ISCC Certification Suite of Services

ISCC EU 

Does ISCC EU guarantee traceability? 

Yes, ISCC EU certification guarantees traceability of biofuels destined for the EU market along the whole supply chain in conformance with established ISCC standards. Certification to the ISCC EU standard proves the entire supply chain complies with legal requirements for biofuels/bioliquids in the EU and other important energy markets.

Is ISCC EU a voluntary certification? 

Any company seeking to sell biofuel or biofuel precursors into the EU is required to be certified to an EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) compliant scheme. ISCC is the largest and most developed voluntary scheme that meets the EU requirements.

Is ISCC EU certification only applicable for selling into the EU Market, or is it helpful in other markets, too? 

ISCC EU certification opens access to the EU market above all, but companies might find they can leverage this certification to access other markets. Worldwide, recognition of this certification continues to grow, with nearly 60,000 certificates across the globe. Technically, ISCC EU certification is only required to sell fuel or fuel precursors into the EU; others may choose to carry the certification to demonstrate a verified commitment to sustainability. 

How can ISCC EU certification provide value to a corporate brand?  

ISCC EU certification provides access to growing international markets for non-fossil-based materials and energy sources. It offers third-party verification of a company’s commitment to limiting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts, including labor and land use impacts. While many similar certifications can fall under either a sustainability or a compliance umbrella, ISCC EU is different as the certification addresses both sustainability and compliance within one standard framework. Companies that undergo this certification qualify for financial incentives by meeting EU sustainability criteria for biofuels targets. Additionally, certification opens the door to European markets that require compliance with EU legislation. 

ISCC Plus 

What is ISCC Plus?

ISCC PLUS certification addresses the following criteria: good agricultural practices to protect soil, water, and air; safe working conditions; compliance with human, labor, and land rights; good management practices; continuous improvement initiatives; and compliance with local and regional laws and international treaties. It maintains these requirements through the entire chain of custody from the producer of the raw material to the final brand owner.

What are some of the requirements of ISCC PLUS certification? 

ISCC PLUS is a sustainability certification program for biobased and circular (recycled) raw material feedstocks used in consumer goods, packaging, and industrial chemicals.  This wide range of materials also includes fuels and low carbon technologies. ISCC PLUS can be used for biofuels destined for Japan, the Canada Clean Fuels Regulations, and voluntary markets internationally.

Is ISCC PLUS compliant with the EU RED? 

Conformance with the ISCC PLUS standard is not a substitute for ISCC EU compliance. Unlike ISCC EU certification, which is specifically geared towards meeting EU regulations pertaining to transportation fuels, ISCC PLUS is a certification for non-regulated markets that fall outside of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and Fuel Quality Directive (FQD), such as Japan, Canada and the United States. ISCC PLUS expands upon the ISCC EU certification by including raw materials not covered in the RED and FQD regulatory requirements. Included in the list of acceptable products are bioplastics and mixed plastic wastes, chemicals, and agricultural raw materials used in food and animal feed.

ISCC CORSIA 

What is CORSIA?  

The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is a multi-stakeholder, global initiative set up to offset international aviation carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to help stabilize the global climate and reduce emission levels caused by airplanes. Per the CORSIA Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), the offsetting of CO2 emissions via adherence to this initiative can be achieved by airplane operators through the acquisition and cancellation of emissions units from the global carbon market. The CORSIA initiative was started in 2016 by member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Does ISCC CORSIA certification guarantee traceability? 

Yes, ISCC CORSIA certification guarantees traceability of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) destined for the global market along the whole supply chain in conformance with ISCC standards. Certification to the ISCC CORSIA standard proves that the entire supply chain complies with legal requirements for SAF in the international aviation fuel market.

Who should get ISCC CORSIA certified? 

Any operator who buys, sells, or produces materials destined for SAF production is eligible to apply for certification. ISCC CORSIA requires certification throughout the entire supply chain – from the production of raw materials (i.e., sugarcane, tallow, etc.) to the production and blending of the final fuel. Any entity taking legal ownership of the material is required to be certified to avoid a break in the chain of custody.

Does ISCC CORSIA certification allow access to book and claim registries? 

Yes, ISCC CORSIA certified fuels are recognized in the ISCC Credit Transfer System, RSB Book and Claim Platform, and other developing registries. These registries allow the decoupling of the sustainable attributes from the physical fuel, benefitting those operators who may not easily access sustainable supply chains.

ISCC CFC 

What is ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC)?  

The ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification (ISCC CFC) module enables certification of product carbon footprints (PCFs) for various products and value chains. It supports credible claims about improved carbon footprint performance through non-conventional feedstock or decarbonization measures. Certified PCF calculations under ISCC CFC must follow specific rules to ensure comparability and reproducibility. These requirements are detailed in the ISCC CFC System Document.

Who should get ISCC CFC certified? 

The ISCC CFC module applies to value chains with or without non-conventional feedstock, including bio, bio-circular, circular, and renewable feedstocks. It can be used alone or as a supplement to ISCC PLUS, and it can be used to quantify the carbon footprint for conventional materials that are not eligible for ISCC PLUS certification. 

While ISCC PLUS focuses on certifying non-conventional feedstock and tracing its origin, ISCC CFC exclusively certifies the PCF value and calculation. Using both allows users to make claims regarding both feedstock origin and PCF. 
 

For expanded list of FAQs, please click here. 

ISCC EU and ISCC Plus Certification Steps 

1. Apply for Certification 

Fill out an SCS Application form with preliminary details of your site and operation. SCS will return a proposal for your approval with a suggested scope of work, timeline and quote. To initiate the certification process, return a signed proposal and work order.

ISCC EU Form: English | Spanish | Chinese   

ISCC Plus Form: English | Spanish | Chinese  

2. Pre-Assessment (Optional) 

Review your current systems and practices against the requirements of the ISCC Standard in order to identify areas that may need further work before undertaking a full audit. Consider undertaking a pre-assessment with SCS. 

3. Register On-line 

SCS registers your company with ISCC’s on-line management system. 

4. Schedule an Audit 

SCS assigns an auditor and proposes audit dates. Once an audit date is confirmed, an audit plan is provided to ensure that your team is prepared. 

5. On-site Audit 

An on-site assessment of your operations is carried out to evaluate your compliance with the ISCC Standard. After the audit is completed, the SCS auditor provides you with an Audit Report that lists any non-conformities. You can discuss these findings and ask questions with the auditor at the closing meeting. 

6. 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. 

7. Make Certification Decision 

SCS reviews the Audit Report and Corrective Action documentation to make a certification decision. SCS can also provide  client marketing support. 

8. Receive Certificate 

For those who achieve certification, a final audit report and certificate is issued. A copy of the report is automatically sent to the ISCC. 

As one of the world’s leading ISCC certifiers, SCS has clients on every continent.

View SCS clients and certifications on ISCC's website.  

To view certifications by SCS, type "SCS" in the field at the top right of the certificate table, or in the field at the bottom of the table for “Issuing CB.”