Acer, Cathay Cargo, Dimerco join forces to reduce carbon emissions via SAF

Acer, Cathay Cargo and Dimerco Express Group are joining forces to reduce carbon emissions in aviation.

Acer announced Aug. 27 that it and its logistics provider Dimerco have signed an agreement to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use on Cathay Cargo’s flights, beginning from 2024.

Under Acer’s net-zero strategy is a commitment toward greener logistics, which the company will focus on to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

SAF is a type of biofuel made from plant or animal materials rather than fossil fuels, which can reduce aviation’s greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 80 percent.

The International Air Transport Association estimates that SAF could contribute around 65 percent of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to reach net zero by 2050.

The collaboration will be part of Cathay Pacific’s corporate SAF program that was launched in 2022 and one of the first of its kind in Asia.

“The agreement between Acer and Dimerco to support SAF is another advancement under our Earthion sustainability platform to tackle environmental challenges together with our supply-chain partners,” said Grace Liu, Acer’s corporate sustainability officer. “Net-zero emissions is a global consensus, and we are taking actions to reduce emissions across our entire product lifecycle—from manufacturing, production, to transportation.”

George Chiou, president of air freight for Dimerco Express Group, added, “We work closely with our customers to reduce freight-based carbon emissions. SAF stands out as a game-changer, slashing greenhouse-gas emissions up to 80 percent compared to fossil fuels. By joining forces with Acer and Cathay Cargo, we’re taking concrete action towards a more sustainable world.”

Tom Owen, Cathay’s director of cargo, said, “We are delighted to welcome Acer to our corporate SAF program through its partnership with Dimerco Express Group, which joined our program last year. We believe that partnerships such as this along the supply chain are essential if we are to achieve our own and the aviation industry’s stretching targets to decarbonize operations. We are ready to support all of our forwarder and shipper customers in achieving their own sustainability goals through the use of SAF, which is one of the most effective ways to contribute to the aviation industry’s transition to a greener future through the reduction of net emissions.”

Acer started leveraging biofuel solutions to reduce its sea-logistics emissions in 2022.