Published by Todd Bush on February 27, 2026
Registry designed to support sustainable aviation fuel buildout celebrates milestone as emissions reductions connected to environmental attribute certificates top equivalent of 255,000 JFK-Heathrow round trips.
Boulder, CO – February 19, 2026 — The SAFc Registry, an independent, not-for-profit registry designed to bring transparency and consistency to the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market, has hit a major landmark, surpassing 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) abated through SAF certificates issued on the platform. That’s the equivalent of the emissions from a single person traveling round trip from New York’s JFK to London’s Heathrow airport more than 255,000 times.
Launched in 2023 by RMI and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), in collaboration with the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA) and Energy Web, the SAFc Registry was created to support air transport customers in their decarbonization efforts with an easy to use, credible, enterprise-grade digital tool for tracking emissions claims.
>> In Other News: LanzaJet's $47M Raise Locks In Real Barrels at Georgia SAF Plant
As of February 2026, the platform has issued SAF certificates (SAFc) representing more than 164,000 metric tons (54 million gallons) of neat SAF, a milestone sending a clear market signal that corporate demand for lower-emissions air transport and travel can drive real-world production of clean fuels.
“The SAFc Registry has reached a major growth milestone, underscoring its role in translating early market demand into momentum for sustainable aviation fuel,” said Bryan Fisher, Managing Director at RMI. “The registry was designed to deliver the transparency and credibility buyers need to meet climate targets, and this level of uptake demonstrates how verifiable emissions claims through a trusted system can help support the scale-up of low-carbon fuels.”
The abated emissions reflect verified SAF use displacing conventional jet fuel, with outcomes tracked through a public, auditable registry that safeguards sensitive data. SAF issued and retired on the registry comes from a variety of feedstocks, including tallow, other animal fats, and used cooking oil, and meets stringent standards.
“Surpassing this milestone makes clear that companies aren’t waiting on the sidelines — they are demanding high-integrity sustainable aviation fuels,” said Elizabeth Sturcken, Vice President at Environmental Defense Fund. “The SAFc Registry is helping turn that demand into credible climate action by ensuring every emissions claim is traceable, verifiable, and grounded in strong environmental integrity. That kind of trust and transparency is exactly what’s needed to accelerate investment and scale the clean fuels aviation needs to achieve net-zero.”
Users of the registry range from companies addressing Scope 3 aviation emissions, like corporate members of the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA), to airlines and logistics providers. To date, 17 fuel providers and 21 different production facilities spanning five countries have issued SAFc that has accounted for the emissions reductions of 62 aviation customers, 13 air transport providers, and 3 logistics service providers.
“Corporate SAF buyers need the right tools to ensure they are getting what they pay for – real carbon reductions from high-integrity fuel, with no questions or confusion about its chain of custody,” said Kim Carnahan, CEO of the Center for Green Market Activation, and head of SABA’s Secretariat. “The SAFc Registry meets this critical need. We’re thrilled by this early milestone and look forward to even more growth as we continue to channel SABA member demand to this best-in-class piece of market infrastructure.”
The high level of trust companies have in the SAFc Registry has helped spur its growth. The SAFc Registry is governed by a multi-stakeholder board and is intended to complement other SAF market enablers, including standards, accounting guidance, and structured procurement mechanisms.
Energy Web’s decentralized software underpinning the registry is built to provide a user-friendly experience alongside superior transparency. Every retirement transaction within the registry is validated, stripped of sensitive information, and digitally recorded, enabling continuous oversight of registry activity. This approach supports clear visibility for registry participants, the public, and third-party auditors alike.
“Half a million tonnes of CO₂ abated proves the SAFc market has traction. Now the priority is liquidity and scale,” said Ewald Hesse, CEO of Energy Web. “Markets move in real time and environmental claims must follow. Continuous, machine-verifiable data replaces static documents and periodic audits, unlocking faster transactions, lower compliance friction, and stronger capital flows.”
The continued growth of the SAFc market reflects increasing alignment across corporate buyers, fuel producers, and other market stakeholders around the need for trusted, transparent use of SAF to decarbonize aviation. This milestone highlights the role that credible systems can play in supporting the scale-up of low-carbon fuels and accelerating the aviation sector’s transition toward net zero.
For more information about the SAFc Registry, visit safcregistry.org.
Media Inquiries please contact media@rmi.org.
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to secure a prosperous, resilient, clean energy future for all. In collaboration with businesses, policymakers, funders, communities, and other partners, RMI drives investment to scale clean energy solutions, reduce energy waste, and boost access to affordable clean energy in ways that enhance security, strengthen the economy, and improve people’s livelihoods. RMI is active in over 50 countries.
One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund.
The Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA) is a joint initiative of Environmental Defense Fund, the Center for Green Market Activation (GMA), and RMI focused on accelerating the path to net-zero aviation by driving investment in, and adoption of, high-integrity sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and supporting companies, airlines, and freight customers in achieving their climate goals. More information on SABA can be found at flysaba.org or LinkedIn.
Energy Web builds the decentralised digital trust layer for the energy transition, enabling enterprise-grade solutions for energy and sustainability markets. Focusing on grid and asset coordination with embedded data and services verification, Energy Web technology unlocks the potential of distributed energy resources and accelerates decarbonisation initiatives. Learn about Energy Web’s Verified Compute Cloud and innovative applications in Green Proofs and Digital Spine domains at www.energyweb.org or Linkedin or @energywebx.
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Inside This Issue 🌿 How Montana Renewables Cut MaxSAF Capex 89% 📋 IRS Issues Notice on 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit to Support Domestic Biofuel Production and American Agriculture 🌊 Natura...
Inside This Issue 🌬️ U.S. Bank Makes First Carbon Removal Purchase with Carba's Minnesota Biochar Project 🏭 Michigan's CCS Primacy Bid Could Reshape Great Lakes Industry 🏗️ Europe's Largest Carbo...
Inside This Issue ⭐ Deep Sky Receives First Pre-Issuance DAC Rating ♻️ Casella Waste Systems and Waga Energy Bring Third RNG Facility Online at McKean Landfill 🌐 Sinopec and International Partners...
Climeworks Announces Key Performance Improvements at Mammoth
Over the past 18 months, technology upgrades have more than doubled CO₂ capture performance in upgraded collector containers while reducing operating costs by more than 50%. Zurich, Switzerland | ...
A team member at one of InPlanet’s partner farms inspects freshly harvested citrus fruit to assess its quality Remineralizer integrated into the soil following field application, beginning the enh...
Methanol-to-Jet Clears ASTM Gate. What Changes Now?
Methanol-to-jet has crossed a critical technical gate for commercial aviation fuel. ASTM D7566-26a, the active specification updated July 30, 2026, incorporates methanol into the Annex A5 alcohol-t...
RBC Purchases Carbon Credits From Chestnut Improved Forest Management Project
NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chestnut today announced an agreement to deliver Improved Forest Management (IFM) carbon credits to RBC, a leading global financial institution. IFM practic...
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.