Senior Aerospace UPECA and DHL Contribute to More Sustainable Air Freight With SAF

UPECA’s use of GoGreen Plus will enable up to 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions of international shipments

Senior Aerospace UPECA, a subsidiary of Senior plc, an international manufacturer of high technology components and systems, has signed an agreement with DHL Express for the use of the GoGreen Plus service. The partnership enables UPECA to invest in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to drive up to 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions associated with their time-definite international shipments.

“At UPECA, we believe SAF is one of the most promising means of decarbonising long-haul flight,” said Kavan Jeet Singh, Chief Executive Officer of UPECA. “Ready for deployment in existing aircraft, it complements intensive efforts to transform aviation into a more sustainable industry. We are delighted to sign up for DHL Express’ GoGreen Plus and help contribute to a commercially-viable market for such renewable energies.”

GoGreen Plus currently stands as the sole solution within the global express logistics sector that allows customers to leverage SAF towards their Scope 3 footprint, which refers to the indirect release of greenhouse gases within a company’s supply chain activities. Made from sustainable feedstocks such as used cooking oil and other residues, SAF cuts around 80 percent of lifecycle carbon emissions from air transport compared to conventional jet fuel.

UPECA’s subscription to GoGreen Plus applies across its overseas trade lanes, encompassing key markets in Europe and North America. It comes amidst a report by the International Energy Agency that aviation has grown faster in recent decades than rail, road, and sea transport as a source of worldwide CO2e emissions¹. The trend emphasises the urgency for the upscale and uptake of SAF in order to meet the International Air Transport Association (IATA) target of having SAF comprise 50 percent of global aviation fuel consumption by 2050.

“SAF is an important lever for achieving cleaner air mobility, but there remains progress to be made on the production and adoption fronts. Having UPECA onboard demonstrates an increasing shift among businesses to explore innovative pathways for a green transition in their operations. These collaborations are essential as we continue to promote SAF accessibility and affordability at the pace needed to address current climate challenges,” said Julian Neo, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei.

Launched in 2023, GoGreen Plus is made possible through strategic collaborations with bp and Neste to procure up to 800 million litres of SAF as well as an agreement with World Energy to purchase up to 668 million litres of SAF via sustainable aviation certificates. The air freight network accounts for around 70 percent of DHL Group’s carbon footprint, so sustainable air transportation solutions are crucial for emission-reduced logistics.

¹ International Energy Agency, 12 July 2023. ‘Tracking Clean Energy Progress 2023’