Asia’s 1st ICAO-approved SAF-certification scheme enters full operation
Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), a nonprofit, nongovernmental ship-classification society based in Japan, announced Sept. 8 that the first certification has been issued under the “ClassNK Sustainable Certification Scheme,” the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) certification scheme operated by ClassNK.
This marks the entry into full-scale operation of ClassNK SCS, which in October 2024 became the first scheme in Asia to be approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
It is the world’s third and Asia’s first SAF-certification scheme and began operation in August 2025.
The certification was issued by Nippon Kaiji Kentei Quality Assurance Ltd. (N3KQA), acting as the certification body, to Kowanomori Co. Ltd. (Kowanomori), a lumber producer.
As a result, SAF-related economic operators now have a new option—demonstrated through an actual certification case—of obtaining SAF certification based on ClassNK SCS from a certification body in a manner suited to regional circumstances.
An environment is now in place to support the development of SAF supply chains in each region, from a certification standpoint.
Applications for certification under ClassNK SCS are being accepted on an ongoing basis.
In the international aviation sector, the reduction of carbon emissions is required under ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.
SAF can significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared with conventional jet fuel.
For SAF to be recognized as a CORSIA-eligible fuel, however, all economic operators subject to certification along the supply chain must obtain certification from a certification body operating under an SCS approved by ICAO.
As the first ICAO-approved SAF-certification scheme in Asia, ClassNK said it will continue to expand its network of certification bodies while leading the development of a certification framework for SAF in Asia and beyond.
Through these efforts, ClassNK will support the development of an international supply chain for CORSIA-eligible fuel and the expansion of SAF supply, contributing to the decarbonization of the international aviation sector.
