- 11 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel unlocked, one of the largest corporate SAF agreements to date
- Expected lifecycle emissions reduction of ~100,000 tonnes compared to conventional jet fuel
- Book-and-claim model enables scalable corporate decarbonisation across aviation supply chains
A cross-industry alliance between logistics, aviation, technology and energy players is moving to scale one of the most constrained segments of the energy transition: sustainable aviation fuel.
DSV, Microsoft, United Airlines and Phillips 66 have secured access to up to 11 million gallons of SAF, equivalent to 41.6 million litres. The agreement is expected to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 100,000 tonnes compared to traditional jet fuel.
The deal addresses a core challenge in aviation decarbonisation. SAF supply remains limited, fragmented and expensive. By aligning demand across multiple corporate buyers, the partnership creates the scale needed to unlock supply and reduce commercial risk.
Coordinated Demand To Unlock Supply
The structure of the agreement reflects a shift in how SAF is financed and deployed. Rather than relying on individual corporate buyers, the companies pooled demand and aligned commercial terms across the value chain.
This coordinated approach enables long-term agreements that make production more viable for suppliers. It also ensures more predictable access for buyers.
Frank Sobotka, CEO, Air and Sea Division at DSV, said: “This collaboration aligns with DSV’s long-term sustainability strategy and reflects our role as a global partner helping customers access lower emission transport solutions at scale. By connecting customers, carriers and fuel producers, we can help turn sustainability ambitions into operational outcomes.”
United Airlines will physically use the SAF, while DSV and Microsoft participate through a book-and-claim system. This allows emissions reductions to be allocated independently of where the fuel is used.
Scaling SAF Through Market Mechanisms
The book-and-claim model is becoming a critical tool in hard-to-abate sectors. It enables companies to invest in low-carbon fuels without needing direct access to the physical supply.
For corporates with global logistics networks, this flexibility is essential. It allows emissions reductions to be tracked, verified and attributed across complex supply chains.
The transaction is supported by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification and tracked through the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificate Registry. Together with DSV’s internal registry, the system ensures each tonne of CO2 reduction is verified and protected against double counting.
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Lauren Riley, Chief Sustainability Officer at United Airlines, said: “This is the largest contracted SAF supply agreement with a single customer, DSV, in the history of our corporate SAF program, the Eco-Skies Alliance, demonstrating the possibility of large-scale greenhouse gas reductions when the members of a value chain – from supplier to end customer – work together.”
Corporate Demand Driving Aviation Decarbonisation
For Microsoft, the agreement forms part of a broader push to decarbonise its logistics and cloud supply chain operations. Aviation emissions remain a significant challenge for companies with global infrastructure footprints.
Marco Eipper, General Manager, Cloud Supply Chain Logistics at Microsoft, said: “This collaboration builds on Microsoft’s ongoing work to reduce emissions across our cloud logistics value chain and supports our broader sustainability goals. By collaborating with partners across the aviation value chain, we can help advance the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and support the transition to lower-carbon air transport.”
The involvement of a large corporate buyer adds financial weight to the deal. It also signals growing demand for credible, verifiable emissions reductions in Scope 3 categories.
Energy And Infrastructure At Scale
Phillips 66 plays a central role in translating demand into supply. The company brings refining capacity, logistics infrastructure and operational experience needed to deliver SAF at commercial scale.
Ronald Sanchez, Vice President, Aviation at Phillips 66, said: “Phillips 66 has the integrated assets, logistics network and operational experience to deliver SAF at scale today, not years from now. With this unique collaboration across industries, we’re helping turn demand for lower carbon aviation into reliable, real world supply with measurable impact.”
The ability to deliver SAF today, rather than in future project pipelines, is critical. Many SAF initiatives remain tied to early-stage technologies or uncertain financing structures.
What This Means For Executives And Investors
The agreement highlights a broader shift in climate strategy. Decarbonisation in sectors like aviation will depend less on isolated action and more on coordinated ecosystems.
For executives, the message is clear. Access to low-carbon solutions will increasingly depend on partnerships that aggregate demand and de-risk supply.
For investors, the deal points to emerging infrastructure around SAF markets. Certification systems, registries and book-and-claim mechanisms are becoming essential to scaling capital into climate solutions.
The collaboration also reinforces the role of corporate buyers in shaping energy markets. As demand signals strengthen, suppliers gain the confidence to invest in production capacity.
With aviation under growing regulatory and investor pressure to cut emissions, models like this may become the blueprint for scaling SAF globally.
The post DSV, Microsoft, United Airlines And Phillips 66 Secure 11 Million Gallons Of SAF, Cutting 100,000 Tonnes Of Emissions appeared first on ESG News.
