GKN Aerospace in Malaysia Signs Sustainable Aviation Fuel Agreement with DHL Express
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Oct. 23, 2023: GKN Aerospace in Malaysia has signed an agreement with DHL Express to enable the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through DHL’s GoGreen Plus service. The partnership is set to cut the carbon emissions of international shipments by 30 percent for GKN Aerospace’s engine repair facility in Johor.
Launched this year, DHL Express’s GoGreen Plus allows customers to effectively mitigate the environmental footprint of their supply chains through carbon insetting. The amount of SAF chosen is then blended with conventional jet fuel at the point of air transport to lower the release of CO2e and other greenhouse gases. SAF is currently the only scalable measure, given its unparalleled capacity for long-range flights.
The announcement today supports the delivery of Scope 3 reductions in line with GKN Aerospace’s commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
“It is GKN Aerospace’s mission to be the most trusted and sustainable partner in the sky,” said Derrick Cullen, chief manufacturing engineer at GKN Aerospace. “The adoption of SAF for our logistics needs in Malaysia represents a step in the right direction for sustainable aviation. Through DHL Express’s GoGreen Plus, we can demonstrate the viability of alternative fuel solutions and further encourage the market to scale.”
“We are delighted to collaborate with GKN Aerospace in Malaysia as we seek to decarbonize carbon-intensive sectors like aviation,” said Julian Neo, managing director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei. “SAF aptly addresses this challenge and it produces climate benefits in the immediate near term. As the world’s leading logistics provider, we are working at pace to promote SAF accessibility and affordability to help our customers realize their net-zero ambitions.”
GKN Aerospace’s Johor facility is a key resource for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft engine parts in Asia Pacific. According to Aviation Week’s 2023 Commercial Fleet and MRO Forecast, the region is projected to have the highest demand globally at 33 percent. SAF is therefore crucial to alleviating the environmental impact of this robust sector growth.
GoGreen Plus is made possible following two of the largest SAF deals with BP and Neste in 2022 to supply over 800 million liters to the DHL Express network. The strategic collaborations are expected to save approximately two million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the aviation fuel lifecycle— equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 400,000 passenger cars.
SAF is produced from sustainably sourced renewable waste and residue raw materials. In neat form and over the lifecycle, it significantly cuts emissions by up to 80 percent compared to conventional jet fuel. An independent third-party agency, Société Générale de Surveillance, verifies the reductions, which can be counted towards Scope 3 and Science Based Targets (SBTi).
GoGreen Plus is part of DHL Group's sustainability roadmap for 2030 and contributes to the interim target of having at least 30 percent of fuel requirements covered by sustainable fuels.
