The UK government’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate was launched on 1st January, meaning that SAF now comprises 2% of fuel used for UK flights. Minister for Aviation, Mike Kane said:

From this moment on, aviation will be a greener, more sustainable form of travel and today marks a significant milestone for the UK SAF industry.”

SAF, which is produced using residual household waste or used cooking oil, produces around 70% less carbon emissions than fossil-based fuel. The mandate, announced in May last year, requires aviation fuel suppliers to increase the amount of SAF in their fuel over time; starting at 2% in 2025, to 10% in 2030 to then 22% by 2040. 

The Government predicts that these targets will mean 1.2 million tonnes of SAF supplied to the UK airline industry each year by 2030. A total delivery of 6.3 megatonnes of carbon savings per year by 2024. 

While many in the waste sector support the mandate, there are concerns that government subsidies favouring the production of SAF could "undermine the waste hierarchy". According to a report by SLR Consulting and the Environmental Services Association, if the Government neglects investment into CCS for EfW facilities, SAF alone will be unable to meet waste treatment demand.

However, with the ever-increasing global demand for aviation fuel, the mandate will provide the opportunity to travel more sustainably. Mike Kane said: “With thousands of jobs supporting the UK SAF industry and flying becoming more popular than ever, the mandate will help deliver our Plan for Change helping to grow the economy and giving people the freedom to travel in a more sustainable way.”

The Government has confirmed the introduction of a revenue certainty mechanism for SAF producers, in order to attract more investment. A further consultation on the revenue certainty mechanism will be launched for later on in the year. 

CEO of Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade said:

The UK mandate is ambitious and scaling SAF production will mean further work to expand eligible feedstocks, incentives to help cut costs and, critically, ensuring the design of the revenue certainty mechanism enables the UK to increase production of advanced fuels this decade whilst keeping costs as low as possible, critical for achieving mandate compliance and avoiding supplier buy-out.”