Boeing commits to jets that fly on 100% sustainable fuel by 2030

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Boeing is committed to develop commercial jets capable of flying on 100% sustainable fuels by 2030, the airplane manufacturer said in a news release.

The achievement is essential to meeting the industrywide goal of reducing emissions by 50% before 2050, per the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act.

“Sustainable aviation fuels are proven, used every day, and have the most immediate and greatest potential to reduce carbon emissions in the near and long term when we work together as an industry,” Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Raymond said.

Boeing has already been creating a certified jet that would replace petroleum aviation fuel with 100% sustainable fuels and found success in 2018. In collaboration with FedEx, the Boeing ecoDemonstrator flight-test program developed the world’s first commercial plane, a 777 freighter, to use 100% sustainable aviation fuels.

“We’re committed to working with regulators, engine companies and other key stakeholders to ensure our airplanes and eventually our industry can fly entirely on sustainable jet fuels,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal said.

He stressed his commitment to addressing climate change and gave assurance that sustainable fuels are the safest and “most measurable solution” to reduce the industry’s carbon emissions. They can be made from a number of products, including feedstocks like non-edible plants, forestry waste and non-recycled household wastes, to name a few.

Today sustainable fuels are mixed 50/50 with conventional jet fuel, but the Air Transport Action Group, U.S. Department of Energy and other scientific studies found it can can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% over the fuel’s life cycle with the potential to reach 100% in the future.