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SAF Corporate Connect: Empowering African Business Travel to Cut Carbon Emissions SAF Corporate Connect: Empowering African Business Travel to Cut Carbon Emissions

As the world intensifies efforts to combat climate change, the aviation sector remains one of the toughest to decarbonize. Yet, for businesses across Africa and beyond, air travel is indispensable for global connectivity and commerce. Enter Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a game-changing solution that can reduce carbon emissions from flights by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel. However, despite its promise, SAF adoption in corporate travel programs has been slow, hindered by cost, complexity, and limited awareness.

Recognizing these challenges, the GBTA Foundation, the advocacy and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association, has launched SAF Corporate Connect. This pioneering platform is the first of its kind, designed specifically to equip corporate travel managers, procurement teams, and sustainability leaders with the knowledge, tools, and collaborative networks needed to integrate SAF into their travel programs effectively.

For African travel professionals managing corporate accounts, SAF Corporate Connect offers a vital resource to navigate the complexities of SAF adoption. The platform provides a comprehensive SAF Playbook for Corporate Travel, a step-by-step guide that demystifies SAF purchasing options and integration strategies. This playbook helps companies build strong business cases, align internal stakeholders, and confidently incorporate SAF into their sustainability agendas.

Beyond the playbook, SAF Corporate Connect hosts a rich array of practical tools and peer-driven insights. Regular webinars and case studies showcase real-world experiences from companies that have successfully implemented SAF strategies, offering inspiration and actionable lessons. For instance, an upcoming webinar scheduled for late October will feature sustainability and travel experts sharing their journeys and best practices, fostering a learning environment that African corporate travel managers can tap into.

One of the platform’s standout features is its community connection—a global forum where corporate buyers, SAF suppliers, and industry experts convene to exchange knowledge, discuss challenges, and collaborate on solutions. This peer-to-peer engagement is crucial for African businesses, which often face unique market dynamics and infrastructure constraints. By participating in this network, companies can gain insights tailored to their context and contribute to shaping the future of sustainable business travel.

SAF Corporate Connect also addresses a critical hurdle in SAF adoption: credible emissions reporting. The platform offers guidance on navigating the book-and-claim model, a system that allows companies to claim SAF-related emissions reductions even when physical SAF is not available at their departure airports. This flexibility is particularly relevant for African markets, where SAF supply infrastructure is still developing. The GBTA Foundation advocates for clearer reporting standards and provides step-by-step instructions to ensure transparency and avoid greenwashing, helping companies communicate their sustainability progress with confidence.

Importantly, SAF Corporate Connect recognizes that SAF is just one piece of a broader decarbonization puzzle. It encourages companies to integrate SAF within a wider strategy that includes influencing travel decisions, setting emissions reduction targets, and engaging supply chains. This holistic approach aligns well with the growing sustainability ambitions of African corporations, which are increasingly seeking credible, scalable solutions to reduce their environmental footprint.

Leading voices in sustainability, such as Alice Ashpitel, Head of Sustainability at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, emphasize the power of collaboration and starting small. SAF Corporate Connect embodies this philosophy by showcasing companies with established SAF programs, inspiring others to embark on their own journeys. For African businesses, this means that even incremental steps toward SAF adoption can build momentum, confidence, and ultimately, significant impact.

With the global business travel sector valued at over \$1.5 trillion, the influence of corporate buyers in accelerating SAF adoption cannot be overstated. SAF Corporate Connect empowers African travel professionals to be part of this transformative movement, providing the tools to overcome barriers such as limited budgets, lack of awareness, and perceived complexity.

In summary, SAF Corporate Connect is more than a resource hub—it is a catalyst for change. By offering tailored guidance, fostering community collaboration, and advocating for transparent reporting, it equips organizations across Africa to reduce emissions from corporate travel programs effectively. As the continent’s business travel landscape evolves, embracing SAF through platforms like SAF Corporate Connect will be key to aligning growth with sustainability and securing a greener future for African aviation and commerce.