Global freight forwarder Hecksher has introduced Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificates (SAFc), giving businesses a practical and transparent way to reduce the climate impact of their air freight operations.
The SAFc mechanism works on a ‘book and claim’ model, separating the environmental benefits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from the physical fuel itself. By purchasing SAFc, companies can directly support the replacement of fossil kerosene while addressing their Scope 3 emissions, without changing carriers, routes, or operations.
Decarbonizing Air Freight with SAF
SAF is derived from certified sustainable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil and residual waste materials, and can cut life-cycle CO2e emissions by up to 80%, according to IATA.
Niklas Olsson, Group CEO of Hecksher, said:
“We’ve already taken significant steps to reduce emissions in sea freight. Purchasing SAFc for air freight supports the replacement of fossil kerosene and offers a readily implementable, transparent and scalable solution for corporates looking to address their Scope 3 emissions.”
How the SAFc System Works
- Emission Calculation – Hecksher calculates a customer’s air freight emissions.
- Customer Choice – The customer selects a SAFc amount to match all or part of their emissions.
- Book & Claim – Each SAFc represents a physical volume of SAF replacing kerosene in commercial operations.
- Verified Registry – All certificates are recorded on a public SAFc registry with third-party verification to ensure transparency and avoid double counting.
- Digital Certification – Customers receive a digital SAF certificate confirming their verified emission reductions.
Patrik Westraeus, Head of Sustainability at Greencarrier Group (Hecksher’s parent company), added:
“We have found a cost-effective solution that allows us to offer SAF at purchase price. This means our customers can buy SAF at a lower cost compared to several other providers.”
Partnership with STX Group
The initiative is delivered in collaboration with STX Group, a global environmental commodities trader.
Fabian Roobeek, Managing Partner at STX Group, commented:
“We congratulate Hecksher and Greencarrier on taking this important step by implementing SAFc. It’s encouraging to see the shift toward renewable fuels, and at STX we are proud to support such pioneers by providing market access and liquidity in SAFc.”