Boeing is working with governments, industry and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to advance the development, certification and commercial use of drop-in sustainable aviation fuels. The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group was formed in September 2008 with support and advice from the world's leading environmental organizations, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) . Boeing worked with leading air carriers and Honeywell's UOP, a refining technology developer, to establish the group to accelerate the development and commercialization of sustainable new aviation fuels. Airlines supporting the sustainable fuels initiative include Air France, Air New Zealand, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Cargolux, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines KLM, SAS and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Collectively, this group represents approximately 15% of commercial aviation fuel demand. The mission is to use the power of their fuel spending dollars to ensure that sustainability is a real requirement in the development of future aviation fuels and to help speed the creation of a viable market mechanism for these fuels. All group members subscribe to a sustainability pledge stipulating that any sustainable biofuel must perform as well as, or better than, kerosene-based fuel, but with a smaller carbon lifecycle. The user's group pledges to consider only renewable fuel sources that minimize biodiversity impacts: fuels that require minimal land, water and energy to produce, and that don't compete with food or fresh water resources. In addition, cultivation and harvest of plant stocks must provide socioeconomic value to local communities.

SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH PROJECTS

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group has announced two initial sustainability research projects:

• Assistant Professor Rob Bailis of Yale University's School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, through funding provided by Boeing, will conduct the first peer-reviewed, comprehensive sustainability assessment of jatropha curcas to include lifecycle OC2 emissions and the soio-economic impacts to farmers in developing nations.


• NRDC will conduct a comprehensive assessment of algae to ensure it meets the group's stringent sustainability criteria.

CO2 LIFECYCLE OVERVIEW

Emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that can lead to global warming. And CO 2 is of concern because, regardless of where it's emitted, it transfers evenly throughout the atmosphere and remains there so long. Biofuels are the only fuel type where the source (a plant) absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. Because of the global nature of CO2 in the atmosphere, these biofuel feedstocks help reduce CO2 levels around the world, no matter where they are grown - and moving us closer to carbon neutrality.