KLM's Corporate BioFuel Program is now called KLM Corporate SAF Program. SAF stands for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. KLM opts for this new name to clarify that the fuel it purchases is sustainable and is made from raw materials that, for example, do not cause deforestation or displace food production. Together with the new name, the program will now also be brought to the attention of the business community outside the Netherlands.
“Sustainable Aviation Fuel, sustainable aviation fuel is not necessarily the same as biofuel. After all, something made from organic raw materials does not have to be sustainable. This creates confusion, explains Karel Bockstael, vice president of Sustainability at KLM. For KLM, the term SAF better suits the alternatives to fossil fuel that we use. It is a truly sustainable fuel that, for example, does not lead to deforestation or replace food production. In addition, SAF also includes alternative fuel made, for example, from CO2, renewable energy and water, or synthetic kerosene. We see many positive developments in this. That is why a name change of the corporate program is a logical step. ”
Sixteen members
The KLM Corporate SAF Program was introduced in 2012 and now has sixteen partners, such as ABN AMRO, Royal Schiphol Group and Arcadis. These are companies and institutions that help finance the purchase of SAF by KLM in order to reduce the CO2impact of their business travel kilometers. The use of SAF can actually reduce CO up to 85%2 emissions than fossil kerosene, but is three times as expensive due to scarcity on the market and high production costs. The SAF purchased by KLM is mixed with fossil kerosene and then pumped into the fuel supply system at Schiphol and Los Angeles. The SAF is locally produced and supplied at both locations. In total, this involved less than 2019% of KLM's total fuel requirement in 1.
“That is of course less than we would like. Much more is needed to produce substantial CO2reduction, says Harm Kreulen, director of KLM Netherlands. That is why we continue to actively bring the KLM Corporate SAF Program to the attention of our customers, especially in these times of crisis. Now is the time to build a more sustainable KLM. Drastically reducing our CO2footprint with the help of fleet modernization, operational efficiency and SAF play an essential role in this. ”
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo SAF Program
Since the beginning of this year, freight customers have also been able to stimulate the development and production of SAF. The Air France KLM Martinair Cargo SAF Program was established for this purpose. Kühne + Nagel is the first customer to decide to invest in SAF for all freight kilometers of their shipments on the Los Angeles-Amsterdam route.
fly responsibly
The KLM Corporate SAF Program fits perfectly within the Fly Responsibly initiative that KLM launched in 2019. KLM is taking the lead with Fly Responsibly to realize a more sustainable future for aviation. The airline does this by making all its products and processes even more sustainable now and in the future. But real progress will only be made if the entire sector works together in this. As part of Fly Responsibly, KLM invites passengers to use the CO2CO2ZERO compensation program and asks the airline companies to make their business trips more sustainable by participating in the KLM Corporate SAF Program and freight customers to do the same with their cargoes through the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo SAF Program, KLM said on their website.
Photo below: KLM image bank.
