Alaska, CHOOOSE, RMI partner to advance SAF certificate use

Post by : Amit

Photo: Reuters

Seattle, WA — As the global aviation industry races to reduce its carbon footprint, a powerful new partnership is taking flight to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption more transparent, accountable, and scalable. Alaska Airlines, sustainability tech platform CHOOOSE, and climate think tank RMI (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute) have joined forces to streamline how Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificates (SAFc) are issued, tracked, and claimed.

At the heart of this collaboration is the SAFc Registry, a first-of-its-kind digital infrastructure developed by RMI that aims to bring clarity, trust, and verifiability to the growing SAF market — a crucial component in aviation’s path to net-zero.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is one of the most promising pathways to decarbonizing air travel. Produced from renewable resources like used cooking oil or plant waste, SAF can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.

However, because SAF is often blended with conventional fuel and used at a limited number of airports, tracking who gets credit for using it — and verifying its impact — has been a major challenge.

That’s where SAF certificates (SAFc) come in. Much like renewable energy credits in the power sector, SAFc allow companies and passengers to claim the emissions reductions from SAF even if they aren’t physically using it in their own flights — provided there is a transparent, traceable system in place.

RMI’s SAFc Registry is exactly that system. It serves as a neutral, publicly accessible digital ledger that records SAF certificate issuance, ownership transfers, and final retirement — ensuring no “double claiming” of emissions reductions and helping build trust across the aviation ecosystem.

By integrating this registry into CHOOOSE’s carbon platform — which powers climate programs for major airlines like Alaska, Air Canada, and others — the partnership brings both scale and usability. Travelers and corporate clients can now access verified SAFc transactions with just a few clicks.

Alaska Airlines is among the first U.S. carriers to tap into the SAFc Registry for its corporate and commercial sustainability programs. The airline has long touted its commitment to cleaner skies, but this move adds a layer of digital accountability to its emissions reduction efforts.
"We believe that transparency and credibility are essential to unlocking demand and trust in SAF," said Diana Birkett Rakow, Senior VP of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Alaska Airlines. “This registry helps us provide that transparency to our customers and corporate partners.”

While the SAF market is still emerging, demand is surging — especially among climate-conscious companies that want to reduce the carbon impact of their business travel and shipping. But many of these organizations have lacked a reliable, third-party system to track, verify, and report on their SAF claims.

This collaboration solves that pain point. By providing a centralized, independent system, the SAFc Registry — powered by CHOOOSE’s user-facing tools — opens the door for wider adoption of SAFc across airlines, freight companies, and even individual travelers.
Perhaps most importantly, the partnership promotes climate integrity — a growing concern in an era where corporate “greenwashing” has triggered skepticism and scrutiny.

By publicly documenting each SAFc from issuance to retirement, the registry brings much-needed clarity to the aviation climate conversation. It also aligns with global sustainability frameworks, including the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which emphasize emissions accountability and traceable reductions.

RMI has positioned the SAFc Registry as an open-access platform, inviting participation from other airlines, fuel suppliers, logistics firms, and regulatory agencies. The goal is to create a unified global standard for SAFc transactions — one that can evolve alongside the scaling of sustainable fuels.

With aviation accounting for nearly 3% of global CO₂ emissions, the clock is ticking. Innovations like this registry may not capture headlines like electric aircraft or hydrogen engines, but they play an essential role in building trust, driving adoption, and accelerating the shift to clean aviation.

Alaska Airlines, Aviation Fuel