Finland-based booking platform start-up Lygg is partnering with non-profit carbon mitigation company Compensate Foundation to counter unavoidable emissions.

The company acknowledges that the decarbonisation of the aviation sector is extremely challenging and yet inevitable. It will require all sorts of measures from technology and fuel innovations to disruptive changes in the whole ecosystem.

“The future will look totally different; it is crucial to cut not only emissions, but also micro particles and noise pollution," says co-founder and CEO Roope Kekäläinen. "The outcome is important to cities, the planet and people's wellbeing. Europe can be a catalyst for new sustainable electric aviation, and we can build a commuter-belt of short-range flights faster than anywhere else in the world. We are extremely proud that the acknowledged Compensate team is supporting us on our path towards our vision.”

Lygg is a smart mobility service developed by Flymaas Oy and launched in October last year. It offers its members decentralised, economical flights operated by EASA approved AOC holders from smaller airports and business terminals. It tested the concept last year with flights from Egelsbach airport in Frankfurt to Paris Le Bourget. The data collected from those flights is used for ongoing development of its smart app, to optimise dynamic routing and smart asset allocation, and ultimately a fast track for the commercialisation of clean technologies such as electric fixed-wing aircraft and eVTOL development.

Lygg's aim is to be emissions free by 2030, specifically cutting the carbon emissions of the short distance aviation sector and the target group of business travellers. It will minimise its environmental impact by using dynamic planning, smart asset allocation and overcompensating its carbon footprint with the help of its new partner.

Compensate is familiar with the challenges around different compensation schemes and is aware of potential market failures; it has created a stringent project evaluation with the support of a scientific advisory panel. Lygg trusts its overcompensation approach to ensure real climate impact; overcompensation ensures that more carbon dioxide is removed than the carbon footprint being compensated for.

"The climate crisis needs ambitious goals and actions in all areas," says Compensate ceo Elina Kajosaari. "Lygg's vision for a more sustainable travel service is a great example of the direction we need to take. We're very happy to provide our high-integrity offsetting to support Lygg's path in taking responsibility for the unavoidable emissions we cause."