Mitigating Emissions From Air Freight: Unlocking the Potential of SAF with Book and Claim

Why It Matters

Book‑and‑claim bridges the supply‑demand gap, enabling immediate emissions reductions while SAF production scales, crucial for meeting corporate science‑based targets and industry decarbonisation goals.

Key Takeaways

• Air freight emissions rose 25% since 2019.
• SAF can cut lifecycle GHG emissions up to 80%.
• Book‑and‑claim decouples SAF supply from physical location.
• Only 114 verified SAF outlets exist, 92 airports served.
• Shell’s Avelia uses blockchain for transparent SAF tracking.

Pulse Analysis

The rapid rise in air‑freight emissions—driven by pandemic‑era cargo surges—has placed the sector at the forefront of climate scrutiny. While fleet upgrades and operational efficiencies have yielded modest gains, the true decarbonisation lever lies in sustainable aviation fuel. SAF’s chemistry mirrors conventional Jet‑A, allowing seamless blending, and its potential to cut lifecycle CO₂ by up to 80% makes it a cornerstone of the International Air Transport Association’s emissions roadmap.

Book‑and‑claim emerges as a pragmatic bridge between concentrated SAF production hubs and a globally dispersed freight network. By separating the administrative claim of emissions reductions from the physical fuel flow, companies can immediately credit SAF‑derived savings even when the fuel isn’t on‑site. Shell’s Avelia platform amplifies this model with blockchain‑verified tracking, ensuring that each claim is auditable and that the underlying fuel has indeed been injected at a certified airport. This transparency addresses scepticism, reduces transaction complexity, and lowers the barrier for forwarders and shippers to participate in the SAF market.

Scaling SAF through book‑and‑claim demands an ecosystem approach: early adopters like DHL demonstrate viability, standards bodies work toward GHG‑Protocol recognition, and industry coalitions harmonise definitions and registries. As more airports install SAF infrastructure and policy incentives improve, the reliance on book‑and‑claim may wane, but its role as a catalyst will remain pivotal. Companies that act now, leveraging platforms such as Avelia, can meet near‑term science‑based targets, signal market demand, and accelerate the broader transition to a lower‑carbon air‑freight future.