Scandinavian Airlines System
Denmark Norway Sweden
Level 17, 31 Market Street
Sydney 2000
Australia
Phone: Inside Aust 1300 727 707
Outside Aust +61 2 9283 9111
Fax: +61 2 9283 9133
E-mail: sas.australia@sas.dk
Scandinavian Airlines Joins Aviation, Energy and Academic
Leaders to Accelerate Development and Availability of Sustainable
Biofuels
Environmental groups applaud effort to develop sustainable fuel alternatives
Sydney - 12.05 pm, Sept 25, 2008 – SAS Scandinavian Airlines has, with other leading air carriers,
Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Honeywell’s UOP, a refining technology developer, established a group to
accelerate the development and commercialization of sustainable new aviation fuels.
With support and advice from the world’s leading environmental organizations, the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group
makes commercial aviation the first global transportation sector to voluntarily drive verifiable
sustainability practices into its fuel supply chain.
The group’s charter is to enable the commercial use of renewable fuel sources that can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, while lessening commercial aviation’s exposure to oil price volatility and
dependence on fossil fuels. Airlines supporting the sustainable fuels initiative include Air France, Air
New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Cargolux, Continental Airlines, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM, SAS
Scandinavian Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Collectively, they account for more than 15 percent of
commercial jet fuel use.
"We welcome the aviation sector's will to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and appreciate their
efforts to ensure the sustainability of their biofuels sourcing," says Jean-Philippe Denruyter, WWF
Global Bioenergy Coordinator and Steering Board Member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels.
"By teaming up with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels, the aviation sector can build on an existing
solid multi-stakeholder process that will reinforce this initiative.”
All group members subscribe to a sustainability pledge (link to pledge) stipulating that any sustainable
biofuel must perform as well as, or better than, kerosene-based fuel, but with a smaller carbon lifecycle.
The user’s group pledged to consider only renewable fuel sources with minimal impacts to the
biosphere: fuels that require minimal land, water and energy to produce, and that don’t compete with
food or fresh water resources. In addition, cultivation and harvest of plant stocks must provide
socioeconomic value to the local communities.
"We have for many years been part of a number of research and development projects regarding
renewable biofuels, with the aim to find a long-term solution for aviation," says Niels Eirik Nertun,
Environment Director, SAS Group. "We bring all this experience into this group and will now put all our
focus on together finding durable and lasting solutions for the future."
The group has announced two initial sustainability research projects. Yale University’s School of
Forestry & Environmental Studies, through funding provided by Boeing, will conduct the first peer-
reviewed, comprehensive sustainability assessment of jatropha curcas, to include lifecycle CO2
emissions and the socio-economic impacts to farmers in developing nations. Similarly, NRDC will
conduct a comprehensive assessment of algae to ensure it meets the group’s stringent sustainability
criteria.
Both species may potentially become part of a portfolio of biomass-based renewable fuel solutions that,
through advanced fuel processing methodologies developed by energy sector leaders such as UOP,
can help aviation diversify its fuel supply.
"One of the SAS Group's six environmental goals is to be amongst the first airlines to include renewable
biofuel for commercial flights. This is in line with our already released environmental strategy, which
includes halving our greenhouse gas emission per passenger kilometre by 2020. Now we are one step
closer to realizing our environmental goals," says Niels Eirik Nertun.
MEDIA RELEASE
25 September 2008
Scandinavian Airlines System
Denmark Norway Sweden
Level 17, 31 Market Street
Sydney 2000
Australia
Phone: Inside Aust 1300 727 707
Outside Aust +61 2 9283 9111
Fax: +61 2 9283 9133
E-mail: sas.australia@sas.dk
Scandinavian Airlines offers daily connections from Australia in co-operation with selected Star
Alliance™ partners THAI, Singapore Airlines, Air China, United Airlines and frequent flyer partner
Qantas. Services operate via Asia and North America to more than 75 destinations in Scandinavia,
Finland, the Baltic’s and Europe, utilising the gateways of Stockholm and Copenhagen.
Scandinavian Airlines International is the long-haul operator of SAS with 1.4 million passengers per
year. The fleet consists of Airbus A330s and A340s, serving 10 destinations: New York, Chicago,
Washington, Seattle, Bangkok, Beijing, Tokyo, Dubai, Copenhagen and Stockholm. In 2008, SAS
International will launch flights to Delhi.
Media information and photo request contact: Satu Raunola, Finnesse Communications
Tel 02 9929 6044 Mob 0411 545 617 Email satu.raunola@finnesse.com.au
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