Airlines from around the world have launched projects and initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, including the use of biofuels and carbon calculators to measure the impact of flights.
KLM is to invest millions of euros in the first European industrial plant to produce sustainable aviation fuel, also known as bio-kerosene.
The production plan will be located in Delfzijl, in the north of Groningen, and will specialise in producing sustainable fuels using waste products such as used cooking oil.
From 2022, the plant will produce 100,000 tons a year, of which KLM will purchase 75,000 tons. This will reduce the company’s CO2 emissions by 200,000 tons a year, which is equal to the emissions released by 1,000 KLM flights between Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro.
United Airlines has also renewed its contract with Boston-based World Energy, one of America’s largest suppliers of biodiesel, agreeing to purchase ten million gallons of biofuel over the next two years. The biofuel, which United currently uses to help sustainably power every flight departing its Los Angeles hub, achieves a greater than 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on a life cycle basis.
World Energy's biofuel is made from agricultural waste and has received sustainability certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials. United's contract renewal with World Energy will further assist the airline in achieving its recently announced commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050.
Virgin Atlantic has partnered with ClimateCare, an environmental and social impact company, to launch a calculator to help customers measure and offset the carbon emissions associated with their flights. These emissions will be offset through projects developed by ClimateCare that cut carbon and improve people’s lives.
By offsetting carbon emissions through the ClimateCare calculator, Virgin Atlantic customers will help finance provision of clean cooking stoves that can halve carbon emissions, reduce indoor air pollution and save families on average $120 (R1755) on fuel costs every year.
