Boeing has agreements to purchase 5.6 million gallons or 21.2 million liters of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Neste, the world’s leading SAF producer, to support its U.S. commercial operations through 2023. These agreements more than double the company’s SAF procurement from last year.

As a leading global aerospace company, U.S.-based Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. 

“We are demonstrating our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and catalyze the SAF industry,” said Sheila Remes, Boeing vice president of Environmental Sustainability. “This SAF procurement makes up 25% of Boeing’s total jet fuel needs for last year including our production, delivery, Boeing ecoDemonstrator, and Dreamlifter flights, and we aim to increase that portion in the years to come.”

The purchase agreements include supply of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ which is blended with conventional jet fuel at a 30/70 ratio to produce the blended SAF. Neste MY SAF is made from 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as cooking oil and animal fat waste, and meets strict sustainability criteria. The procurement will support flights for production, Boeing ecoDemonstrator, Dreamlifter and deliveries. EPIC Fuels, Signature Aviation and Avfuel will supply the blended SAF.

In 2021, Boeing committed to deliver its commercial airplanes capable and certified to fly on 100% SAF by 2030. SAF reduces CO₂ emissions by as much as 80% over the fuel’s life cycle with the potential to reach 100% in the future and is widely recognised as offering the greatest potential to decarbonise aviation over the next 20 to 30 years. Made from several feedstocks, SAF is certified for commercial use and can currently be blended up to 50% with traditional jet fuel without modifications to airplanes, engines or fueling infrastructure.

Among Boeing’s key milestones to enable SAF:

In Feb. 2023, Boeing announced a pivotal testing milestone—the development of jet reference fluids to enable SAF compatibility testing to help fulfill the company’s commitment to producing 100% SAF-capable airplanes.

In 2019, Boeing began offering customers the option to power commercial delivery flights with SAF to demonstrate commitment to reducing CO₂ and further spur the use of cleaner fuels.

In 2018, the Boeing ecoDemonstrator made the industry’s first commercial airplane test flight with 100% SAF in both engines of a 777 Freighter in partnership with FedEx.

Boeing made initial SAF test flights in 2008, enabled approval for commercial SAF use in 2011 and airplane delivery flights in 2012.