ISCC - International Sustainability and Carbon Certification

The objectives of the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) system are to establish an international, practically viable, and transparent system for certifying biomass and bioenergy. With proper certification, ISCC can:

• Contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Promote sustainable use of land
• Promote traceability
• Protect natural biospheres
• Ensure social sustainability

Certification with the ISCC system helps producers take responsibility and reduces the risk of harmful ventures. It is also a reliable method that helps customers recognize the difference between sustainable and non-sustainable biofuel offerings.

TÜV Rheinland is certified by the German Ministry of Agriculture (BLE) to certify the sustainability of biofuels. We have local auditors around the world. By trusting in our experts, you give your customers peace of mind that they are getting the product they need and want to fulfill their carbon reduction goals.

With International Sustainability and Carbon Certification from TÜV Rheinland:

• You stand to improve your corporate image by demonstrating your company's commitment to producing and marketing sustainable home products
• Certification is not restricted to certain types of biomass, but covers all relevant materials
• All sorts of sectors apply, including agricultural producers, processors, trade, industry, NGOs, associations, research institutes, and authorities
• We provide a register of production sites, certificates, and declarations of conformity
• Businesses get more certainty of the sustainability of their products, also for issues related to social sustainability
• The ISCC system will be applied in increasingly global markets, which in turn facilitates trade of sustainable goods – both from the perspective of the consumer and manufacturer

TÜV Rheinland's experts adopt a three-tier approach to certifying the sustainability of your biofuel products:

Audit of Sustainability Criteria in the Field

• Verify land use and change of use with the help of databases and satellite imagery
• Check system documentation

Mass Balance Verification

• Accounting for incoming and outgoing flows of biomass
• Audit of the reliability and sustainability of the system

Calculation of Greenhouse Gas Savings

• Under the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (RED II), the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings thresholds have been strengthened compared to the earlier Directive 2009/28/EC. The directive requires a minimum of 65% GHG emission savings for biofuels and bioliquids produced in installations that started operation from 1 January 2021, and 70% for electricity, heating, and cooling from biomass fuels in installations starting operation from 2021, increasing to 80% for installations starting operation from 2026.

TÜV Rheinland offers the following services related to the ISCC system:

• Certification
• Diagnostics

The Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (RED II), which replaced the earlier Directive 2009/28/EC, serves as the basis for the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) system. It promotes the use of renewable energy and defines the framework for sustainability certification, including strengthened criteria for greenhouse gas savings, land use, and traceability.

Disclaimer: At TÜV Rheinland, the neutrality, objectivity, independency and impartiality of our activities are of utmost importance. Our assessment and audit activities follow these values in compliance with the applicable accreditation requirements. All the necessary structural, organizational and processual measures are in place in all levels of the organization in order to avoid conflicts of interest (e.g. rigorous separation of consultancy and certification) and to ensure impartiality. We do not offer or provide management system consultancy by an accredited certification body for management systems. Within the TR Group, we ensure a minimum 2-year interval between management system consultancy and certification activity for the same costumer.