LATAM Cargo Colombia together with Kuehne+Nagel and The Elite Flower have carried out one of their largest joint sustainability initiatives during the Valentine’s Day flower export peak, allocating more than 130,800 liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and achieving emissions reductions equivalent to eight B767 freighter flights on the Bogotá–Miami route.

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.”