Certification for sustainable
supply chains

Anyone wishing to produce or trade biofuels in the European Union must prove that they have been produced in an environmentally friendly manner – recognised sustainability certification is required by law for this purpose. It proves that the entire supply chain is sustainable in accordance with the RED III Directive. Electricity, heat and cooling generated from biomass must also provide proof of sustainability in accordance with RED III for certain markets, e.g. if subsidies or tax exemptions under the EEG, EU ETS or BEHG are to be claimed.

Legal basis

With the binding legal requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive (2023/2413 – RED III), biomass power and fuels are subject to the following sustainability criteria:

• Protection of biologically valuable areas
• Compliance with greenhouse gas emission limits
• Complete traceability

Companies along the production and value chain are obliged to meet these requirements and have them confirmed by independent certification.

With ISCC-EU and REDcert-EU, companies can demonstrate that they comply with the sustainability criteria for the production of biofuels required by the Renewable Energy Directive. Certification secures access to the European biofuel market.

The SURE-EU certification system also enables the creation of sustainability certificates for the electricity, heating and cooling markets, thereby opening the door to subsidies and tax exemptions.

Companies can demonstrate compliance with sustainability criteria in the use of biomass materials and in the food and feed industry through ISCC PLUS and REDcert² or REDcert² Chemistry certifications. Mass balance verification of recycled content is also possible in these voluntary systems. By adding additional optional modules such as the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions, testing in accordance with the SAI Gold Standard or the renunciation of GMOs, the certification process is tailored to the needs of the company and, upon successful completion, serves as proof of sustainable production – recognised by well-known national and international market participants.

Sustainable management of the value chain can certainly be understood as a ‘business case’: linking economic and social needs often opens up new business opportunities, such as increased efficiency or risk and cost reductions. Certification helps you to credibly demonstrate that sustainability criteria are being met. Specific requirements that are checked in the audits include:

• Sustainability requirements for cultivated biomass
• Deforestation-free supply chains
• Correct declaration of waste and residual materials
• Traceability via mass balance or physical segregation
• Supply chain documentation