Finnair has introduced a service, where its customers can offset the CO2 emissions of their flights by supporting a CO2 emission reduction project or reduce emissions by buying biofuel.
Push for change service is available on Finnair web pages and customers can also use Finnair Plus frequent flyer points to pay for the service. Finnair offsets the CO2 emissions of its own personnel’s duty travel through the CO2 emission reduction project.
”We want to offer the best solutions for responsible air travelers,” says Topi Manner, Finnair CEO. ”Aviation has several positive economic and social impacts, and it is important that we work hard to build a more responsible air travel. Many important products we use in our daily life are transported by air cargo, air connections enable international trade and maintain relations, and travel industry is a key source of income and employment for many countries.”
Finnair customers can choose to support a CO2 emission reduction project, which enables the use of more efficient cookstoves in Mozambique. Efficient cookstoves reduce charcoal consumption and deforestation. The payments are transferred to the project in full through NEFCO, the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation.
The offset charge is 1 euro for a return flight within Finland, 2 euros for a return flight within Europe, and 6 euros for a return intercontinental flight. The charges are based on the average emissions and the costs of reducing a CO2 ton within the project.
Customers can also choose to support biofuel flights. The use of biofuel reduces CO2 emissions by 60-80 percent depending on the raw material. Finnair customers can buy biofuel for 10, 20 or 65 euros, to reduce the emissions of a return flight in Finland, return flight within Europe or return intercontinental flight.
Finnair’s biofuel partner is SkyNRG, and the biofuel is produced from used cooking oil in California.
