GBTA Calls Upon All Companies That Rely on Business Travel to Demand Clarity on SAF Reporting

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), together with the GBTA Foundation and our Sustainability Partners, has published a position statement in response to the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) revised Corporate Net-Zero Standard (Version 2.0), urging unequivocal recognition of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) environmental attributes as a credible emissions reduction pathway for business travel.

With companies worldwide increasingly tracking and setting targets to reduce emissions from business travel, the latest SBTi guidance represents a positive step toward making net-zero commitments more actionable. But gaps remain, particularly in how SAF purchased through book-and-claim mechanisms are treated within corporate emissions reduction targets.

As the leading voice for the global business travel industry, GBTA is calling for clear guidance that empowers companies to confidently purchase and include SAF environmental attributes in their emission reduction targets—and calls upon all companies that rely on business travel to lend their voices to this appeal.

SAF Is a Key Lever for Decarbonizing Business Travel—But Definitive Guidance Is Still Missing

Aviation remains one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize. For companies that rely on air travel, SAF purchased through book-and-claim mechanisms is one of the few credible solutions available now to help meet reduction targets for residual emissions. On a life-cycle basis, SAF can offer up to 80% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional jet fuel. Through book-and-claim, companies can contribute to the price premium of SAF and support its market scale-up, while aligning with their sustainability goals.

However, in the latest guidance, SBTi only recognizes SAF purchased through book-and-claim as a “time-limited” measure without proposing a phase-out date – a caveat that will stall investment in a market that will play a long-term decarbonization role. This inconclusive messaging around the eligibility of book-and-claim towards net-zero reporting leaves corporates without a strong business case to invest in the nascent SAF market.

Alignment Is Key to Unlocking Corporate Investment

To scale private-sector investment in SAF, alignment between target-setting frameworks (SBTi) and emissions accounting standards (GHGP) is essential. Without it, companies face uncertainty, making it difficult to build the business case for long-term purchase agreements.

SAF is not just a short-term fix, it’s a long-term decarbonization solution. The aviation sector and corporate buyers alike view book-and-claim as a core enabler of SAF adoption, providing both market demand signals and the financial backing needed to support investment in SAF production infrastructure.

For companies without direct control over aviation fuel infrastructure, book-and-claim may be the only viable path to contribute to emissions reductions, especially in hard-to-reach parts of their value chain. Failing to recognize SAF fully and clearly within both corporate accounting guidelines and net-zero targets risks stalling progress at a time when accelerated action is more urgent than ever.

What Comes Next: A Call to Action

GBTA calls on all companies that rely on business travel to contribute to SBTi’s public consultation on its revised Corporate Net-Zero Standard by June 1, 2025.

Proposed language and submission instructions can be downloaded HERE.

Now is the time to share your company’s perspective on the barriers to making the business case for SAF purchases.

In 2025, the GBTA Foundation will also launch SAF Corporate Connect, a dedicated forum offering business travel leaders access to the latest research, tools, and best practices for integrating SAF into their climate strategies. Participants will benefit from educational content, peer-to-peer workshops and insights from leading subject matter experts, and practical guidance to support decision-making and accelerate investment in this vital decarbonization pathway. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about the launch of SAF Corporate Connect and ways to get involved.

Join us in shaping a more sustainable future for business travel. For questions or to get involved, please contact sustainability@gbta.org.