Amazon backs GranBio’s push to turn waste wood into SAF

A new partnership between Amazon and clean‑energy firm GranBio is aiming to reshape how the United States handles its vast piles of discarded wood.

For decades, leftovers from logging operations, crop harvesting and construction sites have been dumped in landfills or left to dry out, increasing wildfire risks.

Now, GranBio is developing technology to convert this waste into lower‑carbon fuels for aviation and heavy‑duty transport — and Amazon is helping fund the effort.

The collaboration comes as airlines and freight operators face mounting pressure to cut emissions from sectors that are notoriously difficult to decarbonise. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is seen as one of the most promising near‑term solutions, but supply remains limited and costs high.

GranBio’s approach targets both challenges by using cheap, abundant waste materials rather than purpose‑grown crops.

The process breaks down woody biomass to release the carbon stored in plant fibres. That carbon is then synthesised into fuel molecules identical to those found in conventional petrol, diesel and jet fuel.

A useful by‑product provides heat for the facility, reducing external energy needs and improving overall efficiency.

Crucially, the resulting fuels — including renewable diesel, renewable petrol and SAF — are “drop‑in” ready, meaning they can be used with existing engines and infrastructure. For airlines and long‑haul trucking fleets, this compatibility could accelerate adoption and lower costs.