Biomass Certification Certification

Biomass certification is the common name for certifications showing that solid biomass fuels (wood pellets, wood chips, agricultural residues) come from sustainable sources and meet greenhouse-gas criteria. ISCC EU, SBP (Sustainable Biomass Program) and national schemes are used in this field.

• Wood pellet and briquette producers
• Biomass power plants and fuel suppliers
• Firms collecting and processing agricultural residues
• Those exporting solid biomass fuel to the EU

The scheme is voluntary; its outcome is required for incentives and target accounting. In the EU, biomass used in facilities above a certain capacity threshold must be proven to meet the sustainability criteria.

• Verifying the source of raw material and land-use criteria
• Sustainable-harvest and carbon-stock criteria for forest biomass
• The greenhouse-gas savings calculation
• Mass balance and traceability
• Issuing sustainability declarations
• Certification of the links in the chain

1. 1Application and Product DescriptionThe product family, model list, technical specifications and target market are determined. The applicable standard and certification route become clear at this step.
2. 2Technical File ReviewDesign documents, the bill of materials, critical-component certificates and the instructions for use are examined.
3. 3Product TestingThe tests the relevant standard requires are carried out. The test report is the fundamental basis for the certification decision.
4. 4Factory AuditIf the scheme requires it, the continuity of manufacturing and factory production control (FPC) are verified on site.
5. 5Issuing the Certificate and MarkingOnce conformity is verified, the certificate is issued; the marking rules for the product and packaging are applied.
6. 6Follow-up AuditsDepending on the scheme, periodic factory audits and/or follow-up testing on samples taken from the market are carried out.

The validity period varies by scheme: some product certificates are indefinite and rely on periodic factory audits, while some schemes (e.g. country market marks) require annual or per-shipment renewal. Every design change to the product requires the certificate to be reviewed.

• The list of product models and variants
• Technical drawings, diagrams and the bill of materials
• Certificates for critical components
• The instructions for use and a sample label
• Existing test reports, if any
• Production-site details

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of models and variants in the product family
• The test scope the applicable standard requires
• Whether a factory audit is required
• The number of target markets and whether each requires separate testing
• Whether existing test reports can be accepted

Product certification is carried out under ISO/IEC 17065; The tests that form the basis for certification are carried out in laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The two scopes are separate. Recognition between accreditation bodies is provided through IAF and ILAC agreements.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• ISCC EUBiofuel
• ISCC PLUSCircular/Bio-based
• Biofuel Certification
• FSC CoCForest Products
• PEFC CoCForest Products
• Chain of Custody
• RSPOPalm Oil
• Rainforest AllianceSustainable Agriculture