Green Choice

Options for CO₂ savings in air cargo via SAF and permanent CO₂ removal

Our offering AWB based Bulk offer Green Choice solutions Carbon emission calculation Compatible products

A flexible option to support SAF and carbon removal

Green Choice is a SWISS WorldCargo Add-on Service that enables customers to support the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and permanent CO₂ removal through Direct Air Capture (DAC).

With Green Choice, you can:

Support the use of SAF within Lufthansa Group flight operations. While SAF emits a similar amount of CO₂ emissions during combustion as conventional kerosene, its lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are at least 80% lower.
Support the permanent removal and storage of CO₂ through Direct Air Capture (DAC) in collaboration with Climeworks.
Choose an AWB-level contribution for an individual shipment or a bulk agreement covering multiple shipments.

SAF is incorporated into Lufthansa Group flight operations and is not necessarily used on the aircraft carrying the individual shipment. DAC removes and permanently stores CO₂ outside the transport operation. Aviation also has climate effects beyond CO₂.

SWISS WorldCargo Green Choice – reducing CO₂ emissions

Choose how you want to support SAF and DAC

Green Choice is available for an individual shipment at AWB level or for multiple shipments under a bulk agreement. You can choose from defined combinations of SAF and DAC based on the estimated transport-related CO₂ emissions covered by the agreement.

AWB-level contribution

At AWB level, Green Choice offers packages combining different shares of SAF and DAC. The contribution must be booked before departure and is based on the shipment’s entire routing and final shipped gross weight. It cannot be applied to only part of the routing or shipment weight, or booked as a fixed amount. The contribution is based on estimated transport-related CO₂ emissions. The SAF is used within 6 months in the Lufthansa Group network and not on the aircraft transporting the individual shipment.

Package	Description
Aviation Tech Pioneer	Contribution addressing the estimated shipment-related CO₂ emissions through 85% SAF and 15% DAC.
SAF Choice	SAF contribution corresponding to the selected level of the estimated shipment-related CO₂ emissions. Option 1: 85% SAF Option 2: 60% SAF Option 3: 30% SAF Option 4: 10% SAF

Bulk agreement

Green Choice can also cover multiple shipments under a bulk agreement. Customers can define a contribution for a specified period, either retrospectively for completed shipments or prospectively based on expected transport volume. For retrospective agreements, the contribution is calculated using the estimated CO₂ emissions associated with freight transported by SWISS WorldCargo during the defined period. Prospective agreements use expected transport volumes and should be reconciled against actual transported volume according to the applicable agreement. Customers can select defined combinations of SAF and DAC.

Package	Description
Aviation Tech Pioneer	Contribution addressing the estimated transport-related CO₂ emissions covered by the agreement through 85% SAF and 15% DAC.
SAF Choice	SAF up to 85% CO₂ reduction, with flexible combinations via DAC.

Learn how SAF and DAC work

Green Choice supports two different measures: the use of SAF within Lufthansa Group flight operations and permanent CO₂ removal through DAC. Learn how the two measures work and where their environmental effects occur.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions with SAF

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is produced from renewable energy sources, such as used cooking oils and fats or agricultural waste. Although SAF produces a similar amount of CO₂ during combustion as fossil kerosene, the SAF used by the Lufthansa Group achieves at least 80% lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions on average.

The SAF supported through Green Choice is incorporated into Lufthansa Group flight operations within six months after the respective flight and is not necessarily used on the aircraft transporting the individual shipment.

SAF purchases made through Green Choice can be credited toward Scope 3 emission reductions in your corporate carbon footprint, in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Customers who choose SAF will receive an official Emissions Mitigation Certificate confirming the quantity of SAF used and the corresponding CO₂ emissions reduced.

Parts of the eligible SAF used by Lufthansa Group have been co-funded by the EU Emissions Trading System.

Dowload example certificate here

Sustainable Aviation Fuel reducing up to 90% of CO₂ emissions in air freight

Direct Air Capture (DAC)

Capturing and permanently storing CO₂ through DAC

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a carbon removal technology that captures CO₂ directly from the atmosphere and enables its permanent storage or use as a renewable carbon source for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Through Green Choice and in collaboration with Climeworks, customers can support the permanent removal and storage of CO₂.

Climeworks operates DAC and storage facilities in Iceland. Captured CO₂ can be stored permanently underground or used as a renewable carbon source for the production of SAF.

Support for DAC contributes to the development and scaling of carbon-removal technologies. The supported removals take place outside the individual transport operation and do not make a shipment climate-neutral.

Direct Air Capture technology removing CO₂ emissions generated for Green Choice shipments

How we estimate transport-related CO₂ emissions

SWISS WorldCargo commitment to sustainable air cargo and environmental responsibility

SWISS WorldCargo ground handling loading cargo into aircraft belly at Zurich Airport

A defined scope for CO₂ estimates

SWISS WorldCargo applies a Well-to-Wheel (WTW) methodology that estimates the CO₂ emissions associated with the air and road transport covered by the shipment. The calculation does not include upstream emissions from producing and supplying the fuel or climate effects beyond CO₂.

Calculation methodology

Estimated transport-related CO₂ emissions are calculated in accordance with DIN EN 16258.

Based on operational data and estimates

The estimate uses average kerosene consumption, load factors and routing data from the previous year. It includes the modeled fuel consumption associated with relevant flight phases, including taxiing, detours and holding patterns.

Distance and payload assumptions

Distances are estimated using Great Circle Distance and Vincenty’s formulae. For belly cargo, payload allocation assumes an average passenger weight of 100 kg, including luggage.