ISCC EU, ISCC PLUS and ISCC CORSIA: how to promote sustainability by reducing emissions
Certifications in accordance with ISCC standards apply to the energy, food, feed and industrial applications sectors, with the aim of certifying sustainable products and materials. In fact, the key word behind the ISCC EU, ISCC PLUS and ISCC CORSIA certifications is sustainability: the sustainability of the ISCC consists in protecting forests, high-carbon soils and biodiversity, encouraging waste utilisation, promoting circularity and increasing traceability.
ISCC EU is a system approved by the European Commission for the certification of sustainable fuels and electricity production, according to the sustainability requirements and criteria for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) defined by the European Renewable Energy Directive.
ISCC PLUS is a voluntary scheme applicable to the bioeconomy and circular economy for food, feed, chemicals, plastics, packaging, textiles and renewable raw materials according to the sustainability requirements defined by ISCC. Thanks to the ISCC PLUS certification, products can be declared circular, bio-circular and renewable.
ISCC CORSIA (and ISCC CORSIA PLUS) is officially recognized by ICAO to demonstrate compliance with the sustainability criteria of eligible CORSIA fuels. CORSIA, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, is an emission mitigation tool to address the increase in total CO2 emissions from aviation and is the first global market-based measurement system (MBM) for an industrial sector.
The advantages of obtaining these certifications are:
After signing the contract with RINA, the organization must register with ISCC by filling out the registration form. Then we will organize the technical activities on the basis of documentary review, interview with the competent staff of the organization, on-site visit. If the audit is positive, RINA issues the certificate which is subject to an annual recertification. For ISCC EU and some high-risk organizations there is also the obligation to monitor in the first year of certification.
RINA has many years of experience in the field of sustainability and is accredited and recognized by accreditation bodies or owners of the main certification schemes in the food, sustainability and transport sectors. In addition, RINA has been recognized by ISCC System GmbH for the ISCC and certification of ISCC.
Yes, the ISCC scheme is based on the chain of custody approach and supply chain sustainability, which is why it is very important to identify and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while carrying out the work.
The updated list of add-ons can be found at the page dedicated. Add-ons are any additional elements or requirements that allow to extend the coverage or improve the quality of the certification system.
On the official ISCC website you can check the validity period of all ISCC certifications issued by certification bodies.
The ISCC EU has had its framework in the context of the European Union's policies related to renewable energy and environmental sustainability. To be precise, the RED II Directive was adopted in 2018 to update and strengthen the previous legislation on energy from renewable sources, introducing more stringent requirements for the sustainability of biofuels and bioliquids.
The ISCC PLUS is the extension of the ISCC standard, created to respond to growing demand for sustainability in the supply chains of raw materials and to ensure that the products obtained from these raw materials meet the sustainability standards required by the international market. The regulatory focus of the scheme falls on the Paris Agreement, the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.
The ISCC CORSIA/CORSIA PLUS was founded in 2013 with the aim of developing a global CO2 compensation mechanism for international aviation. It was developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and, after a series of implementation phases, the scheme as we know it today was reached.
