SAF at the core of Japan’s ambitious strategy for sustainability

Japan is accelerating its steps towards sustainable aviation through the promotion and integration of sustainable aviation fuel. SAF mostly derived from waste cooking oil and municipal solid waste, offers a significantly lower carbon footprint of only about 20%  CO2 emissions of traditional jet fuel. While countries across Europe and North America are prioritising SAF development, Japan is advancing these efforts through strategic partnerships and investments aiming for widely used SAF  by 2030.

Japan’s strategic plans for aviation sustainability

The industry ministry has embraced SAF as a crucial component in Japan’s strategy to reduce the aviation industry’s dependence on fossil fuels. The government aims to increase the availability of sustainable fuel sources for aircraft as a critical measure against climate change. It intends to request that five major energy suppliers, including Eneos Corp. and Idemitsu Kosan Co., provide sustainable aviation fuel in quantities equal to at least 5% of the CO2 from jet fuel in fiscal year 2019. In addition, more airline companies have started using sustainable sources to operate their passenger jet.

JAL Group leads the way with global SAF partnerships.

In line with its ambition to become a leader in SAF usage, the JAL group has set a target to replace 10% of its onboard fuel with SAF by 2030. Collaborating with private and public sectors, JAL will cooperate with stakeholders in Japan and overseas to promote SAF’s commercialisation.  Additionally, JAL invested in Fulcrum Bioenergy in California which converts landfill waste into SAF. Fulcrum’s Nevada plant started production in 2022, marking the first Japanese SAF production investment.

With further plants planned in Indiana, JAL aims to utilise Fulcrum-produced SAF for flights departing North America, considerably decreasing CO2 emissions from these routes. Beyond its direct investments, JAL is part of the Oneworld alliance. This includes agreements with California’s Aemetis INC. to secure 1.3 million kiloliters of SAF for flights out of San Francisco over seven years starting in 2024 and with GevoInc which will provide 750.000 kiloliters for West Coast flights from 2027.  JAL has also integrated SAF into delivering new aircraft from Airbus, further incorporating sustainable practices into its operation.

With Japan Airlines setting sustainable goals and working with global stakeholders, Japan is positioning itself as a potential model for the industry’s environmental future. So, one question remains: Can Japan’s collaborative strategy for SAF integration inspire wider adoption across the global aviation industry? Share your thoughts in the comments below.