Sustainable aviation fuel emerges as the key pathway to reducing aviation emissions
The aviation industry is advancing its sustainability goals with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) emerging as the most immediate and scalable solution to reduce carbon emissions from commercial flight operations.
While improvements in aircraft efficiency, operational optimisation and future technologies such as electric and hydrogen propulsion continue to develop, SAF offers the ability to reduce lifecycle emissions without requiring major changes to existing aircraft fleets, airport infrastructure or fuelling systems.
Air bp is focused on supporting the transition by helping expand SAF production, strengthen supply chains and enable wider adoption among airline and airport customers.
SAF at the centre of aviation’s decarbonisation strategy
With global aviation demand expected to continue growing, reducing emissions while maintaining connectivity has become a critical industry priority. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), passenger numbers are expected to double by 2040, increasing the need for scalable sustainability solutions.
Although alternative propulsion technologies could play a role in the longer term, SAF remains the most practical near-term solution for commercial aviation. Depending on the feedstock and production method, SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional jet fuel.
As a drop-in fuel, SAF meets existing aviation fuel specifications and can be used with current aircraft and airport infrastructure. The industry focus has now shifted from demonstrating SAF feasibility to scaling production, improving supply availability and creating the policy frameworks needed for wider adoption.
Policy support and investment key to SAF growth
SAF mandates introduced in regions such as the European Union and the United Kingdom are helping create greater certainty for producers and customers. However, continued collaboration between governments, fuel producers, airlines and industry stakeholders will be essential to accelerate investment.
Air bp is working with industry bodies and policymakers to support approaches that improve SAF competitiveness and enable long-term supply growth.
According to Andreea Moyes, Sustainability Director, Air bp, advanced SAF pathways such as e-SAF require both technological development and financial support.
Andreea said, “For advanced pathways like e-SAF, the challenge is not only technical – it is financial. Projects face high capital costs without the long-term revenue certainty needed to unlock investment. Government support with industry collaboration will be key to build this pathway.”
Long-term demand visibility will remain critical for unlocking investment in new SAF facilities and supporting the commercial development of emerging production technologies.
Expanding sustainable feedstock options
A key challenge in scaling SAF production is securing sufficient sustainable feedstocks. Current production relies heavily on waste-based materials such as used cooking oil and animal fats, which have supported the early SAF market but remain limited in availability.
Air bp is exploring broader feedstock options, including cover crops such as camelina and carinata, which could increase supply while avoiding competition with food production.
“Scaling SAF starts with securing the right feedstocks and integrating them into conventional jet fuel. Used cooking oil and beef tallow have helped build today’s market, and we now need to broaden the supply base to support future mandates. We are looking at cover crops as one way to increase sustainable feedstock supply, and we see real potential for them to help scale SAF commercially”, Moyes highlighted.
Expanding the range of certified sustainable feedstocks will be essential to meeting future SAF demand while maintaining environmental integrity.
Co-processing supports faster SAF deployment
Alongside the development of new SAF production facilities, existing refinery infrastructure can help accelerate availability through co-processing.
By integrating renewable feedstocks into conventional refinery operations, co-processing provides a cost-effective pathway to increase SAF production while utilising established assets and supply networks.
Air bp is supporting co-processing initiatives through collaboration with bp’s refining, biofuels and technology teams at facilities including Lingen in Germany and Castellón in Spain.
This approach enables renewable materials to be processed alongside conventional feedstocks while supporting existing blending, storage and distribution infrastructure.
Turning SAF ambition into operational reality
SAF adoption is moving from long-term ambition to operational implementation, with the industry now focused on increasing supply volumes while maintaining safety, reliability and sustainability standards.
Through its integrated production, logistics and customer support network, Air bp currently supplies SAF at around 60 locations across 22 countries.
The company is also supporting airlines and airports with sustainability reporting, certification processes and emissions accounting requirements as they integrate SAF into their operations.
“We know that to help our customers scale their adoption of SAF they need more from us than just fuels. Introducing SAF into the fuelling mix brings additional regulatory reporting and complexity, so we’re supporting our customers as they navigate their certification, documentation and sustainability accounting obligations. We’re not just a fuel supplier to airlines and airports; we offer them bespoke solutions that meet their needs, and help them to make progress towards their emissions reduction targets”, said Miriam Chang, VP Strategy, Sustainability & Digital, Air bp.
The future of SAF in aviation sustainability
As the aviation sector continues its transition towards lower-carbon operations, SAF is expected to remain the most effective near-term solution for reducing emissions from existing aircraft fleets.
The next phase of SAF growth will depend on collaboration across the aviation ecosystem, including policymakers, fuel producers, airlines, airports and technology providers.
By expanding production pathways, improving feedstock availability and strengthening supply infrastructure, Air bp aims to support the transformation of SAF from an emerging solution into a mainstream aviation fuel option.
