FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What standard is used for the CO2 emissions listed in CargoAi?
CargoAi provides visibility on CO2 emissions along your search, booking and tracking.
Our calculator meets the IATA recommended practice 1678, which is, as of today, the reference standard for airfreight.
We're looking at this space closely though, as we are well aware of the other alternatives, and we will post further announcement if there is any change to the underlying standard or methodology used for our CO2 calculator.
2. What is the CargoAi CO2 efficiency score exactly? Is it a new standard?
We are well aware that the proliferation of standards is only confusing the industry so no, this is NOT another standard.
In addition to our existing CO2 calculation (based on the IATA standard practice 1678) embedded into our Tracking and Search results, we have released an important indicator, the CO2 Efficiency Score.
The CO2 efficiency score measures how efficient a shipment is in terms of CO2 emissions compared to all other routes/aircraft available at the time of booking.
100% is the best score which means that the shipment was booked on the most optimized route and aircraft and therefore releases the lowest CO2 in the atmosphere compared to all other bookable routes.
This score is available both during the instant booking process, but also through our analytics tool to ensure that forwarders can review their scores across their markets, and through time, can engage with their own clients to identify alternative air options, address the necessary yield premium and eventually come as close as possible to a 100% score.
3. Are we able today to fly on 100% SAF?
Current ASTM standards (American Society for Testing and Materials) allow SAF to be blended with conventional jet fuel up to a maximum of 50%. A lot of research is ongoing into 100% SAF use. Neste has joined up with Airbus, Rolls Royce and DLT for research with test flights on 100% SAF done in 2021, and also ATR and Braathens resulting in the first flight in history with 100% sustainable aviation fuel on a regional commercial aircraft.
4. How does the process of purchasing Neste MY SAF via CargoAi work?
You can purchase Neste MY SAF through the CargoAi platform in six simple steps:
- Determine the emission baseline you wish to reduce. This can be the emissions related to one or multiple AWBs. This number will be automatically filled-in if you get redirected to this page from your CargoAi shipment or report pages.
- Determine the percentage of standard jet fuel you want to replace with Neste MY SAF, validate the cost and proceed to the purchase on the final step. We accept all major credit cards.
- CargoAi will email you a receipt for your confirmed SAF purchase.
- Neste will deliver Neste MY Sustainable Aviation FuelTM to its partner airlines at the airport itself.
- CargoAi will issue the audited certificate you need for your emission reporting.
- Your air cargo emissions reduction is fully realised and climate impact is achieved!
5. What are the key benefits of using the CargoAi x Neste MY SAF solution?
Achieve real, in-sector emission reductions through physical SAF deliveries
- Accelerate emission reductions on top of any mandates and exclusive of regulatory incentives.
- Use SAF to meet climate targets (scope 3), in line with SBTi guidelines and verified by an independent third party auditor.
- Help grow the global demand for renewable fuels and differentiate from carbon offsets.
- Benefit from a one-stop-shop solution to reduce your carbon emissions both on a transactional and bulk basis i.e. possibility to reduce carbon emissions for 1 or multiple AWBs at once.
6. Who can buy Neste MY SAF on CargoAi?
We are delighted that this solution allows our clients, regardless of company size, the access and the ability to purchase SAF in relation to the weight of their cargo transport, allowing them to reduce the emissions and communicate their progress towards carbon reduction.
We encourage airlines to contact us if they would like to be one of Neste’s partners: we are happy to facilitate initial contact and communication.
7. Are there any restrictions to the volume of Neste MY SAF which can be purchased on CargoAi?
The current cap is 10 tons of CO2 emissions volume.
8. What is the benefit of using SAF over buying a carbon offset?
SAF represents a real, immediate and direct in-sector emission reduction. Therefore, SAF can be used to lower your company’s GHG footprint following GHG Protocol Scope accounting. Such absolute emission reductions are the primary lever in credible climate action.
Supplying physical SAF to an airline will result in emission reduction for the airline (mainly Scope 1), while the organisation flying with SAF will be able to use SAF to meet their Scope 3 climate targets.
Carbon offsets and removals are investments into GHG reductions or removals outside your company value chain. Offsets can be useful to accelerate net-zero transitioning but are not a substitute for a real reduction of a company’s own value chain emissions (SBTi Net Zero Standard).
9. Why is SAF more expensive than fossil jet fuel?
SAF is generally about 3-5 times more expensive than fossil fuels depending on where the fossil prices are at any time. SAF is still in its early stages of commercialisation, meaning it has not reached economies of scale, and prices of raw materials and more complex production pathways lead to higher production costs.
It is clear that as an industry we need to accelerate the uptake of SAF so as to reduce the green premium to a minimum to make SAF the default jet fuel used by all carriers worldwide.
10. How does Neste ensure the sustainability criteria of the feedstock used?
Sustainability is deeply embedded in Neste’s everyday business. Neste sources only sustainably-produced renewable raw materials from suppliers who meet strict criteria for sustainability. These criteria are embedded into Neste’s policies and principles and they only accept renewable raw materials that are traceable to the point of origin. All the renewable raw materials they use meet the sustainability criteria as defined in applicable regulations such as the EU Renewable Energy Directive ((EU)2018/2001) for the European markets or Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), California/Oregon/BC Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) for North America.
11. How is Neste’s MY SAF solution verified?
Neste’s MY SAF solution is audited by a third party auditor to verify the following:
- A clear chain-of-custody exists between you and Neste’s partner airlines which use the physical SAF.
- SAF is not double-counted across reporting or customers, in line with Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
12. SAF reduces GHG emissions by up to 80% over the life cycle of the fuel compared to fossil jet fuel. What does it exactly mean?
The carbon footprint of SAF is calculated over the entire life cycle of the fuel: from the production of the raw materials to the end use of the final product. This includes emissions from the production and transport of raw materials, fuel production and transport.
Fuels produced from renewable raw materials, such as SAF, do not increase GHG concentrations in the atmosphere but are considered as carbon circulation (according to CORSIA and RED II).
The methodologies used for calculating life cycle emissions and emissions reduction comply with the CORSIA methodology, the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive II ((EU) 2018/2001), or ISO 14040, ISO 14044 and ISO 14067 standards.
13. What is the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi)?
The SBTi is a partnership organisation between CDP7, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi aims to drive companies to reduce emissions according to the latest science-based criteria and sector-specific guidance. The guidance is recognized as the gold standard of ambitious climate target setting and validation “frameworks”, with close to 4,000 signatory companies.
Climate targets can be considered “science-based” if they are in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
14. What are SBTi principles to use SAF to address scope 3 targets?
SBTi Aviation sector guidance defines SAF as a lever to meet Science-Based Targets to address scope 3 targets. Aviation end-customers can use SAF to meet their Scope 3 targets if procured in line with the SBTi principles:
- Obtain proof of fuel consumption.
- Prove clear chain-of-custody and demonstrate environmental benefits – additional SAF volumes outside of any existing schemes.
- Use SAF to meet targets in volumes consumed – SAF volumes are linked to estimated flight activity.
- Apply lifecycle approach in emission reporting – CORSIA LCA methodology applied, reporting guidance following SBTi.
15. What is the difference between CO2 and CO2e?
CO2 refers to Carbon Dioxide, while CO2e stands for ‘Carbon Dioxide Equivalent’. Carbon Dioxide Equivalent is a measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases, including CO2, based upon their global warming potential.
Established LCA methodologies, such as CORSIA, include an assessment of all GHG emissions during the life cycle of SAF and that is why reduction values are typically represented as CO2e.