Logistics Provider Expands Decarbonisation Strategy From Road to Air Transport

Spring GDS has launched a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Book & Claim solution, extending its emissions reduction strategy into the aviation sector and offering e-commerce and logistics customers a new way to cut the climate impact of air transport.

The initiative follows the company’s success with its HVO100 biofuel programme, which has reduced road transport emissions by up to 90%. With air transport accounting for roughly 2.5% of global emissions and projected to rise substantially without intervention, Spring GDS is positioning SAF as a key lever for credible, immediate decarbonisation.

“Decarbonizing logistics requires partnership, innovation, and accountability. Our Book & Claim solution empowers customers to take direct action on their air transport emissions with measurable results, full traceability, and verified climate impact. Offsetting is no longer enough. True climate progress happens when we decarbonise at the source.”
— Tatum Bross, Project Manager ESG, Spring GDS

SAF as a Scalable, High-Impact Alternative to Fossil Jet Fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from renewable waste and residue materials such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and agricultural byproducts. Compared with fossil kerosene, SAF can reduce lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80%, and it can be used with existing aircraft and fuelling systems, making it one of the most practical decarbonisation tools currently available to the aviation sector.

Spring GDS has secured a supply of SAF to ensure customers can access verified emissions reductions linked to their air freight, even when the fuel is not physically available on the routes they use.

Through the Book & Claim mechanism, customers can allocate a chosen proportion of SAF to their shipments. The sustainability attributes are independently certified under ISCC standards and logged on the fuel supplier’s blockchain platform, ensuring traceability and preventing double counting.

Customers also receive verified emissions data aligned with the GHG Protocol, supporting ESG reporting and Scope 3 disclosure requirements.

How the Book & Claim Model Accelerates Decarbonisation

The Book & Claim approach separates the consumption of the fuel from the environmental claim associated with it. This structure allows customers to fund the use of SAF where it is most accessible, even if they operate in regions where supply is limited.

By participating in the programme, businesses can:

• reduce air transport emissions within the logistics value chain
• report measurable, audited climate impacts
• support wider market demand for SAF production
• avoid the pitfalls of traditional carbon offsets

Spring GDS manages SAF procurement, verification, allocation, and reporting, offering an end-to-end framework for customers seeking credible climate action.

The approach reflects a shift from offsetting to insetting, focusing on emissions reductions generated directly within operational processes rather than outside the value chain.

A Growing Portfolio of Low-Carbon Logistics Solutions

Spring GDS’s SAF programme builds on its progress in road transport decarbonisation through its HVO100 biofuel initiative, which has helped reduce emissions across European delivery networks. The SAF launch marks the next stage in the company’s plan to achieve Net Zero by 2040.

By integrating low-carbon options for both road and air transport, the company aims to provide a cohesive sustainability framework for customers navigating new reporting obligations, increasing scrutiny of Scope 3 emissions, and rising expectations from consumers and regulators.

The combination of HVO100 and SAF allows Spring GDS to offer climate solutions across the full chain of cross-border logistics, from first mile to final air transport leg.

Meeting Aviation’s Climate Challenge with Practical Tools

Aviation emissions remain one of the hardest sectors to reduce due to the lack of mature alternatives to liquid fuels for long haul operations. SAF is widely considered the most immediately scalable option to support decarbonisation before next generation propulsion technologies become viable.

By enabling customers to access verified SAF benefits, Spring GDS aims to expand the customer base supporting the market for sustainable fuels, helping to address one of the major bottlenecks to wider SAF adoption: demand certainty.

With pressure mounting on the logistics industry to demonstrate real emissions reductions, the SAF Book & Claim model provides a pathway for companies seeking credible, traceable climate action that aligns with emerging regulatory standards.

Toward a More Sustainable Aviation Future

Spring GDS’s SAF programme reflects broader momentum across the air transport sector, where airlines, logistics companies, fuel producers, and regulators are increasingly coordinating efforts to increase SAF availability.

The new programme positions Spring GDS as a climate-focused logistics partner capable of supporting customer sustainability strategies at a time when global shipping networks are under scrutiny for their environmental footprint.

As the company continues to scale its SAF commitment, it expects the Book & Claim mechanism to play an important role in expanding access, driving demand, and accelerating the shift toward lower carbon aviation.