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A Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777 is loaded at Frankfurt Airport
Photo: Arne Dedert / dpa
The airline Lufthansa Cargo and the logistics service provider DB Schenker Cargo have organized what they say is the world's first climate-neutral cargo flight.
For the flight on November 29 from Frankfurt to Shanghai and back, all of the Boeing 777's needs were purchased as sustainably produced fuel.
Freight customers have to pay higher prices for CO2-neutral transport because the bio-fuel (SAF), which is primarily made from leftover food, is up to five times more expensive than conventional kerosene.
Lufthansa and DB Schenker are planning such a climate-neutral cargo flight to China every week from April 2021.
Lufthansa Cargo boss Peter Gerber said that the flight is promoting more research and the use of sustainable fuels.
The fuel used now is only a first step, which will be followed in the future by synthetically produced kerosene based on renewable electricity, water and CO2.
Biomass from vegetable and edible oils
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is currently mainly produced from biomass such as vegetable and edible oils that are no longer used.
According to the companies, a reforestation project will also offset the CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases that were generated during the production of the biomass, its processing and the transport of the SAF.
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bah / dpa