The founder and managing director of 123Carbon explains carbon insetting, SAF certificates, and SAF registries. In the news, we look at the Safer Skies Act of 2025, KC-135 Stratotanker service life, Airbus future single-aisle technologies and design, and injuries after a mid-air TCAS alarm sounds. Also, the first COMAC 909 delivery outside China, ATC privatization around the world, security theater, and introducing women to aviation.

Guest

Jeroen van Heiningen is the founder and managing director of 123Carbon. The company works with fuel suppliers and carriers to issue transparent and externally verified environmental attribute certificates, including SAF certificates, used by airlines and cargo operators to reduce their transport-related Scope 3 emissions.

Jeroen discusses the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) market, focusing on carbon insetting, the role of SAF registries, and the importance of transparency and standardization in the industry. He explains how carbon insetting differs from carbon offsetting, emphasizing the need for companies to invest in their value chain de-carbonization. The discussion also covers the digital certificate process, the collaboration between 123Carbon and IATA, and future trends in the SAF market.

123Carbon’s registry is integrated with other IT systems and allows an airline to upload documents and manage its inventory of digital certificates online. It's a multi-modal agnostic platform that can be branded. With the use of sustainable bio-fuel growing in the land and sea modes of transportation, the accounting needs to be integrated with air.

123Carbon recently introduced Carboninsets.com, a free service for forwarders and cargo owners that connects them with issuers on the registry.

Jeroen set-up and led Accenture’s Sustainability Services Benelux and wrote the CDP NL 50 report in 2010. He has 15 years of experience with multi-modal carbon insetting programs, covering both Air (KLM corporate biofuels Program) and Marine (the GoodShipping Program). He holds a master's in business administration from Tilburg University.

Takeaways:

Carbon insetting is a more effective long-term approach than offsetting.

Companies are increasingly linked to net-zero targets managed by SBTi. (Science Based Targets initiative)

Standardization in the SAF market is crucial for transparency.

Digital certificates are essential for tracking SAF transactions.

Collaboration between registries helps prevent double counting of SAF.

The SAF market is evolving with a focus on multimodal transportation.

Demand and supply must be connected to stabilize SAF prices.

New services like CarbonInsets.com facilitate connections between issuers and buyers.

The aviation industry is leading in SAF adoption compared to other transport modes.

Future initiatives will focus on integrating various transportation modalities.

Resources:

ICAO Global Framework for SAF: Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) 

IATA SAF Handbook [PDF]

Developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). IATA estimates that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) could contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

IATA and 123Carbon to Collaborate on Interoperability for SAF Registries. A strategic collaboration to develop interoperability between their respective SAF focusing on three key elements:

A unique identifier and alignment of the relevant data points to exchange between registries.

A process for the exchange of information to avoid any potential double issuance.

A dispute resolution process. 

IATA SAF Registry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that it will establish the SAF Registry to accelerate the uptake of SAF by authoritatively accounting and reporting emissions reductions from SAF.

SAFc Registry. Sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc) can help drive demand for sustainable avi...