Greener Skies Take Flight with New SAF Mandate in the UK

As of January 1st, the UK has officially taken a major step towards more sustainable air travel with the implementation of its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate. The regulation now requires that at least 2% of all jet fuel used in flights departing from the UK be derived from sustainable sources. This percentage is set to increase steadily, reaching 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040.

These progressive goals are expected to result in the supply of approximately 1.2 million tonnes of SAF annually to the UK aviation sector by the end of the decade—enough fuel to fly around the world 3,000 times.

By becoming one of the first nations to legally enforce such a mandate, the UK is positioning itself as a global leader in the effort to decarbonise aviation and drive forward the government’s Plan for Change.

A Catalyst for Economic and Environmental Progress

Aviation Minister Mike Kane highlighted the broader impact of the mandate: “Alongside our broader initiatives to build a robust domestic SAF industry, this policy will create thousands of high-skilled jobs across the UK, fuel economic growth, and strengthen our status as a clean energy superpower.”