British Airways has taken a significant step towards its net-zero carbon emissions goals by signing a multi-year agreement with EcoCeres, a leading renewable fuels producer. This partnership will see EcoCeres supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to the airline, significantly reinforcing British Airways’ efforts to reduce its lifecycle carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future for air travel.
Cutting Carbon Emissions with Waste-Based SAF
The collaboration between British Airways and EcoCeres is projected to cut approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions. This substantial reduction is equivalent to the carbon footprint generated by about 240,000 economy class passengers flying a return trip between London and New York when compared to the same volume of conventional jet fuel.
EcoCeres will provide SAF derived entirely from waste-based biomass feedstocks, including used cooking oil. This advanced biofuel offers an impressive lifecycle carbon reduction of up to 80% compared with traditional jet fuel, making it a powerful tool in decarbonising the aviation sector. Matti Lievonen, Chief Executive of EcoCeres, expressed pride in the partnership, emphasising their unwavering commitment to sustainability and providing innovative fuel solutions to help the aviation industry meet its environmental targets.
Advancing British Airways’ Net-Zero Targets
This agreement is a crucial component of British Airways’ ambitious goal to power 10% of its flights with SAF by 2030. Under its comprehensive “BA Better World” programme, the airline has already made significant progress, incorporating SAF into 2.7% of its total fuel use in 2024. This effort has already contributed to a 13% reduction in the airline’s carbon intensity since 2019.
Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, highlighted the importance of SAF within their strategy. She noted that the new agreement with EcoCeres represents “another important step forward on our journey to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.” The partnership also marks a significant milestone for Hong Kong-based EcoCeres, which is actively scaling up its SAF production capabilities and seeking further collaborations within the aviation sector. This strategic alliance underscores the growing commitment within the aviation industry to embrace sustainable fuel alternatives as a key pathway to environmental responsibility.
