Agreement covering 5.2 million litres of SAF highlights the growing intersection of sustainability, digital infrastructure, and next-generation air logistics
Google Cloud has joined Kuehne+Nagel’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programme in a strategic move aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its global air freight supply chain, further underlining the increasing role of the rapidly expanding cloud infrastructure sector in shaping the future of air cargo.
The agreement includes the procurement of 5.2 million litres of SAF, which is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12,600 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e). The initiative will serve as a pilot programme for deeper future collaboration between the two organisations as they work towards accelerating the adoption of lower-emission air freight solutions.
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Through its SAF programme, Kuehne+Nagel enables customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions associated with air transportation by investing in certified sustainable aviation fuel. The approach allows shippers to address indirect emissions generated across their logistics networks while supporting the wider aviation industry’s transition towards more sustainable energy sources.
Brian Stewart, Senior Director, Logistics at Google Cloud, highlighted that the collaboration forms part of the company’s broader commitment to building more sustainable supply chains.
“This agreement builds on Google Cloud’s ongoing work to reduce emissions across our logistics value chain and supports our broader sustainability goals,” Stewart said.
“By collaborating with Kuehne+Nagel, we can help advance the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and support the transition toward lower-emission air freight operations.”
The partnership also reflects a significant shift taking place within the global air cargo landscape as the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data-intensive technologies drives unprecedented investment in data centres and digital infrastructure.
The expansion of these facilities has created increasing demand for highly specialised logistics services capable of transporting high-value, sensitive, and time-critical equipment, including servers, semiconductors, networking hardware, and other advanced technology components.
Recognising this evolving market, Kuehne+Nagel introduced a dedicated logistics service for cloud computing-related cargo in 2024, providing tailored transport solutions designed to meet the unique requirements of the digital infrastructure sector.
Fabiano Piccinno, Global Head of Sustainability Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, emphasised the importance of collaboration between industry leaders in accelerating the transition towards more sustainable supply chains.
“As leaders in our respective industries, it is important to set a precedent by jointly driving sustainability. It demonstrates the importance of sustainability as a core business priority and as a foundation for strong partnerships,” Piccinno said.
The agreement between Google Cloud and Kuehne+Nagel demonstrates how sustainability is becoming a central factor in the development of next-generation logistics strategies. As cloud infrastructure continues to expand globally, the challenge of balancing rapid technological growth with environmental responsibility is expected to drive greater adoption of solutions such as SAF across the air cargo industry.
By combining advanced logistics expertise with sustainability initiatives, the partnership represents a broader trend where technology companies, freight forwarders, and airlines work together to accelerate decarbonisation while maintaining the speed and reliability required for global supply chains.
