry leader in the digitalization process, we combine progress with responsibility," he said. "With limited SAF production globally, agreements like this are of paramount importance."
More climate-friendly flights with SAF
SAF is a critical technology key to more sustainable flying and essential to the energy transition in aviation.
Over its entire lifecycle (production, delivery, combustion in the engine), biogenic SAF has a CO2 footprint that is approximately 80% lower than that of conventional kerosene.
SAF can be used in regular flight operations without any infrastructure adjustments and is currently produced mainly from biogenic residues.
Lufthansa noted that the SAF it uses is produced using the HEFA process (Hydroprocessed Esters & Fatty Acids), for example, from used cooking oils.
As only forestry, agricultural or catering waste is used, there is no conflict with food production.
Since September 2021, all Lufthansa Cargo customers have been able to have their freight transported more sustainably by opting for the "Sustainable Choice" add-on service.
The Lufthansa Group aims to achieve a neutral CO2 balance by 2050 and to halve net CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 through reduction and compensation measures.
In addition to SAF, more sustainable aviation also requires major efforts to modernize the fleet and improve flight operations efficiency.
Lufthansa noted that only in this combination can the change be successful in the long term.
