Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)
Excellence in Biomass and Biofuel Certification
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Miguel Ruiz
What is Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)?
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) standard is the world’s most rigorous standard for sustainable fuels and materials made from biomass, wastes and residues, demonstrating to regulators, investors, communities, and society at large that your company is a leader in its pursuit of sustainable development. The RSB standard recognizes biomass and biofuel producers and processors who adhere to stringent social responsibility and environmental stewardship criteria, reaching well above minimum levels of compliance established in the 2009 and 2018 EU Renewable Energy Directive, ICAO CORSIA requirements, the Japan Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program and Environmental, Social and Governance guidelines globally. The RSB standard also provides a lifecycle greenhouse gas calculation and reporting framework for certified products allowing you to confidently report your climate action to stakeholders.
Why Choose SCS?
Benefit from our four decades of environmental and sustainability certification experience. As a global leader in third-party certification, we were among the first certification bodies approved to perform third-party assessments under RSB's due diligence process. Rely on our competitive rates, attentive service, and value to accomplish your biomass or biofuel certification needs. Once you’ve been approved through RSB, we help to streamline the process by providing you with a clear scope of work, timeline, and quote. And as an additional service, we can review the details of your project to identify factors leading to increases in risk class and potential non‐compliances with the RSB Principles and Criteria. SCS reviews your application, risk assessment and self-evaluation along with any specialist reports to identify gaps. All key factors leading to increased risk along with any potential non‐compliance will be delivered in a pre‐assessment report.
- Program Details
- Process
- Certified Clients
- Program Documents
Eligible Companies
RSB certification applies to the production, processing, conversion, trade and use of biomass and biofuels, and can be sought by feedstock and biofuel producers and processors, as well as biofuel blenders.
Certification Scope
Qualification for RSB certification involves assessment of conformance to criteria under the following principles:
- Legality
- Planning, Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Human and Labor Rights, Rural and Social Development
- Local Food Security
- Conservation
- Soil, Water, Air
- Use of Technology, Inputs, and Management of Waste
- Land Rights
- Chain of Custody
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Apply for Auditing
Fill out an application form on and submit it to the RSB System Operation Entity. In addition, use this tool to complete a self-risk assessment, which determines the risk class, as well as a self‐evaluation, which describes the degree of compliance with the RSB standard. Once your operation is approved through RSB, SCS will create a proposal for your approval with suggested scope of work, timeline and quote. To initiate the certification process, return a signed proposal and work order.
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Pre-Assessment: Optional
As an additional service, SCS can review the details of your project to identify factors leading to increases in risk class and potential non‐compliances with the RSB Principles and Criteria. SCS reviews your application, risk assessment and self-evaluation along with any specialist reports to identify gaps. All key factors leading to increased risk along with any potential non‐compliance will be delivered in a pre‐assessment report.
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Schedule an Audit
SCS assigns an auditor and audit dates are proposed. We develop a risk-based sampling plan, identify facilities to be visited, and submit an audit agenda/plan to you.
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On-site Audit
The SCS auditor evaluates your operation against the RSB Principles and Criteria in the RSB Standards. We review the self‐risk assessment and self-evaluation, if applicable, and conduct core verification activities. After the audit is completed, we provide you with an Audit Report that lists any non-conformities.
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Complete Corrective Actions
Identified non-conformities must be addressed and evidence of corrective actions provided to SCS within a specific time. In some circumstances it may be necessary for the auditor to return to the site to check that appropriate corrective action has been taken.
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Make Certification Decision
SCS reviews the Audit Report and Corrective Action documentation to make a certification decision. For those who achieve certification, a final audit report and certificate is issued for review to RSB. SCS can also provide client marketing support.
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RSB SOE Review of Certification
The RSB System Operating Entity (SOE) reviews the Certification Report and Certificate. Once accepted, the operator’s Public Summary of the Certification report and the Certificate become available to the public.
Below is a list of operators who are currently certified by SCS Global Services to the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) standards:
File Name | Document |
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Feedstock Specific Certifications with SCS | English | Spanish |
Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) | Visit Site |
RSB Standard | Visit Site |
Sustainable Low Carbon Fuel Services | English | Spanish |