Market Applications
Understand how ISCC Certification works for businesses operating different commodities for various markets
Choose the certification system
ISCC is a sustainability certification system for all feedstocks and markets. Depending on the market you would like to supply your sustainable material to, a certain certification system has to be chosen.
The core requirements of ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS are harmonised. With only one audit, two certificates can be issued to supply all markets!
ISCC PLUS | ISCC EU | ISCC Solid Biomass NL | ISCC Non-GMO | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Market/scope of application | Circular and bio-based products, renewables, food, feed, biofuels outside EU | Biofuels in EU | Energy | Food, feed, completely independent from the general ISCC certification on environmental, social and economic sustainability on farm level |
Seal | ||||
Recognition | Voluntary certification for non-regulated markets. Recognized by SAI, Unilever, CocaCola and Fefac1 | Recognised by the European Commission (EC) to demonstrate compliance with RED and FQD | Recognised by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat, EZK) | Compliance with thresholds according to EC regulation on genetically modified food and feed2 and alignment with EC Genetic Engineering Implementation Act3 |
Acceptance of other schemes | Only ISCC (ISCC certification of the whole upstream supply chain required).4 Acceptance of further schemes possible upon positive benchmarking | Acceptance of all national and VS that are recognised by the EC5 | Only ISCC (ISCC certification of the whole upstream supply chain required).4 Acceptance of further schemes possible upon positive benchmarking | VLOG |
Materials covered | All types of agricultural and forestry raw materials, waste and residues, biogas and algae, renewable feedstocks of non-biological origin (e.g. renewable energy from wind or water), bacteria and carbon capture and utilisation for transport purposes | All types of agricultural and forestry raw materials, waste and residues, biogas and algae | All types of agricultural and forestry raw materials, agricultural waste and processing residues | All types of agricultural materials |
Voluntary add-ons (see below) | Non-GMO, GHG emission, consumables, SAI Gold | Not applicable | Not applicable | Can easily be combined with sustainability certification requirements such as ISCC PLUS |
1 For further information see “Recognitions”
2 Regulation (EC) No. 1829/2003
3 §3a and 3b EG-GenTDurchfG
4 Exception applicable for SAI compliant material cultivated in Germany
5 For waste and residues, schemes are only accepted upon a positive benchmark. For further information see “Acceptance of other schemes”
ISCC DE
Germany was the first EU member state to implement certification for sustainable bioenergy production using voluntary certification systems. In this framework, ISCC DE was the first certification system being recognized by the German Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) in 2010 according to the German Sustainability Ordinances (Biokraft-NachV und BioSt-NachV). Companies selling biofuel on the German market were able to demonstrate with ISCC DE that the biofuel was produced sustainably.
In 2011 the European Commission recognized ISCC EU as one of the first sustainability certification schemes in the framework of the the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Since then, companies are able to demonstrate compliance with the sustainability requirements of the RED in all EU all member states by using ISCC EU, including Germany. ISCC DE certification is therefore no longer required to demonstrate compliance with the sustainability requirements on the German market.
ISCC voluntary add-ons
Additionally to the core requirements of ISCC PLUS, interested parties can choose from a set of voluntary add-ons. These add-ons are modules that either apply to the agricultural production area or to the whole supply chain:
- Add-on 202-03 – SAI Gold
ISCC PLUS has been determined equivalent to the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) FSA Silver level. To fulfil the requirements of the SAI FSA Gold level, a certain set of ISCC “minor must” criteria has to be fulfilled. - Add-on 205-01 – GHG Emission Requirements
Calculation methodology and verification of greenhouse gas emissions along the supply chain, including biomass production, conversion as well as transport and distribution. - Add-on 205-02 – Consumables
Calculation methodology of the amount of all relevant consumables (e.g. water, fuels, electricity) along the supply chain, including biomass production, conversion as well as transport and distribution. - Add-on 205-3 – Non GMO food/ feed
Requirements for the certification of crops not containing genetically modified organisms or for downstream Non GMO raw materials for the food and feed markets. - Add-on 205-04 – Non GMO technical markets
Requirements for the certification of crops claiming not to contain genetically modified organisms for technical markets.
Further information on the ISCC add-ons can be found within the ISCC PLUS section of the ISCC System Documents overview.