A conversation with Hecksher’s Head of Sustainability, Patrik Westraeus.
As companies face growing pressure to reduce supply chain emissions, transport choices are receiving more attention in customer dialogues, reporting and procurement processes. Air freight remains essential for many global supply chains — but it is also one of the most difficult transport modes to decarbonize.
One solution Hecksher offers is SAFc: Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificates. We spoke with Patrik Westraeus, Head of Sustainability at Hecksher, to explain what SAFc is, how it works and how customers can use it as part of their transition toward lower-emission transport.
What is SAFc?
SAF stands for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. It is an alternative aviation fuel made from certified sustainable feedstocks, such as waste-based materials. Depending on feedstock, production pathway and certification, SAF can reduce lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80 percent compared with conventional jet fuel, according to IATA.
SAFc stands for Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificate. It is a certificate-based model that separates the environmental attributes of SAF from the physical fuel through a book-and-claim system. In practice, SAF is used within commercial aviation operations, while the related emissions benefit is documented and allocated to the customer through certificates.
Hecksher’s solution is based on the principle of additionality, meaning that the SAFc purchase creates an addition of renewable fuels that would not have taken place otherwise. Together with documentation, traceability and safeguards against double counting, this helps to ensure that the emissions benefit is real, measurable and connected to a specific SAFc allocation.
“SAFc should be understood as a documented way to support the use of sustainable aviation fuel. The specific shipment does not necessarily fly on SAF, which is why transparency, additionality and proper documentation are essential,” says Patrik Westraeus.
How Hecksher’s SAFc solution works
Hecksher’s SAFc solution is designed for customers that want to address emissions from air freight while keeping their existing logistics setup:
- Hecksher calculates the air freight emissions connected to the customer’s selected shipment or transport volume.
- The customer selects a SAFc amount, matching all or part of those emissions.
- The SAFc represents a volume of physical SAF used to replace fossil kerosene in commercial aviation operations.
- The claimed emissions reduction is recorded through the SAFc registry to support traceability and avoid double issuance or double claiming.
- The customer receives a digital certificate with the relevant SAFc characteristics, supporting the environmental claim and sustainability reporting.
This is what makes SAFc more than a general sustainability statement: the certificate should show what has been purchased, how the emissions benefit is calculated and how the claim is documented.
Can SAFc support Scope 3 reporting?
Yes, when properly documented, SAFc can provide customers with documentation to support Scope 3-related reporting for air freight. This is relevant because freight emissions are often indirect value-chain emissions for the customer and can be difficult to reduce directly. Companies may have limited control over aircraft, routes and fuel choice, especially when air freight is needed for time-critical shipments. SAFc can therefore be one practical way to address emissions from necessary air freight, provided the emissions benefit is clearly documented.
The customer receives a digital certificate that documents the relevant SAFc characteristics and supports the environmental claim.
Companies should still make sure the claim is handled in line with their own reporting framework, customer requirements and auditing principles. SAFc should not be used as a generic statement that all air freight is emission-free, but as documentation for the specific SAFc allocation.
“Aviation is one of the hardest transport sectors to decarbonize, and the transition is not moving fast enough on its own. For companies that still depend on air freight, SAFc can be one way to take responsibility for those emissions today while supporting the scale-up of sustainable aviation fuel,” says Patrik Westraeus.
A practical way to address air freight emissions – without changing your logistics setup
SAFc makes it possible for companies to support the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel without changing how their goods are transported. This is important because many companies still rely on air freight for time-sensitive, high-value or business-critical shipments.
SAF is expected to play an important role in aviation’s transition, but supply is still limited and the fuel is more expensive than conventional jet fuel. SAFc should therefore be seen as one credible tool within a broader sustainability strategy, alongside logistics optimization, better routing, consolidation, new technology and increased production of lower-emission fuels.
SAFc in short
- SAF means Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
- SAFc means Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificate.
- SAFc uses a book-and-claim model.
- Customers do not need to change carriers, routes or logistics setup.
- Hecksher calculates the customer’s air freight emissions and provides a digital certificate connected to the selected SAFc amount.
- A credible SAFc setup includes documentation, traceability and safeguards against double counting.
Want to learn more?
Hecksher can help calculate your air freight emissions and explain how SAFc can support your sustainability objectives. Contact your Hecksher representative or Patrik Westraeus at emissionreductions@hecksher.com to discuss the right setup for your shipments.
