DHL Global Forwarding is calling for increased production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), citing increasing demand from shippers for sustainable transport solutions.

The freight forwarder noted that it is recording an "increased demand" for sustainable transport solutions based on the usage of sustainable fuels such as SAF.

"Whether in a tender process or in discussion with existing customers, a growing number of shippers are not only requesting greater Greenhouse Gas Emissions transparency but are also exploring sustainable solutions, even if they come at an additional cost," DHL said in a statement.

But the freight forwarder raised concerns about the current availability of sustainable fuels to meet the rising demand.

"... With the growing demand, the availability of sustainable fuels must be scaled up significantly," DHL said.

It noted that with its GoGreen Plus service, life-science company Novo Nordisk recently started decarbonizing its air freight shipments, which will amount to at least 30,000 tonnes of CO2e in 2023.

"We feel encouraged that our customers share our view that the time to decarbonize is now. A growing number of them are already making sustainability an integral part of their business strategy, and we are pleased to be able to prove to them that with solutions like our GoGreen Plus service using sustainable fuels, transport emissions can already be reduced efficiently today," said Thomas George, chief commercial officer, DHL Global Forwarding.

"From today's perspective, e-fuels such as hydrogen and other sustainably produced synthetic fuels will only become increasingly available from 2030 onwards. Until then, we need to scale up sustainable biofuel usage — and this is only possible in a joint effort," he added.

DHL cited Novo Nordisk's use of SAF through DHL's GoGreen Plus service as an example of customer demand in the life-science sector.

Novo Nordisk is one of the leading providers of diabetes care products.

"Our airfreight accounts for most of our product distribution emissions as we provide life-saving medicines to patients around the world," said Dorethe Nielsen, vice president of circular for zero, corporate environmental strategy, Novo Nordisk.

"We want to drive change in this area to help pave the way for other companies to also transition and cut emissions."

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) — the trade association of the world's airlines — has repeatedly called for governments to incentivise the production of sustainable aviation fuels as it revealed that all SAF supplies had been exhausted this year and until 2022.

Willie Walsh, director-general of IATA, said the industry is counting on SAF to provide about 62% of the carbon mitigation needed in 2050.