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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US

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

Rolf.hogan@rsb.org

RSB Secretariathttp://www.rsb.org