The Role of SAF in the Renewable Energy Future

Earth Day 2025: “Our Power, Our Planet”

Earth Day 2025 serves as a global call to action, highlighting the urgent need to transition towards renewable energy solutions. The theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” reinforces the connection between clean energy and a sustainable future, urging industries worldwide to accelerate their decarbonisation efforts.

Aviation and corporate travel remain essential for global business and connectivity, yet they contribute significantly to carbon emissions. While reducing travel altogether would be the most sustainable option, for many businesses and industries, flying remains a necessity. This is particularly true for sectors like marine, energy, and sports, where travel is critical to operations.

To address this challenge, the aviation industry must look beyond carbon measurement tools—which report on emissions but do not mitigate them—and focus on practical solutions for emissions reduction, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). SAF represents a key pathway to reducing the carbon footprint of air travel while ensuring essential mobility continues.

Why Aviation Needs Alternative Energy Solutions

Aviation accounts for 2-3% of global CO₂ emissions, making it a priority sector for decarbonisation. While emerging technologies such as hydrogen and electric aircraft hold long-term promise, SAF is the most viable and scalable solution available today to reduce aviation emissions.

SAF is produced from 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste, and can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle compared to fossil jet fuel. Crucially, SAF is a drop-in fuel, meaning it can be used in existing aircraft without requiring infrastructure modifications.

Despite its benefits, widespread adoption of SAF faces challenges related to availability, production scaling, and cost. Greater industry commitment and corporate action are essential to drive demand and investment in SAF production, just as policy support.

The Role of SAF in Sustainable Corporate Travel

For businesses committed to reducing Scope 3 emissions—which include travel-related emissions—SAF presents an immediate opportunity to make meaningful reductions. Corporate travel policies can integrate SAF procurement alongside other sustainability initiatives, such as optimising travel schedules, reducing unnecessary trips and investing in verified offset programmes.

Neste is the world’s leading producer of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and has partnered with ATPI to help businesses reduce their travel-related emissions. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is in commercial use today and available at a growing number of key airports worldwide, and can also be accessed via the ATPI x Neste partnership.

Key benefits of SAF:

• Immediate carbon reductions – Up to 80% lower GHG emissions over the fuel’s lifecycle compared to fossil jet fuel.
• Ready to be used – SAF can be used in existing aircraft and refuelling systems.
• Scalable for corporate travel – Businesses can incorporate SAF procurement into travel policies.

Driving Corporate Action: Business Travel & SAF

While airlines and governments play a role in scaling SAF, corporate buyers also have the power to accelerate adoption by integrating SAF into their travel programmes. ATPI and Neste provide solutions such as Neste Impact, a book-and-claim system aligned with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) standards. This allows businesses to purchase SAF and claim emissions reductions even if the fuel is not available at their departure airports.

How Businesses Can Take Action Today:

• Set concrete emissions reduction targets to track and reduce the impact of business travel.
• Incorporate SAF into travel programmes to enable immediate, credible emissions reductions.
• Use carbon measurement tools to monitor travel activity and inform sustainability decisions.

ATPI x Neste: A Shared Commitment to Decarbonisation

Through their partnership, ATPI and Neste are working to empower businesses to make low-carbon travel choices and support the shift towards renewable energy in aviation. By adopting SAF, companies can significantly reduce their travel emissions today, rather than waiting for future technological breakthroughs or offset emissions elsewhere.

This Earth Day, the message is clear: The power to transform our planet lies in our choices. It’s time to embrace more sustainable solutions and shape a future where essential corporate travel is environmentally responsible.