United launched the fund in February 2023, and it has since grown to include 22 corporate partners. The airline and its partners have committed more than $200 million to invest in companies working to decarbonize air travel. 

• READ MORE: Embraer Executive Jets Follows Up on Sustainability Targets

“Embraer is proud to join United Airlines Ventures’ Sustainable Flight Fund, which is aligned with our commitment to develop and support innovative solutions to address the growing need for a clean energy transition in aviation,” said Leonardo Garnica, head of corporate innovation at Embraer. “In a joint collaborative effort with our partners, we can accelerate large-scale SAF production as the aviation industry progresses toward the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.”

• READ MORE: Embraer Unveils Plans for Hybrid Electric, Hydrogen Electric Aircraft

The use of renewable energy sources can cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80 percent, Embraer said. Boosting the availability of SAF is among the company’s goals within its plan to reach carbon-neutral operations by 2040.

Embraer said the pursuit of sustainability remains a key part of its business strategy. The company has conducted flight tests using 100 percent neat SAF and is exploring new methods for accelerating development of zero-emission propulsion systems.

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United said the fund currently has more than $100 million in investments from the airline and its inaugural partners, including Air Canada, Boeing, GE Aerospace, Honeywell, and JPMorgan Chase. These and possibly other companies will use the fund to invest in startup companies, which United will identify, that are working on SAF production and technology, United said.

• READ MORE: Bell 505 Becomes First Single-Engine Helicopter To Fly Using SAF

United said that in the past two years it has invested in a number of SAF startups including Cemvita, Dimensional Energy, and NEXT Renewable Fuels.

The airline also introduced a program under which people who buy tickets using the United website or app will have the option to contribute to supplement United’s investment in the fund. The company said it will give 500 MileagePlus miles to the first 10,000 people who choose to contribute.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that reduces emissions of greenhouse gas compared with the use of conventional fuel alone. SAF, which currently is blended with conventional jet fuel to meet regulatory requirements for use in aircraft, is made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste. In the future, United said, SAF could be made from other feedstocks, including household trash or forest waste.

• READ MORE: United Airlines Completes First Passenger Flight Using 100 Percent SAF in One Tank

“Solving climate change is doable but it requires hard work and real leadership,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “This fund is unique. It’s not about offsets or things that are just greenwashing. Instead, we’re creating a system that drives investment to build a new industry around sustainable aviation fuel, essentially from scratch. That’s the only way we can actually decarbonize aviation.” 

United said that to date, it has invested in the future production of more than three billion gallons of SAF, which it said is “the most of any airline in the world.”

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