28 October 2024
On 24 October 2024, ISCC hosted its 14th Regional Stakeholder Meeting in Jakarta with over 100 participants onsite and 90 online participants. Discussions covered key topics such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and strategies to tackle the mislabeling of waste and residue feedstocks. The meeting opened with Andreas Feige, Managing Director of ISCC, who highlighted a 15% global growth in valid ISCC certificates. While Southeast Asia showed significant numbers, a deeper analysis revealed that this growth was driven by one ISCC’s requirements to strengthen the certification system for waste and residue points of origin. There has been little to no market growth compared to other regions and this represents an opportunity for action-taking in the Southeast Asian region. Additionally, the expansion of the ISCC EU and PLUS systems was discussed, in particular the certification of Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs) and forest biomass. Official recognition from the European Commission for these standards is still pending but expected soon.
Kristina Nenov, Senior System Manager at ISCC, introduced TYC Connect, fully compliant with both the Union Database (UDB) and ISCC requirements. It enables easy setup, data uploads, and integration with the ISCC Mobile App. It enhances data management, mass balance tracking, and transaction processing, supporting ISCC EU and PLUS certifications. By streamlining compliance, TYC Connect addresses practical challenges and strengthens transparency within ISCC’s efforts.
Matt Blackmore, Senior Project Manager at ISCC, spoke about the mislabeling of waste and residue feedstocks, a problem that threatens particularly the biofuels market. Whether intentional or unintentional, mislabeling is often driven by financial incentives and undermines market integrity. ISCC’s strategy includes inviting market experts for workshops and engaging with service providers to develop a market risk warning system that alerts certification bodies (CBs) and auditors to potential risks. Additionally, a consortium is working to standardise chemical analysis methods for detection. Matt emphasised the proactive steps ISCC is taking: “The next stage is to turn this into a project to develop further. The action side of this for us is how this enables us to conduct additional audits and workshops. So, more opportunities for you to get involved. Talk to us about the problems you see in the market so that we can continue to strengthen ISCC’s response.” As mentioned before, TYC Connect contributes to preventing mislabeling by ensuring accurate data integration and seamless information flow, aligning with ISCC’s broader strategy of transparency and robust certification.
Talk to us about the problems you see in the market so that we can continue to strengthen ISCC’s response.
Flavia Raciti, System Manager at ISCC, underlined the importance of strong partnerships with Certification Bodies (CB) to maintain the integrity of ISCC certifications. Initiatives such as enhanced risk assessments and new task forces focused on risk management and mass balance aim to ensure compliance and accuracy. ISCC has taken proactive measures in Asia, including an ISCC EU workshop on audit quality improvement held in China in September 2024. This focus on robust audit processes complements TYC Connect’s integration capabilities, fostering collaborative frameworks to address systemic challenges, including efforts to reduce mislabeling, as highlighted by Matt.
Adam Kirby, System Manager at ISCC, presented on the rapid expansion of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) market, highlighting ISCC’s role in supporting this growth. He detailed how ISCC certifications are recognised under key frameworks such as ICAO CORSIA and the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, enabling airlines to meet sustainability targets while reducing emissions. Adam noted that ISCC is actively involved in pilot projects aimed at boosting SAF production, focusing on improving traceability, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and enhancing voluntary market engagement. A key innovation discussed was the ISCC Credit Transfer System, designed to ensure transparency and trust in SAF claims by enabling the transfer of sustainability claims across the supply chain, thereby enhancing the credibility of SAF initiatives in general.
Aleksandra Błazeusz, System Manager at ISCC, introduced the EUDR Add-On, which facilitates compliance with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation. The EUDR mandates that commodities be produced on deforestation-free land after December 2020, with full obligations expected to be enforced by December 2025, following a proposed 12-month phasing-in period. The EUDR Add-On integrates due diligence obligations, including risk assessment and traceability, ensuring that existing certification processes can adapt to new regulatory demands. Aleksandra advised companies to prepare early to meet these evolving requirements effectively.
The closing presentation, “Unlocking Untapped Potentials”, led by Andreas Feige and the ISCC/Meo team, summarised the themes explored throughout the event. It highlighted how ISCC’s integrated certification solutions are creating new market opportunities across sectors such as biofuels, SAF, and sustainable marine fuels (SMF). Key takeaways included the broad market reach of ISCC certifications spanning diverse industries such as food, feed, biofuels, and industrial applications, reflecting ISCC’s commitment to expanding global sustainability efforts. Andreas outlined a strategic vision for extending certification to include carbon credits and increasing engagement in markets like South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia, emphasising that innovative certification solutions can unlock new opportunities and enable companies to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment. The presentation encouraged industries to view certification not just as a compliance requirement, but as a catalyst for innovation and market expansion. Integrated tools like TYC Connect and the EUDR Add-On were highlighted as essential in meeting regulatory challenges and unlocking future growth.
Andreas concluded by addressing the ISCC sustainability platform: “So finally, we can talk about the ISCC sustainability platform which not just serves certification […] as we provide full transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain without revealing the data to everybody.”
The event concluded with the re-election of Dr Haskarlianus Pasang (Sinarmas) and Michael Chong (Neste) as co-chairs of the Southeast Asian committee. Their continued leadership will guide regional stakeholders towards shared sustainability goals, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the event. The final presentation reiterated the call to action, encouraging industries to use certification as a means to drive growth and seize new opportunities. Looking ahead, ISCC remains committed to supporting sustainability efforts across Southeast Asia and beyond, fostering a future where certification unlocks the full potential of sustainable practices.