Inside SHEIN and Lufthansa Cargo's Landmark SAF Commitment
SHEIN has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lufthansa Cargo to pursue a joint path towards low-carbon air freight.
The fast fashion giant has agreed alongside the cargo airline to explore the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), alongside wider measures that promote a shift toward lower-emission operations across air transport.
The MoU lays out a framework for collaboration, including a plan to adopt SAF-based offsetting solutions for SHEIN’s shipments within the next six months. Other objectives include using lower-carbon energy sources for transport and improving transparency around environmental performance.
Ethan Shen, General Manager of Global Fulfilment at SHEIN, explains: "Lufthansa Cargo has extensive experience in driving the adoption of SAF and will provide SHEIN with opportunities to adopt lower-carbon air cargo options.
“Through this partnership, we aim to pilot and gradually expand the use of SAF where feasible, while continuing to explore additional ways to reduce the carbon footprint across our delivery network.”
SAF's rising prominence in logistics
Sustainable aviation fuel is a liquid fuel made from renewable feedstocks. It serves as a direct substitute for conventional jet fuel but with lower lifecycle carbon emissions.
Lufthansa Cargo has committed to supplying SHEIN with SAF and will back this with certified documentation in the form of 'Proof of Sustainability' certificates built on third-party verified standards, recording the emissions saved when SAF is used instead of fossil-based aviation fuel.
The freight carrier is also contributing its experience in SAF procurement and deployment, sharing knowledge with SHEIN as part of a joint learning approach.
Both organisations have agreed to treat SAF not as a standalone solution, but as a single element of a wider carbon reduction effort across transport.
Ethan adds: "While the use of SAF is one step towards reducing our transportation and distribution emissions, we recognise it as part of a broader decarbonisation strategy that should also include optimising logistics, fleet efficiency and exploring other low-carbon solutions.”
The partnership reflects SHEIN’s intent to deal with emissions across its transport operations. While SHEIN is a digital retailer without its own air fleet, it relies heavily on air freight to deliver goods quickly from manufacturers to different markets.
Partnership includes data and traceability
Lufthansa Cargo CEO Ashwin Bhat underlines the broader purpose behind the agreement.
“Signing this memorandum with SHEIN represents Lufthansa Cargo´s commitment to implementing high-performance logistics solutions responsibly and with operational excellence,” he says. “It demonstrates the importance of concrete measures and reliable implementation in the international air freight business.”
“Together with all stakeholders within the supply chain, we are driving the development of more sustainable global supply chains in line with our purpose: Enabling Global Business."
Beyond SAF, the agreement includes cooperation on environmental reporting and operational data sharing.
The two companies have committed to exploring shared approaches to traceability, looking at how data can support measurable improvements in emissions and sustainability performance. This includes assessments of fleet efficiency and process quality – two areas that sit at the centre of the collaboration.
They will also examine knowledge-sharing initiatives, aiming to raise standards around sustainability reporting and low-carbon innovation in global logistics.
While SHEIN and Lufthansa Cargo's MoU does not set out mandatory emissions targets or binding commitments, it signals intent to trial new approaches and apply lessons from early projects across broader logistics operations.
