United Airlines issued a press release on Wednesday announcing that the San Francisco 49ers are the first team in the NFL to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). With this transaction, the team joins United's Eco-Skies Alliance.

San Francisco Rush

United Airlines has announced that the San Francisco 49ers have purchased SAF to cover the team's flights involving this Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams.

SAF is considered a jet fuel alternative that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to over 80% on a "lifecycle basis". From production to use during flights, this fuel is known to be much more environmentally friendly. United's SAF is certified by an "independent third party, " having passed multiple sustainability tests. United notes that SAF is two to four times more costly than traditional jet fuel. 

United CEO Scott Kirby shared his thoughts in Wednesday's press release:

"SAF has the potential to be a powerful tool to help reduce carbon emissions from flying, but the industry is still in its infancy, supply is limited, and most people don't know what it is...We're proud to partner with like-minded organizations like the 49ers to demonstrate and elevate to a broader audience why it's important to support real solutions like SAF."

The 49ers are now part of the airline's Eco-Skies Alliance coalition, in which companies "share the green premium" to purchase SAF on behalf of the airline so it can use lower-emission fuels.

Since the program's launch in April 2021, companies have collectively purchased a total of almost 15 million gallons of SAF for use on United Airlines flights. This much fuel has led to a savings of over 250,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The companies currently part of the Eco-Skies Alliance include Nike, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, and Visa 

49ers Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer Brent Schoeb also had a statement to share on Wednesday:

"We are thrilled to join United's Eco-Skies Alliance, and take this important step towards reducing our carbon footprint...As the first NFL team to invest in SAF, this is a meaningful part of our commitment to more sustainable practices, and we're grateful to United for leading the way in this space."
 

Levi's Stadium, which is where the 49ers play their home games, was the first NFL stadium to earn a LEED Gold certification. The venue has been powering games, concerts, and other events using solar energy since 2013.

In 2023, United announced its plans to set a goal to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. United purchased more SAF than any other airline in that year.
 

SAF is also catching on to other sports organizations, and Formula 1 had also recently announced it's purchasing this eco-friendly fuel with the help of Eco-Skies Alliance company DHL. This fuel is being used for cargo planes, in which Formula 1 uses DHL to "book" the necessary amount of fuel for each flight.