Words by Smiley Team
Accounting for 12 per cent of CO2 emissions from transport, the aviation industry has made a positive step forward today with Boeing’s announcement that it will ensure its commercial aeroplanes run on 100 per cent sustainable fuels by 2030.
Rather than using up finite fossil fuels, their new planes will run on petroleum substitutes such as oils from plant waste, which cause less harm to the environment. Sustainable fuels reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent with the potential to reach 100 per cent in the future, according to the Air Transport Action Group, the US Department of Energy and other scientific studies. Currently mixed with conventional jet fuel, these alternatives would eliminate the need for fossil fuels altogether.
Leading the initiative, Boeing commercial aeroplanes president and CEO Stan Deal said: "Our industry and customers are committed to addressing climate change, and sustainable aviation fuels are the safest and most measurable solution to reduce aviation carbon emissions in the coming decades. We're committed to working with regulators, engine companies and other key stakeholders to ensure our aeroplanes and eventually our industry can fly entirely on sustainable jet fuels."
In order to meet the industry’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 50 per cent from 2005 levels by 2050, aviation companies must transition to using this new fuel well before 2050.
Already, Boeing has conducted successful test flights using sustainable fuel, making a vital step towards less polluting planes.
A pioneer in developing sustainable jet fuels, the company ran the world’s first test flight of its 777 Freighter, fuelled by 100 per cent sustainable oil in 2018 in collaboration with FedEx Express. This breakthrough came after a series of test flights to gain credibility for sustainable fuels between 2008 to 2011. They’ve also made the fuels increasingly accessible by partnering with airlines, industry, governments and researchers to increase supplies and reduce its cost.
For more information about this important endeavour, visit www.boeing.com/sustainability.
