Kuehne+Nagel Scales SAF Access Through Book & Claim Model

Global Head of Sustainability Air Logistics Fabiano Piccinno on how certificate-based sourcing, airline MoUs, and digital quoting tools are widening SAF adoption across air cargo — including for Indian shippers

Kuehne+Nagel has been steadily expanding its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of a broader effort to support decarbonisation across the air freight value chain. The company offers SAF solutions to air cargo customers globally, enabling them to reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with their shipments compared with conventional jet fuel. The level of emissions reduction depends on the SAF feedstock and production pathway and can be significant when assessed on a lifecycle basis.

Still, the quantities of SAF available globally remain small, making it all the more important for companies to invest in SAF in order to increase demand and create a secure environment for producers to scale production, said Fabiano Piccinno, Global Head of Sustainability Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel.

Certificate-based Book & Claim framework to improve accessibility

A central element of Kuehne+Nagel’s approach is its certificate-based “Book & Claim” framework, which allows customers to support the use of SAF without being limited by specific routes, airlines, or physical fuel uplift locations. Under this model, SAF volumes are sourced by the company and the associated emissions-reduction attributes are allocated to customer shipments for sustainability reporting and disclosure. This mechanism is intended to improve scalability and accessibility while ensuring traceability and transparency.

Collaboration with airline partners and fuel stakeholders

To support wider industry adoption, Kuehne+Nagel works closely with airline partners, customers, and fuel suppliers. The company has entered into individual memoranda of understanding with a broad group of international carriers, including American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France Cargo-KLM Cargo, Atlas Air, Azul, Cargolux, Cathay Cargo, Delta Air Lines, LATAM Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, SWISS, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. These collaborations focus on accelerating the uptake of SAF, improving emissions data quality, and advancing shared sustainability objectives across the air cargo ecosystem.

Integrating SAF options into digital quoting tools

Kuehne+Nagel was also among the early air logistics providers to integrate a SAF selection option into its digital quoting tools. This enables customers to opt for SAF-related solutions as part of their shipment planning, aligning operational decisions with longer-term climate targets.

Scaling SAF volumes and emissions avoidance

According to the company’s sustainability disclosures, Kuehne+Nagel sourced approximately 29 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel in 2024. Based on lifecycle assessments, this contributed to the avoidance of more than 75,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions compared with the use of conventional aviation fuels. These volumes were achieved through partnerships with fuel producers and airline stakeholders and form part of the company’s ongoing efforts to scale lower-emission solutions.

SAF within a broader decarbonisation strategy

SAF is one pillar of a wider decarbonisation strategy that spans all modes of transport. Kuehne+Nagel has set ambitious goals to reduce environmental impact, including a science-based target to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 33% by 2030 (baseline 2019), achieving 100% renewable energy consumption at all sites by 2030, and reaching net zero by 2050.

Complementary measures include low-emission transport solutions, sustainable logistics, fleet electrification, renewable energy, circular waste management, and warehouse and office efficiency, among others.

Global availability, including for Indian customers

These sustainability solutions are available globally, including for customers operating to and from India. Indian shippers can participate in SAF programmes through the same certificate-based approach and receive documentation to support emissions reporting, alongside access to digital dashboards that provide visibility into supply chain carbon performance.