• LATAM Cargo Colombia, Kuehne+Nagel, and The Elite Flower used over 130,800 litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) during the Valentine’s Day season, reducing lifecycle emissions by approximately 75 percent and cutting an estimated 300 metric tons of CO₂e.
• The SAF initiative offset emissions equivalent to eight B767 freighter flights transporting 469.8 tonnes of Colombian flowers (over 10 million stems) from Bogotá to Miami, demonstrating that sustainable practices can be integrated without affecting speed or reliability.
• This third consecutive collaborative effort highlights a scalable, results-driven model for decarbonising air cargo, emphasising partnership across logistics stakeholders and advancing progress toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

As emissions management becomes increasingly central to international trade, the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is emerging as a practical tool in the air transport of flowers, particularly during peak demand periods such as Valentine’s Day. In this context, LATAM Cargo Colombia, Kuehne+Nagel and The Elite Flower carried out their third consecutive joint initiative aimed at reducing transport-related emissions.

Through the allocation of more than 130,800 liters of SAF—featuring an attributed lifecycle emissions reduction factor of approximately 75%—and applying chain-of-custody methodologies, the companies achieved emissions reductions equivalent to eight B767 freighter flights transporting flowers on the Bogotá–Miami route during the season.

This effort resulted in an estimated reduction of 300 metric tons of CO₂e associated with Colombian flower exports during Valentine’s Day, one of the industry’s most significant commercial periods. Operationally, this reduction corresponds to the emissions associated with transporting 469.8 metric tons of flowers—more than 10 million stems moving through seasonal export flows.

The initiative builds on collaborative work initiated in previous years within the sector, reinforcing a partnership model focused on implementing measurable, results-driven solutions to manage emissions in air cargo transport.

“This agreement is rooted in a shared conviction: managing aviation industry emissions requires multiple solutions and, above all, collaboration. Together with our customers, we have taken another step toward more sustainable aviation by applying the environmental benefits of a SAF-based operation to the flower transport chain. This action demonstrates that emissions reduction can already be integrated alongside the speed and reliability of air freight—both critical for fresh products such as flowers,” said Cristina Oñate, VP of Sustainability and Product at LATAM Cargo Group.

Ana San Carlos, Sustainability Manager for Latin America at Kuehne+Nagel, added: “Collaborative engagement with our partners drives positive and innovative change in key industries such as perishables and air logistics, where reducing carbon emissions is essential. We are proud of our commitment to expanding this initiative year after year and to inspiring more stakeholders across Latin America and globally to continue advancing decarbonization efforts within their value chains.”

Álvaro Camacho, Logistics Manager at The Elite Flower, stated: “During the Valentine’s Day season, we export close to 40 million stems through LATAM Cargo—an operational challenge we undertake with a commitment to doing so more responsibly each year. Integrating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into our logistics chain enables us to reduce the carbon footprint of air transport without compromising the quality or timely delivery of our flowers. Initiatives like this reflect our contribution to a more sustainable floriculture industry, where operational efficiency and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.”

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) used in this agreement carries an attributed lifecycle CO₂e reduction factor of approximately 75% compared to conventional fossil-based jet fuel. The environmental attribute associated with this operation, under the “Book and Claim” methodology, corresponds to Neste MY SAF, produced from waste animal fats and subsequently blended with traditional jet fuel.

In a context of limited global SAF availability, agreements of this nature underscore the importance of collaboration among logistics value chain stakeholders as a practical pathway to progressively advance toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

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