Yusen Logistics, which has a major distribution operation in Northamptonshire, has signed a sustainable aviation fuel agreement with Finnair aimed at helping businesses address greenhouse gas emissions associated with international air freight.
The Japanese logistics group, whose UK business has its registered office at the Sustainable Distribution Centre in Milton Malsor, Northampton, will purchase environmental attributes linked to the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by the Finnish airline.
The agreement forms part of Yusen Logistics’ wider sustainability strategy and is intended to give customers another way to address emissions associated with transporting goods by air.
Under the arrangement, the companies will use a system known as Book-and-Claim, which allows the environmental attributes associated with SAF to be allocated to customers independently of where the fuel is physically used.
This means businesses can support the use of sustainable aviation fuel without requiring it to be used on the aircraft carrying their particular shipment.
Participating customers will be able to receive certificates and emissions-related reports documenting the environmental attributes allocated to them.
The initiative is intended to encourage demand for SAF, which can have lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than conventional aviation fuel, although the agreement does not establish that individual shipments will be transported using SAF.
The agreement was concluded with the support of Western Associates, Finnair’s General Sales Agent in Japan.
Gabriela Hiitola, Senior Vice President at Finnair Cargo, said: “We are pleased to see our customers making a long-term commitment to the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).”
She added: “By creating long-term demand for SAF, we can help support the growth of production and availability in the years ahead. We hope this commitment will also encourage other companies to explore how SAF can help reduce air cargo emissions.”
For Yusen Logistics, the arrangement is designed to provide customers with an additional option as companies examine the environmental impact of their international supply chains.
Eisuke Fukagawa, Head of Air Freight Forwarding Unit at Yusen Logistics Global Management, said: “Our customers increasingly expect practical solutions that support their efforts to address the environmental impact of their supply chains.”
He added: “Through our collaboration with Finnair, we can offer customers access to SAF-related environmental attributes through a Book-and-Claim mechanism while maintaining the service quality they require. Certificates and related reporting can provide customers with information on the environmental attributes allocated to them and support their sustainability objectives. This agreement marks another important step in our sustainability journey.”
Yusen Logistics operates an international freight forwarding and supply chain management business, employing more than 30,000 people across 47 countries.
Its Northamptonshire operations include the Sustainable Distribution Centre at Milton Malsor, close to junction 15 of the M1, reinforcing the company’s presence in one of the UK’s principal logistics locations.
Mitch Kobayashi, Head of Corporate Sustainability Unit at Yusen Logistics Global Management, said: “Addressing emissions from global logistics requires collaboration across the transportation and supply chain ecosystem.”
He added: “This initiative supports Yusen Logistics’ global sustainability strategy and provides customers with an additional way to support SAF use through allocated environmental attributes. It also demonstrates the role that cooperation between airlines and logistics providers can play in supporting the aviation sector’s transition toward lower-carbon operations.”
The companies have not disclosed the financial value of the agreement or the volume of sustainable aviation fuel covered by the arrangement.
The agreement adds to efforts across the aviation and logistics industries to develop lower-carbon freight services while maintaining established international transport networks.
Pictured: Representatives from Yusen Logistics and Finnair mark the signing of an agreement covering sustainable aviation fuel environmental attributes, aimed at helping air freight customers address supply chain emissions.
