News
EcoCeres, SF Group and China National Aviation Fuel launch landmark SAF collaboration
August 14th 2026
EcoCeres and SF Group, together with China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF) and The Second Research Institute of CAAC (CASRI), announced a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) strategic collaboration to advance lower‑carbon air logistics in China. Read More » Under the collaboration, SAF produced by EcoCeres will be blended by CNAF and supplied to SF Airlines’ cargo flights, helping reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% versus the same volume of conventional jet fuel. EcoCeres said the project showcases how SAF can be integrated into real‑world cargo operations through coordinated action across the aviation fuel, air freight and logistics value chain, including deployment at key hubs such as Ezhou Huahu International Airport in Hubei. It also builds on the operational pathway proven in EcoCeres’ Project Spark pilot, supported by the AnchorTrace platform for registering and retiring SAF environmental credits. By linking renewable fuel production, transparent credit tracking and growing demand from air cargo, this collaboration demonstrates a practical, scalable model for decarbonizing hard‑to‑abate transport sectors like aviation and express logistics.
James Tam, co-chairman at EcoCeres, pointed out in a comment on social media that what sets this project apart is its direct conversion of supply chain emission reduction demands from international clients into a green air freight product. Environmental attributes are no longer a vague concept but a quantifiable, deliverable, and verifiable data asset. This gives rise to a clear market-driven pathway: demand-led, order-driven, cost-shared, and value-shared. When emission reductions are measurable, credits are tradable, and outcomes are verifiable, “green” ceases to be merely a label affixed to logistics—it becomes a product capability that customers are willing to pay for. In this process, SF Airlines has evolved from merely “using SAF” to “providing green aviation logistics solutions.”
“This project demonstrates how SAF can pragmatically and efficiently connect renewable fuel producers, aviation fuel infrastructure providers, and cargo operators in a results-oriented way. By integrating SAF into existing aviation fuel systems, we are working together with our partners to build a replicable, scalable and verifiable pathway for lower‑emissions air cargo development in China,” Tam commented.
“The successful inaugural flight of this project marks SF Group’s enhanced end-to-end capability, from bulk SAF sourcing, blending and customized fueling to freighter utilization, alongside a strategic green capacity deployment. It also positions SF Airlines as the first in China to integrate three unique advantages: a SAF-enabled hub airport, large-scale physical SAF fueling capability, and international SAF certification, making it a Scope 3 green aviation service provider,” said Li Sheng, Chairman of SF Airlines.
EcoCeres said that building on this collaboration, it will further leverage its presence in Hong Kong and Mainland China to expand a broader SAF project network, connecting regional feedstock supply, production, and demand across both passenger and cargo aviation sectors.
