Rolf Hogan, Executive Secretary
Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
Sourcing responsibly for natural capital
using certification
Leaders for Nature Master Class 16 June, Diergaarde Blijdorp.
Getting it right!
1. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
2. The RSB Standard
3. RSB and natural capital
4. Biofuel to biomaterials and the bio-based economy
5. How RSB certification works
6. Beyond verification - additional benefits of certification
7. Choosing a ‘credible’ certification scheme?
Overivew of presentation
Biofuels: the promise
Biofuels: the social and environmental impact
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
2007 EPFL: WEF, UNCTAD, UNEP, Toyota, Shell, Petrobras, NWF, WWF
RSB stakeholders
120+ organizations from 30 countries including 30 NGOs
Governance
Chamber 1: Biomass producers (17)
Chamber 2: Biofuel producers (22)
Chamber 3: Biofuel blenders and users (10)
Chamber 3: Biofuel blenders and users
AeroMexico
Air China
Air France
Air New Zealand
British Airways
Cargolux
Cathay Pacific
Etihad Airways
GOL
JAL
KLM
Lufthansa
Quantas
SAS
United Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin America
Chamber 4: Trade Unions & NGOs (4)
COVERCO
Chamber 5: Social NGOs (6)
Chamber 6: Environmental NGOs (17)
Chamber 7: Government and academia (25)
II. The RSB Standard
Principles & Criteria
Guidelines on ESIA and Stakeholder EngagementPrinciples CriteriaLegality - Conform to national laws and international
agreements
Impact Assessment and Stakeholder Consultation
- Impact assessment & management plan- Free, Prior & Informed Consent, gender sensitive,
consensus-based- Business plan
Use of Technology, Inputs, & Management of Waste
- Information on use of technologies available- GMOs minimize risk & improve env / social
performance- Storage, use & disposal- Residues, wastes and byproducts
Principles & Criteria
Principles Criteria
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- 50% reduction over fossil fuels (EU: 35%)- Meet additional national requirements
Conservation [biodiversity]
- Conservation values of local, regional or global importance maintained/enhanced
- Ecosystem functions & services maintained/enhanced.
- Ecological corridors protected, restored or created to minimize fragmentation
- Prevent invasive species in adjacent areas
Principles & Criteria
Principles Criteria
Soil - Maintain / enhance soil physical, chemical, and biological conditions
Water - Respect rights of local & indigenous communities- Water management plan - Not deplete beyond replenishment capacities- Enhance / maintain water quality
Air - Air management plan – identify & minimize pollution emissions
- Avoid / eliminate open-air burning
Principles & Criteria
Principles Criteria
Human & Labor Rights
- Freedom of association, the right to organize, and the right to collectively bargain
- No slave labor - No child labor- Wages and working conditions respect laws and
international conventions - Occupational safety and health follow internationally-
recognized standards- Labor contracted through third parties
Principles & Criteria
Principles Criteria
Rural & Social Development
- Socioeconomic status of local stakeholders improved- Special measures to benefit and encourage
participation of women, youth, indigenous communities and the vulnerable
Local Food Security
- Assess and mitigate risks to food security- Enhance the local food security of directly affected
stakeholders
Land Rights - Informal and formal rights established- Free, Prior, and Informed Consent
III. RSB and Natural Capital
- Conservation values of local, regional or global importance maintained/enhanced
- Ecosystem functions & services maintained/enhanced.
- Ecological corridors protected, restored or created to minimize fragmentation
- Prevent invasive species in adjacent areas
Conservation - biodiversity
Water
Respect rights of local & indigenous communities
Water management plan
Not deplete beyond replenishment capacities
Enhance / maintain water quality
Soil
Maintain / enhance soil physical, chemical, and biological conditions
Air
Air management plan – identify & minimize pollution emissions
Avoid / eliminate open-air burning
Water, Soil, Air
Certification is an excellent tool but cannot address all sustainability issues
Mostly limited to site-level issues
Usually do not address cumulative impacts
RSB has some landscape approaches for water and food security
It also encourages participating operators to engage at landscape / national level to address sustainability
Beyond the fence – landscapes approaches
Bioscience and growing demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel is changing agriculture
Bio-based alternatives to energy and materials more mainstream
Plastics, pharmaceuticals, oil, lubricants, paints . . .
Bio-refinery model producing several food, energy and material outputs
IV. Biofuels to the Bio-based economy
Biomaterials
RSB Certification applies worldwide and to all products derived from biomass, including:o Biofuels and bioenergy
o Bio-chemicals
o Bio-plastics & Biopackaging
o Fiber
o Food additives
o …
V. How RSB Certification Works
Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials(Governance, Standard development)
Business Development Unit(marketing & implementation)
Accreditation Body
Certification Body
Certification Bodies Participating Operators
1. Application
2. Public comment
3. Contract certification body
4. Screening / risk assessment / Green house gas calculator
5. Desk review
6. Field audit
7. Certificate issued
8. Ongoing audits
The Certification process
Audit process for crop-based biofuels
Required Compliance
Feedstock Production
Trade/Transport
Feedstock Processing
Trade/Transport
Biofuel Production
Trade/Transport
Biofuel Blending
Trade Transport
Final Consumer
ENV/SOC GHG (LCA)
CoC
Primary benefit
3rd party verification of sustainability
Beyond verification
Build capacity on a range of sustainability issues
Effective mechanisms to manage and monitor performance on environmental and social
Identify and mitigate risks
Improve management systems
Strengthen supply chains
VI. Benefits of certification
Eastern Cape Provence
Moving South Africa forward towards oilseed certification
• “Presents a simplified structured approach to general business management including documentation of all the critical processes
• “Empowers the farmer to be in touch with the operations of his/her business and continuously track performance
• “Helps the farmer to continuously improve way of doing business which in itself creates sustainability”
Pilot project supported by NL Agency on 1000 hectares of maize and
soybean.
RSB Smallholder Program
Certification can help:
• Provide market access
• Enhance sustainable
production and efficiencies
• Promote cooperation
RSB Program:
• Field projects to support
certification & link to markets
• Engage business to source
from smallholders and create
incentives for certification
(UN SE4All)
VII. Choosing a ‘credible’ certification scheme
ISEAL Alliance
RSPO RTRSRSB
Bonsucro
ISCC NTA8080
2BSVs
REDCert Red TractorGreenergy Abengoa
Ensus SQC
Source: Searching for Sustainability: Comparative Analysis of Certification Schemes for Biomass Used for the Production of BiofuelsWWF Deutschland (2013), with support from the German Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection
• Means of verification:• Certification scheme A: country has
ratified ILO convention CO29 (1930) on forced labour (175 countries)
or• Certification scheme B: auditors conduct
stakeholder surveys and staff interviews to figure out cases of forced labour
– Impact on Cost
No forced labour on farms
+ R
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TN
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1. ISEAL Alliance member
2. Multi-stakeholder approach
3. Strong NGO support
4. Mission-driven organization
5. Realistic view of sustainability niche
What to look for
Getting it right!
Thank you!
For More Information
RSB Secretariathttp://www.rsb.org