Standardization critical to unlocking credible SAF certificate market 

Aviation’s path to decarbonization depends heavily on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). While SAF is the most viable near-term solution to reduce flight emissions, limited availability, higher costs, and increasing market complexity slow its large-scale adoption. 

A new white paper, “Comparative analysis of Scope 3 SAF certificates,” led by 123Carbon and co-signed by Smart Freight Centre and Normec Verifavia, examines how SAF certificates are currently structured and used across the aviation value chain.

Why this matters 

Scope 3 SAF Environmental Attribute Certificates, enabled through Book and Claim systems, allow airlines, freight forwarders, and corporates to claim emissions reductions linked to SAF without direct access to the fuel. This mechanism is essential to scaling SAF deployment. But its credibility depends on transparent data, clear accounting guidance, and robust verification. Today, inconsistent certificate structures and incomplete information undermines confidence for stakeholders seeking to integrate SAF into their climate strategies. 

What the white paper covers 

The report provides a structured analysis of the current SAF certificate landscape, including:

• The state of the SAF market and its development challenges  
• Existing gaps in SAF accounting guidance  
• A comparative analysis of seven voluntary Scope 3 SAF certificates 
• Key findings on data consistency, transparency, and completeness  

The analysis, based on certificates issued by airlines and fuel suppliers across multiple regions, reveals significant variations in data quality and the availability of key information. 

The need for greater consistency 

The findings are clear: SAF certificates need for greater consistency in design and implementation. Transparent data, aligned accounting approaches, and clear documentation are prerequisites for credible emissions claims.

As an independent verifier, Normec Verifavia brings direct expertise to this challenge. Robust, standardized monitoring, reporting and verification practices are essential to maintain integrity across SAF reporting frameworks and prevent double-counting. 

Access the full report, “Comparative analysis of Scope 3 SAF certificates,” to explore the detailed findings and recommendations.