Objective

SAFUG objective is to accelerate the development and commercialisation of sustainable alternative fuels for aviation.

Description

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group was formed in September 2008. It gathers 25 members airlines (representing 33% of commercial aviation fuel demand) and 5 affiliates organisations from aviation industry (Boeing, Airbus and Embraer), fuel industry (UOP) and supply (ASA). It also received the support and advice from leading environmental organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

All members have signed a Sustainability Pledge and are member of the Roundtable of Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) or ISEAL Alliance, and believe that a key driver to a carbon neutral industry is advancing and adopting sustainable aviation biofuels.

As part of the pledge, minimum sustainability requirements for aviation sustainable fuels are:

1. Jet fuel plant sources should be developed in a manner which is non-competitive with food and where biodiversity impacts are minimized; in addition, the cultivation of those plant sources should not jeopardize drinking water supplies.
2. Total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from plant growth, harvesting, processing, and end-use should be significantly reduced compared to those associated with fuels form fossil sources.
3. ln developing economies, development projects should include provisions for outcomes that improve socioeconomic conditions for small-scale farmers who rely on agriculture to feed them and their families, and that do not require the involuntary displacement of local populations.
4. High conservation value areas and native eco-systems should not be cleared and converted for jet fuel plant source development.

SAFUG is aiming at developing a world leading fact base on sustainable alternative fuels in order to provide a body of peer-reviewed research and best practices for supporting the practical application of common sustainability criteria for the implementation of sustainable aviation fuels. It intends to support the development of government policies which promote the development, certification, and commercial use of sustainable, lower carbon aviation fuels.

Partners

​Air China, AeroMexico, Air France, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, ANA, AviancaTaca, British Airways, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, GOL, GulfAir, JAL, Jet Blue, KJM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Qatar Airways, SAS, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, TAM, TUI Travel PLC, United, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia

Achievement to date

April 2013: SAFUG released a Global Policy Statement on Indirect Land Use Charges (ILUC), available on their website at: http://www.safug.org/recent-activity/

15 June 2012: Boeing 747-8 Freighter historic biofuel flight to Paris

18 April 2012: ANA flies the 787 Dreamliner in first-ever transpacific flight using biofuel

Contact information

​www.safug.org