Japanese logistics group Nippon Express Holdings (Nippon Express) has announced its new NX-GREEN SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) carbon-insetting programme in Japan, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from all air transport services provided by the NX Group.
The scheme will allow customers to purchase the environmental attributes derived from SAF to reduce emissions in customers’ supply chain. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), SAF can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80%.
The programme will be available for transport services arranged by the NX Group and is the first Japanese-affiliated forwarder to offer such a service without restrictions on the choice of airline.
Customers who choose to take part in the programme will be issued with a CO2 reduction verification statement by certification body SGS, which can be used in the information disclosure required by the Task Forced on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
The scheme will also align with the Group’s own Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emission reduction plans.
“To address climate change, the NX Group has set the goals of reducing its own CO2 emissions by 50% from 2013 levels by 2030, and of helping realise carbon-neutral societies by 2050 (Scope 1, 2 and 3),” said a company spokesperson.
The Group submitted a letter of commitment in May 2023 to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to have its targets validated.
IATA has said that it estimates SAF could contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to reach Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
However, this will require a massive increase in production in order to meet demand. SAF production has grown to an estimated 300 million litre in 2022 from 38 million litres in 2019, but needs a ‘significant further ramp-up’ to achieve SAF targets of up to 10% set by some major economies by 2030.
On a global scale, the organisation projects the world would need 23 billion litres of SAF by 2030.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) introduced a SAF mandate in May 2023 which outlines the country’s aim to replace 10% of jet fuel with SAF by 2030.
To further stimulate domestic SAF production, METI suggested the development of a capital investment subsidy programme, exempt imported SAF from the fossil fuel import tariff and support research, development and certification acquisition.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japanese airports would likely use 2.5bn – 5.6 bn litres of SAF out of a total 10.9bn – 12.3bn litres of jet fuel to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s CORSIA goals.
