Aviation is responsible for around 12% of all transport related CO2 emissions. However, using their expertise in PGM chemistry and catalysis, Johnson Matthey have designed clever ways to make sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) from alternative feedstocks. Their FT CANS technology uses materials such as synthesis gas made from household waste, into synthetic crude oil which can be upgraded by refiners into SAF.

In January 2022, Johnson Matthey launched their HyCOgen technology which captures CO2 from existing emissions or from the air, and reacts it with zero-carbon 'green' hydrogen to generate syngas that can be turned into SAF.

The combination of these technologies creates an end-to-end, low-carbon process to make synthetic crude. As a result, Johnson Matthey are working toward reducing emissions emanating from aviation while simultaneously  diverting thousands of tonnes of waste from landfills every year.

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Decarbonising air travel