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RSB’s first certified operator, Manildra Group, renews certificate for third time

The very first operator worldwide to achieve certification to the RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterial) Standard, Australian producer Shoalhaven Starches (part of the family-owned Australian Manildra Group) has recently completed their 3rd re-certification. Since 2012, Manildra have been producing RSB-certified ethanol from wheat processing residues and have continued to carry RSB Participant Code 00001.

For almost a decade, Manildra has maintained the highest commitment to sustainability, demonstrated via their continued certification to the RSB Standard. The certification requires Manildra to prove that their production of ethanol is being manufactured in an environmentally and socially responsible way — and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Manildra Group’s world-class seven column ethanol distillery is located at the Shoalhaven Starches manufacturing site in Nowra, New South Wales. Photo: Dean Holland

Supporting operators in Australia, RSB worked with the government of New South Wales to have the RSB Standard recognised in regional biofuel regulations.

Additionally, RSB’s approach is recognised widely as the most trusted, credible and practical certification for the bioeconomy, with support from NGOs including WWF, Blue Angel, NRDC and others. Certified operators are able to demonstrate that their operation is going beyond the principle of ‘do no harm’ to actively create positive outcomes for people and the planet.

RSB certified ethanol from Manildra is used in a range of applications from food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and personal care, industrial applications to transport fuels. To note, Manildra ethanol was also used in the production of hand sanitiser products to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Celebrating the re-certification of Manildra for another five years, RSB’s Executive Director, Elena Schmidt, said, “We are thrilled to see RSB’s first ever operator re-certified for another five years. Manildra’s continued commitment to RSB certification is a testament to their focus on sustainability in their community and operations. As true ‘pioneers’ of sustainability in the bioeconomy they have served to inspire and encourage others around the world to follow their example.”

Manildra Group Head of Ethanol Debbie Forster said, “It was an exceptional achievement to be the first ethanol plant in the world to be awarded the RSB certification, and this news of continued re-certification demonstrates our family-owned Australian businesses’ unwavering commitment to sustainability. Our certification is a great achievement for the bioeconomy as it demonstrates that ethanol can be produced in a way that not only dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions but ensures real positive social and environmental benefits. We are very proud to set the standard for truly sustainable ethanol production globally.”

Key benefits of RSB certification for Australian producers include:

  • RSB has worked with the Queensland government to produce indicators that benchmark and align local policy against the RSB Standard, identifying crossover and gaps, to reduce the time and efforts involved in attaining certification.
  • In New South Wales, the Biofuels Regulation (no 2) 2016 requires biofuels to be certified against the RSB Principles & Criteria or ISO 13065.
  • RSB’s risk-based approach means that you only have to prove compliance with the sustainability indicators that apply to you and your operations – for instance, in Australia many of the social indicators are already taken care of by national law.
  • Unlock new and emerging markets for your fuels globally as end-users seek the lowest-risk and most sustainable producers
  • Tie your operation to real climate impact and protection of Australia’s natural heritage

View Manildra Group’s RSB Certificate and Audit Summary Report.

Explore all RSB Certificates here.


About RSB

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) is an international, multi-stakeholder, independent organisation that supports the development of the global bioeconomy through sustainability solutions, certification, innovation and collaborative partnerships.

With credible solutions, global expertise, partners across the spectrum from government to industry and NGOs, and an extremely robust approach to sustainability, RSB is the partner of choice for the bioeconomy as it seeks to combat climate change while also ensuring social development and environmental protection.

About Manildra Group

Manildra Group commenced operations in 1952, when the Honan family purchased a flour mill in central west New South Wales town of Manildra. Since then, the company has evolved into a diverse agribusiness that brings the finest Australian food and industrial ingredients to the world. Manildra Group is Australia’s leading producer of ethanol – including a range of grades for food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and personal care, industrial applications, and transport fuels – as part of the innovative, integrated production process at Shoalhaven Starches site in Nowra, New South Wales.

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