LATAM Cargo Colombia, Kuehne+Nagel and The Elite Flower Deepen Their Sustainability Collaboration with One of Their Largest Joint SAF-Driven Emissions Reduction Initiatives
February 13, 2026
- The initiative involved the allocation of more than 130,800 liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by LATAM Cargo Colombia, with the associated environmental benefits attributed to this joint operation. This volume is equivalent to avoiding the emissions generated by approximately eight B767 freighter flights operating the Bogotá–Miami route during the Valentine’s Day season.
- The SAF used enables an estimated 75% reduction in emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, representing close to 300 metric tons of CO₂e. This reduction is calculated on a lifecycle basis, taking into account the full value chain of the fuel—from production and distribution to final use in aircraft operations.
- Implemented during one of the most critical export windows for the flower industry, this marks the third consecutive year in which companies across the sector have applied concrete solutions such as SAF through chain-of-custody methodologies.
February 13, 2026. As emissions management becomes increasingly central to international trade, the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is emerging as a practical tool in the air transport of flowers, particularly during peak demand periods such as Valentine’s Day. In this context, LATAM Cargo Colombia, Kuehne+Nagel and The Elite Flower carried out their third consecutive joint initiative aimed at reducing transport-related emissions.
Through the allocation of more than 130,800 liters of SAF—featuring an attributed lifecycle emissions reduction factor of approximately 75%—and applying chain-of-custody methodologies, the companies achieved emissions reductions equivalent to eight B767 freighter flights transporting flowers on the Bogotá–Miami route during the season.
This effort resulted in an estimated reduction of 300 metric tons of CO₂e associated with Colombian flower exports during Valentine’s Day, one of the industry’s most significant commercial periods. Operationally, this reduction corresponds to the emissions associated with transporting 469.8 metric tons of flowers—more than 10 million stems moving through seasonal export flows.
The initiative builds on collaborative work initiated in previous years within the sector, reinforcing a partnership model focused on implementing measurable, results-driven solutions to manage emissions in air cargo transport.
“This agreement is rooted in a shared conviction: managing aviation industry emissions requires multiple solutions and, above all, collaboration. Together with our customers, we have taken another step toward more sustainable aviation by applying the environmental benefits of a SAF-based operation to the flower transport chain. This action demonstrates that emissions reduction can already be integrated alongside the speed and reliability of air freight—both critical for fresh products such as flowers,” said Cristina Oñate, VP of Sustainability and Product at LATAM Cargo Group.
Ana San Carlos, Sustainability Manager for Latin America at Kuehne+Nagel, added: “Collaborative engagement with our partners drives positive and innovative change in key industries such as perishables and air logistics, where reducing carbon emissions is essential. We are proud of our commitment to expanding this initiative year after year and to inspiring more stakeholders across Latin America and globally to continue advancing decarbonization efforts within their value chains.”
Álvaro Camacho, Logistics Manager at The Elite Flower, stated: “During the Valentine’s Day season, we export close to 40 million stems through LATAM Cargo—an operational challenge we undertake with a commitment to doing so more responsibly each year. Integrating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into our logistics chain enables us to reduce the carbon footprint of air transport without compromising the quality or timely delivery of our flowers. Initiatives like this reflect our contribution to a more sustainable floriculture industry, where operational efficiency and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.”
The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) used in this agreement carries an attributed lifecycle CO₂e reduction factor of approximately 75% compared to conventional fossil-based jet fuel. The environmental attribute associated with this operation, under the “Book and Claim” methodology, corresponds to Neste MY SAF™, produced from waste animal fats and subsequently blended with traditional jet fuel.
In a context of limited global SAF availability, agreements of this nature underscore the importance of collaboration among logistics value chain stakeholders as a practical pathway to progressively advance toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
About Decarbonization Alternatives
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a type of aviation fuel derived from alternative feedstocks such as waste materials, fats and oils, among others.
As part of its climate strategy, the LATAM Group has defined four core action pillars: reducing emissions through operational efficiency and best practices; incorporating new technologies, including fleet renewal; transitioning to more sustainable fuels as availability increases; and, as a complementary measure, offsetting emissions with a focus on conserving high-value strategic ecosystems.
For detailed information on our calculation methodologies and the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), please visit the LATAM Sustainability Portal
ABOUT LATAM GROUP
LATAM and its affiliates form the leading airline group in Latin America, with a presence in five domestic markets across the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations within Latin America and to Europe, Oceania, the United States and the Caribbean.
The group operates a fleet that includes Boeing 767, 777 and 787 aircraft, as well as Airbus A321, A321neo, A320, A320neo and A319 models. LATAM Cargo Group, LATAM Cargo Colombia and LATAM Cargo Brasil are the group’s dedicated cargo subsidiaries. In addition to leveraging belly capacity on passenger aircraft operated by LATAM affiliates, they operate a combined fleet of 20 freighter aircraft.
These cargo subsidiaries operate across the LATAM network as well as on dedicated international freighter routes. They also provide modern infrastructure and a broad portfolio of specialized services and customer solutions designed to meet diverse logistics needs.
About Kuehne+Nagel
With approximately 85,000 employees across nearly 1,300 locations in close to 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world’s leading logistics providers. Headquartered in Switzerland, Kuehne+Nagel is listed on the Swiss blue-chip stock index (SMI).
The Group ranks number one globally in air and sea logistics and holds strong market positions in road logistics and contract logistics. Serving around 400,000 customers worldwide, Kuehne+Nagel leverages its global network, logistics expertise and data-driven insights to deliver end-to-end supply chain solutions across industries and markets.
About Elite Flower
Elite Flower’s history dates back to 1991, when floral industry pioneer Peter Hannaford planted several hectares of roses in Colombia with the support of his wife and family members.
Since then, Elite Flower has continued to drive innovation in automation, logistics and processing to ensure maximum freshness while upholding its sustainability commitments. Today, a team of floral experts leads Elite Flower in its continued growth as one of the world’s largest and most innovative floral organizations.