Greener flying

Airlines are striving to reduce their impact on the planet in all manner of ways, ranging from minimising single-use plastics to offsetting flights and rethinking aircraft design. Work is underway to develop electric and hydrogen-powered passenger planes, but some airlines are turning to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a solution in the meantime. SAF, or biofuel, produces 80 per cent fewer emissions than fuel derived from fossil fuels; biofuel is made from agricultural and managed forest waste, cooking oil and municipal waste diverted from landfill. Qantas will be the first Australian carrier to fly using biofuel (cut with regular fuel) this year as it strives to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Virgin Australia has also made a net-zero by 2050 commitment, and was the first to test SAF in the supply chain.