KWE, Volvo Group enter agreement for use of sustainable aviation fuel

Tokyo, Japan-based Kintetsu World Express Inc. and the Volvo Group are partnering for the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), KWE announced March 7.

“Kintetsu World Express is honored to play a crucial role in Volvo Group’s journey towards a more sustainable future, being the first partner in its transition to SAF for air-freight shipments,” KWE stated.

“The partnership in SAF underlines our shared dedication to further decarbonize the air-freight transportation sector,” the company added.

The Volvo Group will purchase the environmental attributes (CO2-emission reductions) derived from SAF through Kintetsu World Express for all of its contracted air-freight shipments year-round with KWE.

It will contribute to Volvo Group’s goal of achieving climate neutrality throughout its value chain by 2040.

The agreement will be a major stimulus for the air-cargo industry to further promote the use of SAF.

“As a global logistics provider, we have been seeking for a mechanism to share the environmental attributes of SAF with our customers,” said Yoshikazu Yashiki, KWE’s managing officer.

“We are very pleased and proud to be working with Volvo Group, one of the most sustainable companies in the world,” Yashiki added. “We look forward to other partners joining our SAF program.”

Christina Bentzler Möller, Volvo Group’s senior vice president of service-market logistics, said, “This strategic partnership underscores our vision to decarbonize Volvo’s supply chain related to air freights. Using sustainable aviation fuel, we are not just meeting industry standards, we are also actively contributing to a cleaner, greener future and supporting our sustainability strategy.”

Unlike traditional aviation fuels, SAF is produced from renewable resources such as agricultural residues or waste oils.

This ensures that the carbon footprint associated with SAF is significantly lower compared to conventional jet fuels, making it a key enabler in the quest for more sustainable air transport.