EcoCeres and Chinese aviation partners launch SAF programme in China

EcoCeres has launched a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilot programme in China, codenamed Project Spark, together with The Second Research Institute of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CASRI), China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF), China Southern Airlines, Air China Cargo, Sichuan Airlines and Huarong Chemical, completing a closed loop SAF green value chain.
This milestone marks a major breakthrough in the decarbonisation of China’s aviation sector and represents a significant step forward in the country’s independent sustainability certification and environmental credit framework for SAF.
On 16 March, SAF produced at EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang facility and blended by CNAF was used to refuel multiple commercial flights at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.
The initiative also enabled the compliant transfer of environmental credits via AnchorTrace, a Scope 3 SAF environmental credit registration and retirement platform jointly developed by CNAF and CASRI.
“Launching this SAF pilot program in China together with such influential partners is a proud moment for EcoCeres and a powerful signal for the future of sustainable aviation,” said Matti Lievonen, CEO of EcoCeres. “By combining our waste to fuel technology with the scale and expertise of leading aviation fuel and airline ecosystems, we are turning climate ambition into practical action.”
EcoCeres’ SAF is produced from waste and residue feedstocks via its proprietary process, delivering up to 90% lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to conventional jet fuel. By integrating SAF into existing fuel supply infrastructure, the partners demonstrate how low carbon fuels can be adopted without compromising safety, reliability or operational efficiency.
In addition to this new cooperation in mainland China, EcoCeres’ SAF is already being supplied to leading international carriers including Air New Zealand, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, underscoring its role as a trusted decarbonisation partner for airlines across the Asia Pacific and European markets.