On this page you can find the most recent news from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). For more information and news please also consult RSB Newsletters, Bulletins and Annual Reports or the Bioenergy Wiki.

News:

May 22, 2013 – Call for Public Comments: Neste Oil

Neste Renewable Fuels Oy (nesteoil.com)
- Comment period closes 5 June 2013
Neste Renewable Fuels Oy will convert camelina oil to renewable jet fuel at the Porvoo Refinery, Finland.
Location/Region: Porvoo, Finland
Feedstock/Biofuel: Camelina to Renewable Jet Fuel

May 16, 2013 – New RSB Members: AgSri and Nippon Biodiesel Fuel

AgSri
AgSri is innovating, packaging, implementing and scaling farm-based technologies that are inherently farmer friendly and ecologically sustainable such as Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) and System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which have successfully demonstrated their potential to increase 10 percent yields per acre, is less expensive to farmers and uses less fertilizers. AgSri approach increases rural employment and converts the labour to more productive gains. Its crop and water management technologies impact soil fertility, water saving and climate change without any extra investments. Read More

Nippon Biodiesel Fuels Co. Ltd (NBF)
NBF Ltd is a japanese company specialised in production, importing and marketing of vegetable oils, biodiesel and printer ink solvents. NBF also conducts research and development on vegetable oils, cultivation of energy crops (jatropha), oils extraction and refining of energy crops, as well as marketing od derivative products related to trading of emissions quotas.
Read More

The RSB welcomes AgSri and NBF as members of RSB Chamber 1 and looks forward to a fruitful collaboration!

May 14, 2013 – Call for Public Comments: Amyris

Amyris Brasil Ltda.(www.amyris.com)

- Comment period closes 27 May 2013

Amyris applied its proprietary technologies to process sugarcane syrup into a biojet fuel intermediary component

Location/Region: Brotas, São Paulo, Brazil

Feedstock/Biofuel: Sugar Syrup to Renewable Jet Fuel

Please send any comments on Lanzatech to info@rsbservices.org before the close of the comment period.

April 19, 2013 – Summary Reports: Assembly of Delegates (March 18) and Board of Directors (March 19)

April 2, 2013 – Updated Standards

The first Annual Meeting of the RSB Assembly of Delegates and the first meeting of the RSB Board of Directors were held in Geneva on March 18 and 19, 2013. Summary reports will soon be published on the RSB website.

The Assembly of Delegates and Board of Directors approved updates of several standards and documents, including:

RSB Standard for Certification of Biofuels based on by-products and residues (RSB-STD-001-020)
RSB Standard on Requirements during the Start-up Phase (RSB-STD-80-001)

Link to RSB Sustainability Standards

March 1, 2013 – New RSB Member: INEOS Bio SA

Backed by decades of experience in developing and licensing industrial-scale technology, INEOS Bio creates more sustainable communities and transportation by converting waste and non-food crop biomass into advanced biofuel. The INEOS Bio bioenergy technology solution uses a flexible approach that is safe, fast and reliable, allowing it to be commercialized wherever there is waste. By taking this localized approach, INEOS Bio reduces landfill and air pollution, creates jobs, generates tax revenue and safely produces renewable fuel and clean energy. Read More

The RSB welcomes INEOS Bio as member of RSB Chamber 2 and looks forward to a fruitful collaboration!

Feb 27, 2013 – Dynamic Fuels and Piedmont Biofuels receive RSB Certification!

Dynamic Fuels is a joint-venture of Tyson Foods, Inc. and Syntroleum Corporation, and is a leading renewable diesel and biojet fuel supplier currently in operation globally. Dynamic Fuels is one of the preferred suppliers for KLM and SkyNRG and produces next-generation renewable, drop-in fuels from animal fats, greases, and vegetable oils that contribute to local energy independence and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Read More
Piedmont Biofuels (Pittsboro, North Carolina) collects used cooking oil from restaurants in the Research Triangle Park area and uses it to produce biodiesel that it sells locally through seven filling stations. Read More

The RSB congratulates Dynamic Fuels and Piedmont Biofuels for achieving RSB certification, therefore demonstrating their committment to environmentally and socially responsible biofuel production.

Next RSB Course for Auditors, Consultants and Business Representatives

As part of our training offer to auditors, consultants and business representatives, AB Training is organizing an Auditor Course on the Standards of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) from the 24th to the 26th of April, in Italy. This is a “blended” course, where trainees must complete an online course, which is followed by a “face-to-face” course at the end of April. Registrations are open until the 10th of March 2013.
For more details, please download the flyer for this course

Feb 1, 2013 – Announcing the first Annual General Assembly of Delegates

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels was officially established as an autonomous association under Swiss Law, as of January 1, 2013. The RSB is pleased to anounce its first Annual General Assembly of Delegates, to be held in Geneva on March 18, 2013. The RSB Assembly of Delegates is the highest authority of the RSB and decides on various issues such as standard development, members’ rights and duties and governance issues. The Annual General Assembly will be followed by a meeting of the RSB Board of Directors (March 19, 2013). Fore more information, please contact the RSB Secretariat (info@rsb.org).

RSB Bulletin – December 2012

The December 2012 issue of the RSB Bulletin keeps you informed about the latest activities of the RSB Secretariat.

Global Clean Energy Holdings (GCEH) earns RSB Sustainability Certification

November 2012. The RSB Services Foundation is pleased to announce that Global Clean Energy Holdings (GCEH) is the first biofuels feedstock producer to receive the RSB sustainability certification in North America. The RSB certification encompasses three of GCEH’s jatropha farms in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, all of which are owned and operated by GCEH. Currently the largest actively cultivated jatropha project in the Americas, GCEH’s completion of RSB certification offers tangible evidence that sustainable biofuel feedstocks can be produced at a large scale while adhering to ambitious social and environmental standards. The summary report of the audit is available here. You can also download the press release here.

John Slade Newest Team Member at RSB Services

November 2012. The RSB Services Foundation is pleased to announce that John Slade has joined the nonprofit organization as Regional Director for Business Development in North America. John has nearly 20 years of direct and indirect experience in the biofuels industry in North America and Asia. John has spent the majority of his career in the enzyme business working as a scientist and in a variety of business development positions in North America, Southeast Asia, India and Australia. John has extensive technical experience in the biotechnology sector and currently holds two biotechnology application patents. He is often quoted in a variety of technical journals, and is a frequent conference speaker on bio-energy. You can contact John directly here or download the press release here.

RSB Newsletter: October 2012 Issue published

The latest issue of the “RSB Newsletter “Biofuel for Thought” will take you through the latest news and developments from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels, including:

RSB Standards, e.g. Recognition of SAN Standard (Rainforest Alliance)
RSB Steering Board, e.g. Annual Meeting
RSB Certification
Projects
Stories from the RSB Community: LanzaTech

Maple Energy earns RSB Certification

October 2012. We are pleased to announce that two of the subsidiaries of Maple Energy PLC have received the RSB sustainability certification. The RSB certification applies to Maple Etanol S.R.L. and Maple Biocombustibles S.R.L. fields and facility in Piura, Peru. Maple Energy is producing ethanol from sugarcane in Piura. Maple Energy’s completion of RSB certification offers tangible evidence that sustainable biofuels are efficiently and economically produced at a large scale while adhering to ambitious social and environmental standards. Click here to see what Rex Canon, CEO of Maple Energy and Gloria Visconti, IDB Climate Lead Specialist have to say about the RSB certification. The public audit summary is also available to download here.

RSB Bulletin – September 2012

The September 2012 issue of the RSB Bulletin keeps you informed about the latest activities of the RSB Secretariat.

RSB Featured in Swiss Magazine

September 2012. Sébastien Haye of the RSB was interviewed for the most recent issue of Swiss Magazine. He discusses how RSB Standards guarantee that biofuels were produced in a sustainable manner, developments in the sustainable fuel arena, and more. Please click here to read the full article.

ISEAL Credibility Principles: Public Consultation

September 3, 2012. ISEAL is leading a global consultation to generate consensus on a set of Credibility Principles that represent the core values upon which effective standards are built. ISEAL is hoping to reach a wide array of stakeholders to help give input into the draft principles. Ultimately, this work will help raise the profile of all ISEAL members as the Credibility Principles reflect many of the concepts and actions inside the ISEAL Codes of Good Practice that your systems adhere to. The main link to this project is at: http://www.isealalliance.org/credibilityprinciples

RSB in “Branson on Biofuel” Interview

August 2012. In the latest issue of the IFC’s quarterly e-journal Handshake you can find the feature interview “Branson on Biofuel” in which Sir Richard Branson references how Virgin Atlantic is working with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels to require that the biofuels they purchase be certified sustainable.

RSB Member LanzaTech Named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer 2013

August 2012. The World Economic Forum announced today its latest selection of Technology Pioneers, consisting of 23 of the world’s most innovative technology start-ups. These industry-changing companies are being recognized for their potential to transform the future of business and society. LanzaTech, an RSB member, was named as one of the Technology Pioneers. More information can be found on LanzaTech’s website or at http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers.

Kingsman seminar on Biofuels Certification: Opportunities for Procurement and Trading

We are pleased to co-organize the Kingsman seminar “Biofuels Certification: Opportunities for Procurement and Trading”. The seminar will be hosted in Geneva on Thursday, October 4, 2012. Please click here for more information.

Now available: Translated versions of RSB standards

August 2012. The RSB Principles & Criteria are now also available in Spanish and Chinese. More standard documents and languages will follow soon.

“What Makes a Standard Credible?” – ISEAL Alliance interviews Sébastien Haye

August 2012. Sébastien Haye (RSB Acting Executive Secretary) was interviewed for the ISEAL Alliance regarding what makes a standard credible, on efficiency with other standards and RSB’s recent decision to recognize Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. The full interview can be found on the ISEAL website.

Publication of LIIB methodology (Version 0)

August 2012. We would like to announce the publication of the Low indirect impacts biofuels (LIIB) methodology, Version 0. The LIIB aims to differentiate biofuels with low risk of causing indirect impacts. It was developed by Ecofys, WWF international, EPFL and other partners.

EurObserv’ER Biofuels Barometer 2012 published

July 2012. The 2012 bilingual (English/French) EurObserv’ER Biofuels Barometer is available for free download. Key data for the European Union (EU-27):

Increase in EU biofuel consumption: +3% from 2010 to 2011 (+10.7% from 2009 to 2010)
Total EU biofuel consumption: 13.6 Mtoe (13.2 Mtoe in 2010)
Biodiesel share in European biofuel consumption: 78%

Report of the last RSB Steering Board meeting

July 2012. Publication of the Summary Report of the last RSB Steering Board meeting, held on June 12 and 13 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels recognizes Rainforest Alliance certified farms!

Lausanne, 26 June 2012. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) is pleased to announce its decision to recognize the standard of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), which is implemented by the Rainforest Alliance, to certify compliant farm operations. Read the news release.

RSB Article featured in G8 Publication

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels article entitled “Ensuring Biofuels Deliver on Their Promise of Sustainability” was featured in the May 2012 G8 publication from Camp David. Please click here to read the full article on the G8 website or see a PDF of the article.

RSB publishes report “Towards Sustainable Biofuels in Ethiopia”

May 2012. The general objective of the study “Towards Sustainable Biofuels in Ethiopia” is to understand the current regulatory context relevant to the biofuel sector in Ethiopia. A specific objective of the work was to analyze gaps in the current regulatory requirements of the country, against the criteria provided by the RSB. The study includes a number of recommendations to increase sustainable biofuel production in Ethiopia through the strengthening of relevant policies and regulations. View the full report.

RSB Services Foundation adds key team members

May 2012. The RSB Services Foundation is pleased to announce that it has added two team members. Dr. Melanie Williams joins RSB Services Foundation as Regional Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Helena Tavares Kennedy joins RSB Services Foundation as Director of Marketing and Communications. View the Press Release.

Dr. Jennifer Holmgren named newest Board Member of RSB Services Foundation

April 2012. The RSB Services Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr. Jennifer Holmgren is the newest Board member of RSB Services Foundation. Dr. Holmgren is the Chief Executive Officer of Lanzatech, a bio-fuel company recognized as a world-leader in energy innovation. View the Press Release.

RSB Services RSS news feed

April 2012. You can now subscribe to the RSB Services RSS news feed to be notified of new applicants and follow the due diligence process.

Public Consultation: The RSB Standard and Indirect Impacts

April 13–May 15, 2012: The RSB Secretariat is launching a Public Consultation on the issue of Indirect Impacts and we would love to hear from you on the subject. During the past three years, the RSB Secretariat, based at EPFL, has collected a considerable volume of information, data and knowledge about indirect impacts of biofuel production, thanks in part to the contribution of the RSB indirect impacts expert group (IIEG). It is now time for the RSB constituencies to decide on a way forward regarding a possible inclusion of indirect impacts in the RSB Standard. More information.

RSB Lead Auditor Training Program

A brand new RSB Lead Auditor Training Program was launched in March 2012, as a blended program, combining e-learning with face-to-face courses. The next face-to-face training sessions will take place on June 25-27, 2012 in Europe and on July 11-13, 2012 in Washington D.C.! For more information please see RSB Services news page.

First RSB Certificate issued

February 2012. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels is pleased to announce that the first RSB Certificate was delivered by NCSI to the Manildra Group (Ethanol production). Please see the official RSB press release for further information or download the public audit summary here.

Updated RSB GHG Tool

The updated and more user-friendly RSB GHG Tool went online in February 2012!

New publications of the BEFSCI project

February 2012. The following outputs of the FAO project Bioenergy and Food Security Criteria and Indicators (BEFSCI) have been published:

Smallholders in Global Bioenergy Value Chains and Certification;
Good environmental and socio-economic practices in agriculture and forestry;
Policy instruments to require or promote the aforementioned good practices;
Tools, methodologies and indicators to assess the impacts of bioenergy on food security;
and a web-based tool to assess potential risks and benefits for food security from agricultural investments.

New RSB Acting Executive Secretary

January 2012. The Steering Board of the RSB informs its Chamber members, partners and other RSB stakeholders that an administrative reorganization has taken place at the EPFL Energy Center, the host organization of the RSB, which led to a change in management within the RSB Secretariat. We congratulate Sébastien Haye for his appointment as Acting Executive Secretary and regret to see Alwin Kopse leave his function. The Steering Board thanks Alwin for his strong leadership and the great progress of the RSB during his term, and expresses its confidence that the RSB Secretariat will continue to maintain its momentum under Sébastien’s guidance.

New RSB Policy on end-of-life products and wastewater

On November 25 2011, the Steering Board held an important teleconference, during which the policy for biofuels produced out of end-of-life products (Municipal Solid Waste and Used Cooking Oil) and wastewater was approved:

RSB Certification recognized by the EU

On July 19, 2011 the European Union recognized the standards and certification system of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) as a way to demonstrate and document compliance with the EU biofuels mandate:

Full ISEAL Membership ofthe RSB

In June 2011, the RSB was accepted as a Full Member of the ISEAL Alliance! Through an independent evaluation process it was recognized that the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels complies with the ISEAL’s Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards. The RSB looks forward to closely collaborating with ISEAL as a Full Member.

News and Publications