The RSB Sustainability Certification Scheme
Sustainability certification for biomaterials of all types
Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
Formation of the RSB
• Founded in 2007 as a multi-stakeholder initiative to develop sustainability criteria for bioenergy – Hosted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne
• Evolved into a broader set of criteria for bio-based materials, including biochemicals, bioplastics and biofuels.
• Over 120 organizations in 30 countries including members of the public, private and non-profit sectors.
• Now a Swiss-based Foundation with an independent board of directors
• Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland
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The Three Legged Stool of Sustainability
• Soil, Water & Air
• Conservation of Biodiversity, Deforestation
• Control of Wastes & Chemicals
• Carbon Emission Reductions*
• Bio-based Component*
Planet
• Worker Health & Safety
• Land & Water Rights People
• Rural Development
• Financial Sustainability Profit
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Based on attributional LCA modeling
IPCC (Tier 1) direct land-use change emissions factors
Ecoinvent database emissions factors for inputs
Co-production allocation by economic value
For biofuels, a global average fossil fuel baseline
Operator input data audited by third parties, across the supply chain
Full Lifecycle GHG Accounting
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Collaboration with and recognition of upstream certification schemes
• Standards recognition allows for areas of overlap between standards to be recognized, such that joint audits can be conducted with limited additional cost burden
• RSB will continue to work with other standards bodies to recognize overlapping certification criteria
In-process
Certification to the RSB Standard
• Independent 3rd party certification bodies.
• Risk management approach - secure and robust while remaining flexible for participating operators.
• Different chain of custody options: ID Preservation, Product Segregation, Mass Balance and Book & Claim.
• Group certification approach for multiple suppliers
Applicant
Keeping good bedfellows: The ISEAL Alliance
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International lenders and development banks are increasingly requesting sustainability assurances
Inter-American Development Bank Developed a “Biofuel Sustainability Scorecard” based on the RSB Standard
Lenders Seeking Sustainability Assurances
• European Union - Renewable Energy Directive (RED)
• United States - Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2)
• The California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
• Harmonization with the Social Label in Brazil
• On-going discussions with municipalities to put RSB certification into their procurement policies
• Commitments from Fortune 500 companies to source RSB certified materials
The RSB Goal: Access to Sustainable Markets
Agricultural and Industrial Certification
• Global Clean Energy
– 15,000 acre jatropha plantation, certified
– ~15,000 acres of camelina production, in certification process
• Dynamic Fuels
– 75 Million Gallon/year Renewable Diesel plant
– UCO, Animal Fat, Other fat/oil feedstocks
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Traditional and Novel Feedstocks
• Paterson Grain / Agrisoma – 100+ grain elevators in Canada
– Commercial acreage of Carinata in 2013
• Maple Ethanol
– Largest ethanol producer in Peru
– Most efficient sugarcane production in S. America, best-in-class GHG profile
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Building an aviation supply chain with a downstream partner
• KLM & SkyNRG partnership for weekly RSB-certified biojet flights between New York and Amsterdam
o RSB worked with SkyNRG to build a certified supply chain
• United Airlines and AltAir fuels partnership for 15 MMGY biofuels offtake, plant to be RSB certified
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Costs and Fees
– Audit Cost: Auditors can provide – based on a risk class approach
– Licensing Fee: Small license fee based on certified output
– Cost of compliance: Time commitment to prepare for audit, cost of complying with RSB requirements.
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Participants
14 Non-exhaustive List
Offices in US, Brazil and Europe
RSB Services Foundation
Suite 600, 1420 Spring Hill Road
McLean VA 22102
Matthew Rudolf
Director, Business Development, Americas
Email: [email protected]
www.rsbservices.org / www.rsb.org
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