Envirotainer joins Cathay's SAF programme to cut carbon in pharma shipping

In a significant move toward decarbonising the global healthcare supply chain, Envirotainer, the world leader in secure cold chain solutions for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, has officially joined Cathay’s Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Programme. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for the air freight industry, specifically within the Asia Pacific region, as two industry giants align their environmental goals to address the complexities of Scope 3 emissions. The agreement centres on the integration of SAF into Cathay’s flight operations. Under the terms of the partnership, Envirotainer has committed to purchasing at least 100 tonnes of verified emissions reduction claims. This is roughly equivalent to 12,000 US gallons of SAF. While the physical fuel is utilised within Cathay’s network, the environmental benefits are officially attributed to Envirotainer, allowing the company to demonstrably reduce the carbon intensity of its global pharmaceutical shipments.

SAF is currently recognised as the most viable drop-in solution for the aviation sector. Produced from renewable waste-based feedstocks, including used cooking oil and household waste, it offers lifecycle carbon savings of more than 70% compared to conventional jet fuel. Its primary advantage lies in its compatibility; it requires no modifications to existing aircraft engines or airport infrastructure, though global supply remains a challenge that such corporate partnerships seek to rectify. The leadership teams of both organisations emphasised that sustainability is no longer an optional endeavour but a core business requirement.

“Reducing emissions across our supply chain isn’t a future ambition - it’s an immediate responsibility,” said Aymeric Chandavoine, Chief Executive Officer at Envirotainer. “This partnership with Cathay allows us to actively accelerate the use of sustainable aviation fuel, proving that you don’t have to choose between sustainability and the safe, reliable delivery of life-saving pharmaceuticals.”

“Asia Pacific is more than a key market for us - it’s a region of growing focus for sustainable pharmaceutical logistics,” said Kuntal Baveja, Regional President APAC at Envirotainer. “By joining Cathay’s Corporate SAF Programme, we’re taking a decisive step to reduce emissions at scale, while continuing to deliver the precision and performance our customers depend on.”

By utilising an industry-recognised attribution model, the Corporate SAF Programme enables companies to tackle indirect emissions associated with air freight and business travel. As Envirotainer continues to transport high-value, life-saving medicines across the globe, this partnership ensures that the growth of the pharmaceutical trade does not come at an unmanageable environmental cost. This collaborative approach is essential for scaling the production and availability of sustainable fuels in the long term, ultimately supporting the wider aviation industry's journey toward its net-zero goals through shared investment and innovation.

“We view sustainable aviation fuel as one of the most effective levers available today to support aviation’s decarbonization, but scaling it meaningfully requires more than just airlines’ efforts – it requires collaboration across the entire air cargo value chain,” said Cathay Director Cargo Dominic Perret. “Through our Corporate SAF Programme, we work with like-minded partners like Envirotainer to support the adoption of SAF, helping to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future for air cargo.”