British Airways has entered into a new long-term agreement with Hong Kong-based biofuels producer EcoCeres to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from waste-based biomass feedstock, the companies announced today. The deal is aimed at helping the airline move closer to its environmental goals, including reducing emissions and increasing the use of cleaner fuels, reports ESGtoday.
Under the agreement, the SAF provided by EcoCeres is expected to reduce British Airways’ fuel lifecycle carbon emissions by around 400,000 metric tonnes. That’s equivalent to the emissions from flying approximately 240,000 economy class passengers on return trips between London and New York.
EcoCeres, which specializes in producing biofuels and bioproducts from biomass, creates SAF from 100% waste-based materials like used cooking oil. This fuel offers a carbon emission reduction of up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.
“We are proud to partner with British Airways in this strategic agreement to jointly tackle greenhouse gas emissions in aviation,” said Matti Lievonen, CEO of EcoCeres. “Our commitment to sustainability is unwavering, and this partnership shows our focus on offering fuel solutions that help the aviation industry meet its climate goals.”
British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), has committed to using 10% SAF by 2030—equivalent to 1 million tonnes of fuel per year—and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In 2023, IAG’s airlines used about 12% of the global SAF supply and have already secured one-third of the SAF needed to meet their 2030 target.
Carrie Harris, British Airways’ Director of Sustainability, highlighted the role of SAF in the airline’s broader climate efforts: “In 2024, SAF made up 2.7% of our total fuel use and has helped us cut our carbon intensity by 13% since 2019. This new agreement with EcoCeres is another important step toward our goal of reaching net zero by 2050.”
