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SAF Certificates to Help Team Achieve Aviation Emissions Reduction

12 September 2024
6 Min Read

The team is pleased to announce our commitment to quadruple our aviation emissions reduction by the end of 2025 - through our latest investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) certificates.

With the F1 flyaways set to begin over the next two weekends in Azerbaijan and Singapore, there is no better time to be talking about our sport's impact on the environment through air travel.

Aviation accounts for a large percentage of our team's carbon footprint. Changing our mindset and ensuring we fly in the most sustainable way possible, is key.

Today's announcement means we are expecting to reduce our aviation emissions through SAF certificate purchases by a total of 18,500 tCO2e across 2024 and 2025, with 8,000 tCO2e saved in 2024 and 10,500 tCO2e saved in 2025.

Toto said: "A net reduction in our emissions sits at the heart of our operations and the ambitious sustainability targets we have set ourselves.

"We continue to invest in innovative solutions and technology that will enhance our performance, helping us go further faster."

Sustainable fuels will change the face of Formula 1 in 2026 but they are already one of the cornerstones of our sustainability strategy, underpinned by the work our title and technical partner PETRONAS is doing in the rollout of our biofuel mission.

During the 2023 European Season, we saved 339 tCO2e through a switch to HVO biofuels for land freight and on-site at the European race venues. This year we have targeted 100% biofueled logistics for all nine races in the 2024 European season.

What is SAF?

SAF is a type of biofuel designed to be used in aircraft.

It is produced from a range of renewable feedstocks such as used cooking oils, fats, plant oils, municipal, agricultural and forestry waste.

Examples of forestry waste include waste wood, and energy crops, such as fast-growing plants and algae.

What are SAF Certificates?

SAF certificates (SAFc) are an accounting instrument that allows the environmental benefits of SAF to be detached from the physical fuel, through a book and claim model.

This allows the physical fuel to be delivered to the nearest airport (reducing the emissions impact of long-distance transport) and the emissions reductions to be claimed by the SAFc buyer.

We continue to invest in innovative solutions and technology that will enhance our performance.

Toto

Why is SAF important to us?

SAFc is recognised as a key mechanism in the transition to Net Zero to help send demand signals to the market to increase production of sustainable fuels.

The team's SAFc purchase will address their indirect Scope 3 aviation emissions and will be tracked using best practice accounting standards set out in the Clean Skies for Tomorrow coalition's SAF Certificate (SAFc) Emissions Accounting and Reporting Guidelines to ensure environmental integrity.

Head of Sustainability Alice Ashpitel said: "Our investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel is more than a strategy; we believe it can create a greener future.

"We see SAFc as a game-changer, a way for sports and businesses to make a lasting impact."

Our History With SAF

Our investment in SAFc has significantly improved our overall environmental impact and supported our journey towards Net Zero, despite increased travel due to a growing race calendar.

In 2022, we became the first global sports team to announce a multi-year, multi-million euro commitment to invest in SAF.

A year later, we more than doubled our investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificates (SAFc) by volume.

As a result, the team was able to reduce its business travel emissions in 2023 by 65%, compared to 29% in 2022.

In 2023, for the first-time, part of the SAFc secured for our team was produced and consumed within the UK market, helping to scale the industry.

This progress aligned with our environmental targets and will help the team quadruple our emissions savings by 2025, confirming our commitment to becoming one of the world's most sustainable professional sports teams.