Fly more sustainably

Let’s make a difference. Let’s support climate protection together. Simply book your contribution with your next trip.

Ein Mann nutzt sein Smartphone und die persönliche Ablage in der Business Class mit Kopfhörern, einer Schale mit Nüssen und ein Wasserglas sind zu sehen. Auf dem Smartphone-Display sehen wir ein CO2 compensation Logo. // A man uses his smartphone and the personal tray in business class with headphones, a bowl of nuts and a glass of water can be seen. On the smartphone-screen we see the CO2 compensation logo.

Now fly more sustainably

Book your flight, and contribute to make flying more sustainable: with our offers you can make a contribution directly during the booking and make future Lufthansa Group flights more sustainable. Therefore, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is used to reduce your calculated flight-related CO2 emissions, and any remaining CO2 emissions are offset through contributions to climate protection projects. 

You can reduce the calculated CO2 emissions of completed flights at any time through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and offset any remaining CO2 emissions by contributing to climate protection projects. 

Contribute to make flying more sustainable from the moment you book and either offset the calculated CO2 emissions of future flights or reduce them in an innovative way by the contribution to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). 

Depending on your destination, you can contribute to make flying more sustainable either during the booking process or after you have already completed your journey by selecting a CO2-offsetting package. Alternatively, you have the option of choosing a so-called “green” tariff when selecting your fare. 

No matter which option you choose: Your choice makes a difference.

In order to travel more sustainably, Lufthansa generally offers you two basic options for offsetting your flight-related CO2 emissions:

  • Offsetting the calculated CO2 emissions of your flight by contributing to high-quality climate protection projects that offset your respective calculated CO2 emissions.
  • Reduction of the calculated CO2 emissions of your flight through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)*.

Lufthansa Group ensures that the measures for offsetting or reducing the corresponding CO₂ emissions will be implemented no later than 6 months after your flight.

Multiple options, one goal: fly more sustainably

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is not produced from fossil fuels, but rather from renewable energy sources, such as used cooking oils and fats or from agricultural waste. Compared to conventional kerosene, SAF saves at least 80% of greenhouse gas emissions across the whole value creation chain, and therefore immediately reduces your calculated flight-related CO₂ emissions.

The raw materials used to create SAF don’t take away from human or animal food, and are subject to strict sustainability criteria which are reviewed by independent auditors. Beyond regulatory SAF mandate, the Lufthansa Group buys and puts the SAF that forms part of its customer offers into its flight operations within six months after the respective flight.

The Lufthansa Group promotes climate protection projects around the world in collaboration with the providers myclimate, ClimatePartner, SQUAKE and climate Austria. These projects include the renaturation of moors in Germany, the introduction of energy-saving cookers for people in African countries, or technical solutions such as the storage of CO2 in concrete or pyrolytically produced fertiliser, so-called biochar. All projects ensure that, over the long term, CO2 emissions are either reduced or removed from the atmosphere. Climate protection projects outside of Europe are certified to the highest international standards: “Gold Standard” or “Plan Vivo”. The impact and quality of local European climate protection projects are ensured by the domestic standards, such as “MoorFutures” or the CH VER guidelines.

Thanks to your contribution, you not only help with climate protection, but you also contribute to improving biodiversity and creating better living conditions for local people.

Calculating  CO₂ emissions and climate impact

Calculating the flight-related CO₂ emissions per passenger

Burning kerosene in engines creates carbon dioxide, more commonly known as CO₂, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Lufthansa offers travellers the opportunity to reduce their flight-related CO₂ emissions by using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), or to offset them by contributing to high-quality climate protection projects.

The CO₂ emissions figure calculated per passenger is based on a number of influencing variables. In order to determine the most accurate value possible, the Lufthansa Group uses a calculator that was developed in collaboration with the climate protection organisation myclimate, and which has access to a large database of historical flight data. Some of the influencing variables used to calculate a CO₂ value per passenger include the flight route, the average fuel consumption along this route, the travel class and the seat occupancy rate.

Taking non-CO₂ effects into account

The greenhouse gas CO₂ isn’t the only type of emission to occur as a result of burning kerosene in engines; emissions such as water vapour, nitrogen oxides and very fine soot particles are also a consequence. These emissions are called non-CO₂ emissions.

According to the latest science, the overall impact of aviation on global warming isn’t limited to just the effect produced by the CO₂ emissions; the non-CO₂ emissions can also have an effect on the climate. The most significant in this respect are long-lasting vapour trails, which occur on a very low number of flights in very specific climatic conditions. These long-lasting vapour trails can have a warming or cooling effect on the atmosphere, depending on the conditions in which they occur.

At the moment, there isn’t enough research on the precise effect of non-CO₂ emissions on the climate. As a result, the Lufthansa Group doesn’t currently include non-CO₂ effects in its calculations on top of the CO₂ emissions calculated per passenger.

The Lufthansa Group is actively engaged in research that aims to form a better understanding of non-CO₂ effects on the climate, and is developing usable processes that will prevent them from occurring in the first place.

SAF questions and answers

Do you have any further questions about Sustainable Aviation Fuel?