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ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) is a certification system that offers solutions for the implementation and certification of sustainable, deforestation-free and traceable supply chains of agricultural, forestry, waste and residue raw materials, non-bio renewables and recycled carbon materials and fuels. Independent third-party certification ensures compliance with high ecological and social sustainability requirements, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings, and traceability throughout the supply chain. ISCC can be applied globally in all markets, including the food, feed, chemical and energy markets.
For the biofuel and biomass sector, ISCC provides two closely related systems — ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS — that together cover biofuel markets inside and outside the European Union, as well as bioenergy applications. This article explains how each system applies to biomass and biofuel producers, refiners, traders and brand owners.
What ISCC Is and Why It Matters for Biofuel and Biomass
ISCC has been developed since 2006 through an open multi-stakeholder process involving representatives from agriculture, processing and refining industries, trade, and environmental and social NGOs. The interests of the different stakeholders are represented in the ISCC Association (ISCC e.V.). Today, ISCC is one of the world's leading certification systems.
ISCC operates different certification systems for different markets. These are ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS:
- ISCC EU is a certification system to demonstrate compliance with the legal sustainability requirements specified in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II.
- ISCC PLUS is a certification system for all markets and sectors not regulated by RED II, such as the food, feed or energy markets and for diverse industrial applications. Under ISCC PLUS, all types of agricultural and forestry raw materials, waste and residues, non-bio renewables and recycled carbon materials and fuels are covered.
ISCC offers a "One-Stop-Shop" solution, as the ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS schemes are widely harmonized. With only one audit an operation can obtain both an ISCC PLUS and an ISCC EU certification. The main criteria of the ISCC sustainability scheme are based on the RED II sustainability requirements, with additional sustainability requirements on environmental and social issues that go beyond legal requirements.
ISCC EU vs ISCC PLUS for the Bioenergy Sector
The distinction between the two systems is decisive for biofuel and biomass companies, because it determines which market a certified material can access and whether GHG emission verification is mandatory.
| Dimension | ISCC EU | ISCC PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Primary market | Biofuel markets in the EU | Biofuel markets outside EU and bioenergy, food, feed, chemicals / technical applications |
| Legal basis | Demonstrates compliance with RED II sustainability requirements | Voluntary certification standard for non-regulated markets |
| GHG emissions | Mandatory for all elements of the supply chain | Voluntary (add-on 205-01 "GHG Emissions") |
| Recognition | Passed preliminary assessment of the European Commission for formal recognition under RED II; accredited by ANSI; surveillance by German BLE | Voluntary standard; accredited by ANSI |
| EC reporting | Yes — annual reporting of sustainable material for producers of final biofuel and certified elements at the start of the supply chain | Not applicable |
Because the two schemes are harmonized, references made within the ISCC EU System Documents with regard to RED II requirements for sustainable fuels (for example biofuels, bioliquids or biomass fuels) also apply under ISCC PLUS for all other products. However, any obligatory regulatory requirements that are specific to the EU biofuels sector — such as the EU Reporting Obligation or the minimum GHG emission saving requirement — do not apply under ISCC PLUS.
Eligible Feedstocks: Biomass and Biofuel Categories
Under ISCC PLUS, all types of agricultural and forestry raw materials, bio wastes / residues and fossil materials contributing to the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy can be certified. The certification of materials not stated on the eligible material lists is potentially possible after consultation with and confirmation by ISCC.
At the beginning of the supply chain, ISCC PLUS certifies three raw material categories:
| Category | Description and examples |
|---|---|
| Bio feedstocks | Derived from virgin biomass — the biodegradable fraction of products from agriculture, forestry and related industries including fisheries and aquaculture (e.g. corn, sugarcane, rapeseed). |
| Circular feedstocks | Bio-circular: waste and residues of biological origin (e.g. used cooking oil / UCO, tall oil, food waste). Circular (incl. technical-circular): feedstock derived from mechanical and/or chemical processing of recyclable materials of non-biological origin (e.g. mixed plastic waste, waste textiles, end-of-life tires). |
| Renewable feedstocks | Materials of non-biological origin, derived from a process using renewable energy sources other than biomass (e.g. electricity). Renewable electricity can be proven via renewable energy obligations, power purchase agreements (PPAs) or a direct connection to a renewable electricity source. |
For advanced renewable fuels, ISCC also certifies feedstocks for renewable liquid and gaseous fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) and recycled carbon fuels (RCF) under dedicated system documents, with specific requirements for chain of custody and GHG saving methodologies.
Sustainability Requirements for Biomass Production
The ISCC sustainability requirements for farms and plantations comprise six sustainability principles. These apply equally under ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS:
- Protection of land with high biodiversity value or high carbon stock
- Environmentally responsible production to protect soil, water and air
- Safe working conditions
- Compliance with human, labour and land rights
- Compliance with laws and international treaties
- Good management practices and continuous improvement
A core safeguard for biomass is the protection of land with high biodiversity value or high carbon stock, which directly supports deforestation-free sourcing claims. ISCC does not accept any form of compensation or remuneration for breaches of system requirements.
Chain of Custody and Traceability
Within ISCC, two chain of custody options exist: physical segregation and mass balance. Additionally, under ISCC PLUS, controlled blending can be used as a third option.
- Physical segregation — sustainable and non-sustainable material are kept physically separate throughout all operations.
- Mass balance — sustainability characteristics remain assigned to batches of material on a bookkeeping basis while physical mixing is allowed. The maximum timeframe for a mass balance calculation is three months, and a mass balance must be site- and scope-specific.
- Controlled blending (ISCC PLUS only) — a planned blending regime resulting in constant and verifiable content of bio, circular and renewable feedstock in the final product, monitored via physical segregation and clear identification.
Deliveries of ISCC certified material must always be accompanied by the issuance of a sustainability declaration. The declaration must state, among other mandatory information, the raw material category, the chain of custody option applied, and the statement "ISCC Compliant". Under ISCC PLUS, the whole upstream supply chain up to the farm, plantation or point of origin must be entirely ISCC certified for a material to be claimed as "ISCC Compliant".
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and RED II
Under ISCC PLUS, the verification of GHG emissions is voluntary and can be added by applying the add-on 205-01 "GHG Emissions". If the add-on is applied, the ISCC EU System Document 205 applies. Under ISCC EU, by contrast, GHG emissions verification is mandatory for all elements of the supply chain.
When the GHG add-on is applied under ISCC PLUS, the GHG emission calculation can either cover the whole life cycle (cradle-to-grave) or only the emissions up to the factory gate (cradle-to-gate), and the approach used must be clearly highlighted on the sustainability declaration. Regional and individual GHG values for cultivation can also be calculated under ISCC PLUS.
The Certification Process
The structure and fundamentals of the ISCC PLUS system are outlined in the System Document ISCC PLUS 201 – System Basics, which describes the registration and certification processes along with the requirements for the issuance and validity of ISCC PLUS certificates. Certification is performed by Certification Bodies (CBs) that meet the requirements laid down in ISCC PLUS 103 – Requirements for Certification Bodies and Auditors.
A typical path for a biofuel or biomass company is:
- Select a Certification Body — choose an ISCC-recognized CB (accredited to the relevant ISCC requirements).
- Registration — register with ISCC and define the scopes and sites to be certified.
- Audit — a risk-based audit verifies sustainability requirements, traceability, chain of custody and (if applicable) GHG data. Warehouse sample audits may be conducted remotely where risk is lowest and documentation is fully verifiable.
- Certificate issuance — the CB issues the ISCC certificate; with one audit a company can obtain both ISCC PLUS and ISCC EU.
- Surveillance — ongoing surveillance audits maintain certification, supported by the ISCC Integrity Program that continuously monitors system users and CBs.
ISCC is transitioning to a new set of standalone ISCC PLUS System Documents. These new documents are valid now and will become mandatory from 1 January 2027, after an 18-month transition period during which both the current and new documents may be used.
Benefits for Biofuel and Biomass Companies
- Market access — ISCC EU opens EU biofuel markets under RED II; ISCC PLUS covers biofuel markets outside the EU and bioenergy applications.
- Deforestation-free proof — the high biodiversity value / high carbon stock principle supports credible no-deforestation claims.
- Full traceability — sustainability declarations and mass balance bookkeeping track sustainable material from farm or point of origin to final product.
- One audit, two certificates — the One-Stop-Shop approach minimizes duplication of effort and cost.
- Credibility — independent third-party certification backed by ANSI accreditation and the ISCC Integrity Program.
FAQ: ISCC for Biofuel and Biomass
The following are frequently asked questions about ISCC certification for the biofuel and biomass industry.
Q: What is the difference between ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS for biofuels?
A: ISCC EU demonstrates compliance with RED II sustainability requirements and is used for biofuel markets in the EU, where GHG verification and European Commission reporting are mandatory. ISCC PLUS is a voluntary standard for markets not regulated by RED II, covering biofuel markets outside the EU and bioenergy, food, feed and chemical applications, with GHG verification optional via an add-on. Because the schemes are harmonized, one audit can deliver both certificates.
Q: Which feedstocks are eligible for ISCC certification in the biofuel sector?
A: Under ISCC PLUS, all types of agricultural and forestry raw materials, waste and residues, non-bio renewables and recycled carbon materials and fuels can be certified. At the start of the supply chain, material falls into bio feedstocks (virgin biomass such as corn, sugarcane, rapeseed), circular feedstocks (bio-circular wastes like used cooking oil, tall oil and food waste, plus technical-circular streams like mixed plastic waste) and renewable feedstocks (derived using renewable electricity).
Q: Is greenhouse gas emission verification mandatory under ISCC?
A: Under ISCC EU, GHG emission verification is mandatory for all elements of the supply chain. Under ISCC PLUS, it is voluntary and is added through the add-on 205-01 "GHG Emissions"; when applied, the ISCC EU System Document 205 governs the calculation and verification methodology.
Q: How does chain of custody work under ISCC for biomass?
A: ISCC offers physical segregation and mass balance as chain of custody options, with controlled blending available additionally under ISCC PLUS. Under mass balance, sustainable characteristics are tracked on a bookkeeping basis with a maximum calculation timeframe of three months, and each site and scope requires its own mass balance. Every delivery must carry a sustainability declaration stating the raw material category and the chain of custody option used.
Q: Can one audit cover both ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS?
A: Yes. ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS are widely harmonized, and the One-Stop-Shop approach means a single audit can result in both an ISCC PLUS and an ISCC EU certificate. The main sustainability criteria are based on RED II requirements, with additional environmental and social requirements that go beyond legal obligations.
Q: Does ISCC require deforestation-free biomass sourcing?
A: ISCC applies strict rules for the conservation of valuable landscapes, including the protection of land with high biodiversity value or high carbon stock as the first of its six sustainability principles. The system also requires compliance with laws and international treaties, which supports deforestation-free and socially responsible biomass sourcing across the certified supply chain.
Conclusion
ISCC gives biofuel and biomass companies a globally recognized, independent framework for proving that their feedstocks are sustainable, deforestation-free and traceable. Whether a company serves the EU market through ISCC EU or operates in non-regulated markets through ISCC PLUS, the harmonized system, flexible chain-of-custody options and broad feedstock coverage make ISCC a practical choice for the energy transition. With one audit delivering both certificates, the path to credible sustainability claims has rarely been more efficient.
If you are planning ISCC certification for your biofuel or biomass operations, our team can help you map the right system, prepare documentation and select a recognized Certification Body. Contact us today for a free consultation.
References
- ISCC System GmbH. ISCC PLUS, Version 3.3, Valid from 31 August 2021.
- ISCC System GmbH. ISCC PLUS System – Structure and Overview of ISCC PLUS Documents, Version 1.2, Valid from 13 November 2025.
- ISCC Association (ISCC e.V.) — International Sustainability and Carbon Certification. https://www.iscc-system.org/
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