IATA to enhance interoperability of SAF registries

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and 123Carbon have established a strategic agreement to enhance interoperability between their Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) registries.

Interoperability will improve transparency, prevent errors in emissions reporting (including double issuance), and streamline certificate maintenance among SAF registries.

The IATA-123Carbon partnership will focus on three main elements:

1. A unique identifier and alignment of relevant data enable registry sharing.
2. A technique for exchanging information in order to avoid double issuance.
3. A process for resolving disputes.

“User trust is essential. The transparency that comes with interoperability will ensure that our registries can function cohesively to maximise SAF’s potential to support aviation’s decarbonisation. The broader the alignment among registry providers, the better. We welcome all entities active in this field to work with IATA and 123Carbon towards global interoperability between all registries,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s senior vice president sustainability and chief economist.

“123Carbon is committed to establishing integrity and trust in the market for Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) within multi-modal transportation (e.g. air, sea, road & rail). With IATA, we have found a strong partner in the aviation sector that shares our beliefs. This collaboration allows SAF providers, airlines, freight forwarders, and corporate entities to utilise our platforms without the concern of double issuance, whilst managing their SAF certificates digitally on our platform,” said Jeroen van Heiningen, managing director, 123Carbon.

The IATA SAF Registry will be launched in April 2025 with the goal of facilitating the broadest possible use of SAF in aviation decarbonisation by standardising the market for SAF certifications. After registering a SAF batch, SAF certificates are provided, which include product and environmental characteristic information. As part of its preparation for the Registry's introduction, IATA has published the IATA SAF Accounting and Reporting Methodology.

Over 50 organisations, including airlines, fuel producers, and state governments, have contributed to the creation of the IATA SAF Registry. The IATA SAF Registry is being developed in collaboration with a wide range of SAF partners, including 123Carbon.

With over 50 global users, 123Carbon is the first independent platform for carbon offsets across all forms of transportation. It assists fuel suppliers, fleet operators, forwarders, and cargo owners with the issuing, management, and transfer of Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) for all modalities and technologies, including SAF. In addition to the central registry, 123Carbon provides a private Book & Claim solution that SAF providers and airlines can use to assign company-branded SAF certificates to their clients in a private environment. This is also recognised as an important tool for forwarders who operate across many modes of transport and are looking for a unified approach to apportion their environmental advantages.

Also read: SAF One and Airbus partner to promote SAF adoption