ISCC certification is an important tool for demonstrating compliance with regional and international regulations and achieving a low-carbon future by promoting, verifying and accelerating sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
There is an urgent need to reduce aviation’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as acknowledged by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Its member states have set ambitious targets to cut GHG emissions from air travel, including a shared long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
SAF are non-conventional (non-fossil-derived) aviation fuels with the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by as much as 80% compared to traditional fuels. They are drop-in fuels, meaning SAF’s chemical and physical characteristics closely resemble those of conventional jet fuel, enabling use in current aircraft and infrastructure without modifications. Certified SAF must meet sustainability criteria, such as lowering lifecycle carbon emissions, maintaining or enhancing soil health, and avoiding high-carbon stock lands for feedstocks.
Through certification, we verify SAF’s environmental credentials along the supply chain, typically concluding at airport delivery or earlier. The ISCC CTS tracks SAF claims following uplift, enabling airlines, logistics providers, and corporate end-customers to credibly report emissions reductions from SAF purchases.
The aviation industry is under growing pressure to decarbonise while continuing to connect people and markets globally:
Within Europe, the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation introduces binding requirements for the gradual uptake of sustainable aviation fuels, supporting the EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
Globally, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has adopted the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which sets a framework for stabilising and then reducing aviation emissions, contributing to the sector’s long-term net zero ambition.
Puts a price on carbon emissions from aviation within Europe, creating financial incentives to reduce emissions through SAF use.
Supporting aviation’s path to net-zero