An NFL First: 49ers and United Airlines Launch SAF Pilot Project to Reduce Carbon Emissions from Air Travel
United Airlines and the San Francisco 49ers have announced a groundbreaking partnership, making the 49ers the first NFL team to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This initiative, part of United's Eco-Skies Alliance, aims to reduce carbon emissions from air travel. The 49ers have purchased enough SAF to cover their game-related flying from San Francisco to Los Angeles for an upcoming Sunday game.
SAF, an alternative to conventional jet fuel, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% on a lifecycle basis. United Airlines, committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 without relying on voluntary carbon offsets, leads the U.S. industry in SAF purchase and use. The partnership aligns with the 49ers' history of environmental stewardship, including their LEED Gold certified Levi's® Stadium and participation in the 'Faithful to the Planet' initiative.
United Airlines e i San Francisco 49ers hanno annunciato una partnership innovativa, rendendo i 49ers la prima squadra NFL ad acquistare carburante sostenibile per aviazione (SAF). Questa iniziativa, parte dell'Eco-Skies Alliance di United, mira a ridurre le emissioni di carbonio dei viaggi aerei. I 49ers hanno acquistato una quantità sufficiente di SAF per coprire i voli legati alle loro partite da San Francisco a Los Angeles per una prossima partita di domenica.
Il SAF, un'alternativa al carburante jet convenzionale, può ridurre le emissioni di gas serra fino all'85% su base di ciclo di vita. United Airlines, impegnata a raggiungere zero emissioni di gas serra entro il 2050 senza fare affidamento su compensazioni volontarie di carbonio, guida l'industria statunitense nell'acquisto e utilizzo di SAF. La partnership si allinea con la storia di gestione ambientale dei 49ers, incluso il loro Levi's® Stadium certificato LEED Gold e la partecipazione all'iniziativa 'Faithful to the Planet'.
United Airlines y los San Francisco 49ers han anunciado una asociación innovadora, convirtiendo a los 49ers en el primer equipo de la NFL en comprar combustible de aviación sostenible (SAF). Esta iniciativa, parte de la Eco-Skies Alliance de United, tiene como objetivo reducir las emisiones de carbono en los viajes aéreos. Los 49ers han adquirido suficiente SAF para cubrir sus vuelos relacionados con los juegos de San Francisco a Los Ángeles para un próximo partido de domingo.
El SAF, una alternativa al combustible de jet convencional, puede reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en hasta un 85% a lo largo de su ciclo de vida. United Airlines, comprometida a alcanzar cero emisiones netas de gases de efecto invernadero para 2050 sin depender de compensaciones voluntarias de carbono, lidera la industria estadounidense en la compra y uso de SAF. La asociación se alinea con la historia de responsabilidad ambiental de los 49ers, incluido su Levi's® Stadium certificado LEED Gold y la participación en la iniciativa 'Faithful to the Planet'.
유나이티드 항공과 샌프란시스코 49ers가 혁신적인 파트너십을 발표하며, 49ers를 지속 가능한 항공 연료(SAF)를 구매한 첫 NFL 팀으로 만들었습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 유나이티드의 Eco-Skies Alliance의 일환으로, 항공 여행에서 발생하는 이산화탄소 배출을 줄이는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 49ers는 다가오는 일요일 게임을 위해 샌프란시스코에서 로스앤젤레스로의 비행에 충분한 SAF를 구매했습니다.
SAF는 기존 항공 연료의 대안으로 전체 생애 주기에 걸쳐 온실가스 배출을 최대 85%까지 줄일 수 있습니다. 2050년까지 자발적인 탄소 상쇄에 의존하지 않고 제로 이산화탄소 배출 달성을 목표로 하는 유나이티드 항공은 SAF 구매 및 사용에서 미국 산업을 선도하고 있습니다. 이 파트너십은 LEED Gold 인증을 받은 레비스® 스타디움과 'Faithful to the Planet' 이니셔티브 참여를 포함한 49ers의 환경 관리 역사와 일치합니다.
United Airlines et les San Francisco 49ers ont annoncé un partenariat révolutionnaire, faisant des 49ers la première équipe de la NFL à acheter du carburant d'aviation durable (SAF). Cette initiative, dans le cadre de l'Eco-Skies Alliance de United, vise à réduire les émissions de carbone liées aux voyages aériens. Les 49ers ont acheté suffisamment de SAF pour couvrir leurs vols liés aux matchs entre San Francisco et Los Angeles pour un prochain match de dimanche.
Le SAF, une alternative au carburant d'aviation traditionnel, peut réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre jusqu'à 85% sur la base du cycle de vie. United Airlines, engagée à atteindre des émissions nettes nulles de gaz à effet de serre d'ici 2050 sans compter sur des compensations volontaires de carbone, est le leader de l'industrie américaine en matière d'achat et d'utilisation de SAF. Le partenariat s'inscrit dans l'histoire de responsabilité environnementale des 49ers, y compris leur stade Levi's® certifié LEED Or et leur participation à l'initiative 'Faithful to the Planet'.
United Airlines und die San Francisco 49ers haben eine bahnbrechende Partnerschaft angekündigt, die die 49ers zum ersten NFL-Team macht, das nachhaltigen Flugkraftstoff (SAF) kauft. Diese Initiative, Teil der Eco-Skies Alliance von United, hat das Ziel, die Kohlenstoffemissionen des Flugreisens zu reduzieren. Die 49ers haben genügend SAF gekauft, um ihre spielebezogenen Flüge von San Francisco nach Los Angeles für ein bevorstehendes Sonntagsspiel abzudecken.
SAF, eine Alternative zu herkömmlichem Jetkraftstoff, kann die Treibhausgasemissionen um bis zu 85% über den Lebenszyklus reduzieren. United Airlines, das sich verpflichtet hat, bis 2050 Netto-Null-Treibhausgasemissionen zu erreichen, ohne sich auf freiwillige Kohlenstoffkompensationen zu verlassen, führt die US-Industrie in Bezug auf den Kauf und die Nutzung von SAF an. Die Partnerschaft passt zur umweltbewussten Geschichte der 49ers, einschließlich ihres LEED Gold-zertifizierten Levi's® Stadions und der Teilnahme an der Initiative 'Faithful to the Planet'.
- United Airlines leads U.S. industry in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) purchase and use
- Partnership with 49ers may increase awareness and adoption of SAF in sports industry
- Alignment with United's goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 without relying on voluntary carbon offsets
- SAF industry is still in its infancy with supply
- Potential higher costs associated with SAF compared to conventional jet fuel
Insights
The 49ers' partnership with United Airlines to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) marks a significant step in professional sports' commitment to environmental sustainability. This initiative could potentially reduce the team's air travel emissions by up to
The move's true value lies in its potential to raise awareness and set a precedent for other NFL teams and sports organizations. If widely adopted, it could drive increased demand for SAF, potentially accelerating its development and reducing costs. However, challenges remain, including SAF supply and higher production costs compared to conventional jet fuel.
While this is a positive step, investors should be cautious about overestimating its immediate financial impact on either United or the 49ers. The long-term implications for brand value and potential regulatory compliance could be more significant, but are difficult to quantify at this stage.
This partnership between the 49ers and United Airlines represents a novel approach to corporate social responsibility in professional sports. By becoming the first NFL team to invest in SAF, the 49ers are positioning themselves as environmental leaders in a league that has historically been slow to adopt green initiatives.
From a business perspective, this move could enhance the 49ers' brand value, potentially attracting environmentally conscious fans and sponsors. It aligns well with their existing sustainability efforts, such as Levi's Stadium's LEED Gold certification and the Faithful to the Planet initiative.
However, the financial implications are likely minimal in the short term. The cost of SAF is significantly higher than conventional jet fuel, which could impact operational expenses if expanded. The real value lies in the potential for long-term brand building and staying ahead of possible future regulations on carbon emissions in sports.
For United, this partnership could help drive adoption of SAF among high-profile clients, potentially leading to increased demand and economies of scale in SAF production.
In joining United's Eco-Skies Alliance, the 49ers are the first NFL team to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in an effort to reduce emissions
SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to
United was the first airline to create a goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050, without relying on voluntary carbon offsets, and remains a
"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," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "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 have a strong history of leading community-based initiatives and environmental stewardship in
"We are thrilled to join United's Eco-Skies Alliance, and take this important step towards reducing our carbon footprint," said Brent Schoeb, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer for the 49ers. "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."
About United's Eco-Skies Alliance
As a result of purchasing SAF, the 49ers joined United's Eco-Skies AllianceSM, an innovative program designed for participating companies to work together to share the "green premium" or the cost associated with purchasing lower emission fuels – SAF is 2x to 4x more expensive than traditional jet fuel.
The Eco-Skies Alliance program was launched in April 2021 and has collectively contributed toward the purchase of nearly 15 million gallons of SAF. With its up to
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This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to, among other things, plans and projections regarding the company's environmental, social or governance (ESG) goals, targets, commitments, strategies and initiatives and related business and stakeholder impacts. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on historical performance and current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future financial results, plans, objectives, goals, targets, commitments, strategies and initiatives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, known or unknown, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, plans, objectives, goals, targets, commitments, strategies and initiatives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, any failure to meet stated ESG goals, targets, commitments, strategies and initiatives in the time frame expected or at all as a result of many factors, including changing societal, market, competitive, regulatory or stakeholder expectations, and any delay or failure of any project to be fully developed or become operational or to produce sustainable aviation fuel or other ESG-related product in the amounts contemplated or at all. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect United's business and market, particularly those identified in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections in United's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Risks and uncertainties related to United's environmental compliance, climate commitments and climate strategy are further described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of United's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023—"We are subject to many forms of environmental regulation and liability as well as risks associated with climate change and may incur substantial costs as a result. In addition, failure to achieve or demonstrate progress towards our climate goals may expose us to liability and reputational harm."
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