Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We herewith inform you about updates and clarifications in the ISCC System. Please share this information with all relevant members of staff.

1. Clarification: Agricultural Crop Residues

We herewith clarify that according to the RED, agricultural (crop) residues are those residues “that are directly generated by agriculture”. “They do not include residues from related industries or processing”. This means, if, for instance, nut shells or corn cobs (cobs that are cleaned of the corn kernels) are directly removed from a field they would classify as agricultural (crop) residues. If the nut shells or corn cobs are generated in a processing unit (e.g. separating the kernels from the corn cobs) they would be classified as “processing residues”. It is the responsibility of the auditor to verify where the material is generated, i.e. directly on the field or during processing.

Please keep in mind, that processing residues do not need to comply with the sustainability requirements for sustainable cultivation of biomass. The certification process for processing residues starts with the point of origin, e.g. the processing unit separating the nuts from the shells or separating the kernels from the cobs.

2. Clarification: ISCC Logos and Claims

ISCC highly appreciates it if system users promote their ISCC certification by displaying the ISCC logo on products and publishing ISCC related claims.

Sometimes we become aware of cases where the ISCC guidelines for using the ISCC logo were not fully complied with. Kindly note that the ISCC logo can only be used

  • by certified system users holding a valid certificate, cooperating certification bodies, ISCC e.V. members or project-related partners,
  • if the system user does not act against the sustainability goals of ISCC ,
  • and if ISCC has explicitly approved the logo use for the requested application.

Please always consult ISCC before using the ISCC logo for external or internal communications or for on-product logos. After approval by ISCC we will send you a high-resolution file of the ISCC logo for the requested application.

In addition, we hereby emphasize, that the (round) ISCC seal, as provided on ISCC certificates, can exclusively be used by ISCC and on ISCC certificates. The use of the ISCC seal by any other party is strictly prohibited.

ISCC-related claims must always follow the provisions laid down in the ISCC Document 208 “Logos and Claims”. In addition, we highly recommend having any claims or statements with a direct reference to ISCC (e.g. including the name “ISCC”) checked by ISCC in advance.

Further information on the use of ISCC logos and claims can be found here on the ISCC website.

3. Update ISCC Documents

ISCC List of Materials Eligible for ISCC EU Certification

Table 1 “Raw material”

  • For bagasse, corn cobs, husks, nut shells, straw, the additional information in table 1 was amended to reflect the clarification under point 1 of this System Update

Table 2 “Intermediate and final products”

  • Palm kernel oil was added

ISCC List of Materials Eligible for ISCC PLUS Certification

ISCC has developed a new list of materials eligible for ISCC PLUS certification and thus provides a standardised terminology for ISCC PLUS certified materials. The list only applies to ISCC PLUS system users and certification bodies conducting ISCC PLUS audits. For system users from the biofuels sector supplying the EU market the ISCC EU list of materials remains applicable.

Please note that all materials on the ISCC EU list can also be certified under ISCC PLUS. Hence, the ISCC PLUS list exclusively covers materials that can only be certified according to the ISCC PLUS system.

Please note that the ISCC PLUS list of materials can be amended. Please contact ISCC in case a material should be certified which is not yet on the list prior to the issuance of the certificate via info@iscc-system.org.

The current versions of the ISCC EU and PLUS list of materials are available here in the client section of the ISCC website (login required).

ISCC Templates

1. ISCC PLUS Sustainability Declaration
In accordance with the ISCC PLUS list of materials, ISCC has updated the template for the ISCC PLUS Sustainability Declaration. The newest version (V2.4) now also contains the following information:

  • The required information whether a material is circular, bio-based or renewable
  • A checkbox for “multi-site credit transfer”
  • A checkbox for “ISCC Compliance”.

2. ISCC EU Proof of Sustainability (PoS)
ISCC has updated the (blue) ISCC EU PoS template (“Proof of Sustainability” – only for final biofuels). The date on which the final biofuel producer started the operation can now be reported on a voluntary basis.

All templates can be downloaded here in the client section of the ISCC website (login required). The use of the templates provided by ISCC is voluntary.

ISCC PLUS Document open to Public Consultation

ISCC has updated the ISCC PLUS System Document. The amendments mainly concern chapter 7 “Re-Use and Recycling in the Circular Economy” and chapter 9 “Traceability and Chain of Custody”.

The following topics are addressed:

  • ISCC PLUS material list (5.2)
  • Post-consumer and post-industrial material (7)
  • Types of products: bio-based, circular and renewable (9.1)
  • Mass balancing under ISCC PLUS (9.4.2)
  • Additives and non-sustainable organic content for mass balancing (9.4.4)

The Summary of Changes section (p. V-VI) provides a detailed overview of all changes. ISCC is keen to gather feedback from system users, certification bodies and interested third parties. For this reason, the ISCC PLUS System Document (version 3.2) is open to public consultation until 16 February 2020. Interested parties can download the document and submit their feedback here on the ISCC website.

4. ISCC PLUS Training – Bio-based and Circular Economy

Ocean pollution, plastic pollution, loss of biodiversity and climate change are global problems that receive increasing attention and need to be addressed urgently. Driven by policies such as the EU’s ‘Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy’ which address the need for more responsible handling of materials, products, wastes and residues, more and more innovative companies seek practical solutions that contribute to the development of the bio-based and circular economy. ISCC PLUS supports the circular and bio-based economy by offering a certification that promotes an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production.

More than 50 participants attended the first ISCC PLUS Training for the Circular and Bio-based Economy last year. The training was a great success which is also reflected in the development of ISCC PLUS: the number of valid ISCC PLUS certificates has increased by over 80% in 2019. Most of these certificates cover the circular and bio-based economy.

For those who missed the first training, the next ISCC PLUS Training on 17 – 18 March 2020 in Cologne is open for registration.

The 1.5-day ISCC PLUS Training covers in detail the certification of diverse supply chains, chain of custody options, mass balance and attribution options in the chemical and downstream industry, logos and claims, as well as the verification and audit processes for a successful certification. The training provides practical examples and case studies to allow an applied learning. ISCC experts will be available throughout the training for individual discussion.

You can find further information and register for the training on our website.