What is the environmental impact of flying?
Aviation currently contributes around 2-3% of human-caused carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (gasses) (source: IATA). CO2 is a greenhouse gas that warms the earth's temperature and thereby contributes to climate change. Due to the aviation's anticipated growth and expected emission reductions in other sectors, aviation alone could consume more than a quarter of the global carbon budget (the amount of CO2 we may emit globally to maintain a 1.5C scenario) by 2050 (source: Carbon Brief), which is disproportional and unsustainable. Besides the currently known level of CO2 emissions from aviation, scientific research implies that non-CO2 emissions at high altitudes have additional climate impacts that need to be taken into account.
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What can I do to reduce my environmental impact when flying?
There are many ways for you to help reduce your environmental impact when flying. Naturally, the most effective and sustainable way is to limit air travel as much as possible by, for example, looking at possible cleaner transport modes like public transport or meeting virtually. When flying may be essential or inevitable, you can instantly reduce your flight’s carbon emissions by contributing to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), or compensate for your flight's emissions over time by purchasing high-quality Carbon Offsets. Other actions that may contribute to reducing your environmental impact when flying are amongst others traveling light (less luggage), traveling economy instead of business or first class (using less space and weight), flying with newer, fuel-efficient aircrafts, decrease your flight distance by using direct flights or traveling relatively close and of course by spreading the word!
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What actions are currently taken by the aviation industry?
The aviation industry is amongst others investing in cleaner aircrafts, more efficient operations, and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) to reduce the environmental impact of flying (source: Air Transport Action Group). In the current voluntary market, it is up to the aviation industry, organizations, and individual travelers whether they want to purchase SAF to reduce their footprint from flying. We believe more action from everybody involved is needed, which includes governments, airlines, manufacturers, organizations, and travelers around the world to ensure that this "hard-to-abate sector" (meaning difficult to decarbonize) reaches its 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
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How are my flight's carbon (CO2) emissions calculated?
Calculations are based on the United Nation's ICAO Carbon Calculator methodology and adjusted for [cabin class (an extra class is differentiated)] and indirect carbon emissions from the production, distribution, and transport of fuel (added to the calculation). These adjustments aim to improve the accuracy of the calculated carbon footprint. The impact of the non-CO2 effects is not (yet) included in the calculation, as the current scientific understanding of the exact impact is still debated and ongoing. We continuously monitor the scientific position on this and any other related topic and may update the calculation methodology based on new insights. We are always open to discuss any suggestions or developments you might have.
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Why are my emissions larger if I travel in a premium class (business or first)?
If you are flying business or first class, your seat generally takes up more space and weight compared to an economy seat. This means your flight's carbon emissions will be higher compared to traveling economy class (and therefore a reason to travel economy class from a sustainability point of view!).

What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or ‘SAF’, is a liquid and clean substitute for fossil jet fuel. Rather than being refined from fossil oil, SAF is produced from sustainable resources like waste oils or agricultural residues. It can even be produced from carbon captured from the air. SAF is a so-called ‘drop-in’ fuel, which means that no special infrastructure or aircraft changes are needed to use it. Because the aviation industry and related carbon emissions from flying are expected to significantly grow in the next decades and because aircrafts are not able to switch to alternative energy sources (like hydrogen or electricity) for the majority of the flights in the foreseeable future (thus, still relying on liquid fuels), SAF is one of the most important options to significantly reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and at the same time reduce the dependency on the fossil industry.
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What are the benefits of SAF compared to fossil jet fuel?
SAF has several benefits compared to fossil jet fuel. The main benefit is the reduction in CO2 emissions compared to fossil jet fuel over the full lifecycle (meaning: when looking at all direct and indirect CO2 emissions, from combustion, production, transport, and distribution of fuel). SAF supplied by SkyNRG emits approximately [75% > dependent on supply chain, tbd] less CO2 compared to fossil jet fuel, which is expected to increase even more in the future by developing new technologies. In addition, other emissions like particulate matter and sulfur are reduced by 90% and 100% respectively compared to fossil jet fuels and thereby improve local air quality. At the same time, SAF provides an opportunity to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and replace them with local alternatives, which may also lead to local job creation.
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What is SAF made from?
SAF can be produced from a variety of sustainable resources (also called raw materials or feedstocks). Used Cooking Oil (UCO), tallow and vegetable waste oils are mainly used by the industry to date. Forestry residues and non-biobased carbon are examples of promising feedstocks for the future. (SAF partner) does not allow the use of food crops, such as soy and palm oil or their by-products, for the production of SAF.
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Is SAF the same as biofuel or synthetic fuel?
SAF is not necessarily the same as biofuel or synthetic fuel. Next to "bio-based" feedstocks used to produce SAF (for example Used Cooking Oil made from plants), SAF can also be made from non-bio-based feedstocks such as CO2 captured from the air. Depending on what SAF is made from, it may also be referred to as "biofuel" or "synthetic fuel" (or alternatively for synthetic fuel: "e-fuel" or "Power-to-Liquid fuel").
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Is it safe to fly on SAF?
Yes. SAF is certified to the same jet fuel standards as fossil jet fuel and therefore meets the same quality and safety requirements. Over 250.000 flights have already been flown using SAF.
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How do you guarantee that SAF is sustainable?
SAF partner has its operations certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), which is a worldwide, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together farmers, corporations, NGOs, experts, governments, and inter-governmental agencies concerned with ensuring the sustainability of biomass production. RSB’s certification system is based on sustainability standards, encompassing environmental, social, and economic principles and criteria. RSB is widely accepted as the “gold standard” of voluntary certification schemes. In 2019 RSB received powerful recognition as the best standard for Sustainable Aviation Fuels by the International Coalition on Sustainable Aviation – the only environmental NGO group accredited by the UN's aviation institute ICAO. Besides the RSB certification, SAF partner is structurally advised by an independent Sustainability Board, comprising of representatives of WWF, Solidaridad Network, European Climate Foundation, and the University of Groningen. Furthermore, SkyNRG tracks the latest developments and thinking through a global NGO network. By doing so, SAF partner makes sure that the SAF that is developed is sustainable, traceable, and does not compete with other industries such as food.
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How are my flight's carbon emissions reduced by flying on SAF?
In short: when flying on SAF, an airplane engine still emits CO2, but the sustainable resources used to produce SAF recycle the CO2 that was emitted previously. In more detail: the carbon emission reduction is calculated by comparing the so-called ‘lifecycle’ for fossil fuel with the one for SAF, which looks at the carbon emitted when producing, transporting, and burning the fuel. After comparison, SAF reduces emissions by approximately 75% compared to fossil fuel [see also the explanatory video above]. The main source of reduction compared to fossil jet fuels is the relatively short carbon cycle of SAF (aka the time needed to recycle carbon emissions), thanks to its sustainable feedstocks. For example: because the CO2 emissions from the combustion of SAF are re-absorbed in a short lifecycle by plants (what SAF can be made from ultimately), the emissions are effectively recycled in a short time. As opposed to the combustion of fossil jet fuel, where additional CO2 (from extracted fossil oil that took thousands to millions of years to be stored in the soil as a resource) is released into the atmosphere at a much faster rate than can be absorbed by the planet again. This results in a CO2 build-up in our atmosphere and our human-caused climate crisis.
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How can SAF reduce my flight's carbon emissions by 100%?
If you replace an amount of fossil jet fuel with an equal amount of SAF, the carbon reduction is approximately 75%. However, because the vast majority of jet fuel used is still fossil jet fuel, you can replace more fossil jet fuel with SAF than you use for your flight. This way, you can replace enough fossil jet fuel with SAF to reach a carbon-neutral flight (aka 100% reduction). Of course, if everyone would do this it doesn't make sense anymore (why replace more than we use). However, it will take years before we reach that limit (but the sooner the better!).
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What does the SAF market look like?
The market for SAF is currently very small with only limited production across the world (less than 1% of global jet fuel consumed is SAF). Expansion of production is crucial for the reduction of carbon emissions in the aviation industry and that is why SkyNRG is building the first dedicated European SAF facility in the Netherlands. Because of limited production and relatively high production costs, SAF comes at a premium compared to fossil jet fuels. This premium used to be 10-15 times the fossil jet fuel price, but has come down to around 3 times over the last decade.
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What are Carbon Offsets and how is it different from SAF?
Carbon Offsets (also referred to as 'CO2 compensation') refer to projects that aim to prevent or compensate carbon emissions by, for example, planting trees or investing in cleaner ways to cook (like using cooking stoves instead of open fires). By using Carbon Offsets, fossil fuels are still being used and the carbon emission reduction is indirectly realized in other areas, which may take multiple years and does not tackle the root cause of the carbon emissions: burning fossil jet fuel in planes. By using SAF, emissions are directly reduced and where they happen (at the root cause of the problem: aviation). So, the main differences lie in where and when the CO2 emission reduction is realized.

What happens with my contribution?
Our main goal is to contribute to creating a sustainable future for air travelers and others around us. We therefore only charge a fixed fee per transaction for building, managing, and improving this platform. The rest is 100% contributed to Carbon Offsets, SAF, and/or new SAF projects.
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What is 'book & claim' and how does it work?
SAF partner works with a widely used ‘book & claim system’, which means that the SAF is not physically supplied to the aircraft of the person that contributed to the purchase of SAF, but supplied to the fuel system of an airport that is close to the production facility. The SAF is tracked and verified, after which the carbon emissions are calculated and allocated to the person that contributed to the purchase of SAF ("booked" it) so that person can claim the CO2 reduction ("claim" it). This way of working has two important benefits:
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1) SAF is currently produced in very limited volumes and limited places around the world. To optimize the sustainability of SAF, it is best to keep the supply chain as efficient as possible. By supplying SAF to the fuel system of an airport as close by as possible to the production facility, the carbon emissions of the supply chain (e.g. from transport) are minimized.
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2) SAF can already be 3 times more expensive than fossil fuels. If SAF would need to be strictly separated from fossil jet fuel when supplying it, new infrastructure would be required, which is inefficient and would significantly increase the price of SAF.
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SAF partner ensures traceability of SAF, as well as prevention of "double counting", meaning only the person that contributed the premium of SAF can claim the carbon reduction of that volume of SAF.
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Can I contribute to SAF or Carbon Offsets anytime I want?
Yes. SAF partner is independent of any airline or the moment you travel, meaning you can contribute to SAF or Carbon Offsets at any time and for anyone through SAF partner. All you need to do is enter the flight details and SAF partner takes care of the rest!
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Can I track my impact?
Yes. As a company, you can track all your impacts made so far in your corporate account.

Why should I use SAF?
Flying on SAF with Emirates is an easy solution for you as an air traveler to truly reduce your flight's carbon footprint (after flying less of course!) and enjoy exploring our world more sustainably. The solution is powered by SAF partner and CHOOOSE.
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What type of SAF projects is SAF partner involved in?
The world needs much more SAF and therefore we need to find new ways to produce SAF. That is why SAF partner is involved in many new SAF projects:
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1) SAF from recycled waste oils and fats.
2) SAF from CO2 captured from air in NL.
3) SAF from CO2 captured from air in Rotterdam.
4) SAF from waste-based alcohol.
And many more!
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Who is CHOOOSE and what does CHOOOSE do?
CHOOOSE is a dedicated team of entrepreneurs, engineers, and climate experts in Oslo, Norway. The climate-tech company is building digital tools so that everyone, anywhere, can more simply and easily integrate climate action into everyday life. Together with its ecosystem of industrial partners and individual supporters, the CHOOOSE platform is accelerating access and adoption of climate solutions across a range of key technologies – from nature-based solutions to carbon removal to Sustainable Aviation Fuel.