As we head towards the end of December 2021, the RSB Secretariat has been reflecting on a remarkable year, and looking forward to 2022 where we will continue to build upon the impact and action of this year.
Whilst still in the pandemic’s grip, we were so impressed with the unwavering sustainability commitment of our stakeholder community. Witnessing the impacts of climate change and the pandemic in parallel made it clearer than ever we need immediate global intervention on a scale never before seen. The time has come for companies, governments, academia, and civil society to align their activities with climate and sustainability imperatives — supporting a just transition to a bio-based and circular economy.
It’s our pleasure to share highlights from 2021 showcasing the transition happening today across RSB’s work in three key areas — (1) Certification, (2) Collaboration, and (3) Convening Our Community —inspiring us to begin 2022 with a refreshed perspective and renewed sense of urgency.
We thank all of you for your continued leadership, focus, and determination as we work together to transform the global bio-based and circular economy.
Read on to explore more of the highlights from a busy year for the RSB and the sustainable bio-based and circular economy and to look forward to our rich programme of activities in 2022.
We wish you all a peaceful end to 2021!
The RSB Secretariat
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9
Webinars & Learning Sessions |
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73
Speakers at the RSB Annual Conference |
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25
Addresses at External Events
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| At the RSB Annual Conference, participants collaborated on a vision for the future of RSB’s sustainability framework, the Principles & Criteria. |
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JANUARY 2021
2021 started with Hornbæk Plast Industri A/S achieving RSB Certification for the production of bio-attributed plastic bottles from forestry industry residues under the RSB Advanced Products Standard. Through this certification, bottles produced by Hornbæk Plast Industri A/S actively contribute not only to the circular economy through use of recycled feedstock, but also demonstrate a measurable greenhouse gas emission reduction, produced sustainably according to RSB’s 12 Principles & Criteria for sustainable production.
View Hornbæk Plast Industri’s RSB Certificate and Audit Summary Report.
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FEBRUARY 2021
In February, RSB hosted a webinar for the chemicals and polymers sector titled “Chemicals & Polymers — Industry Insight & Action”. With a welcome from Maiju Helin (Head of Stakeholder Management at Neste’s Renewable Polymers & Chemicals Division and Chair of the RSB Board of Directors) and discussion with panellists Carl Wolf (VP Americas, LanzaTech), Andres Franco (Senior Director of Sustainability & Communications, Global Beauty and Hair Care, P&G), Elfie Mechaussie (Carbon & Environment Specialist, Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe), Jason Leadbitter (Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, INOVYN), and Petra Inghelbrecht (Global Sustainability Manager, Styrolution), the webinar examined how to develop tailored business approaches to sustainability, addressing complex challenges surrounding the bio-based and circular economy, and how to embed ambitious climate targets into business and operational decisions. Watch the recording here. |
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MARCH 2021
In March 2021, RSB and Bioledger launched a case study on the potential of a blockchain database to support traceability of biofuel and its feedstocks and overcome the vulnerabilities identified in securing the supply of sustainable renewables. |
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The proposed solution — a blockchain database enabling verifiable proof of origin, secure consignment creation, process simplification, audit efficiency, data integrity, and central governance — was prototyped and trialled with project partners to process a total of 1,927,906 litres of feedstock, accurately representing real-life commercial and operational processes. The project was made possible by a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Download the Case Study here. |
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“This project is a clear example of how ambitious sustainability systems are leveraging technology to improve data integrity and security in global supply chains. ISEAL members like RSB are leading the way in exploring how blockchain can support regulatory compliance and strengthen the reliability and value proposition of market-based sustainability tools.”
Kristin Komives, Director of Programmes, ISEAL
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Also in March, a new programme unlocked access to lower interest loans for smallholder farmers in Brazil. Smallholder farmers certified to RSB in Guariba, Brazil can access new, lower interest credit to support their businesses thanks to an initiative from RSB certified operator Socicana — a sugarcane farmers’ association in Guariba. Learn more here. |
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APRIL 2021
In April we launched a new video to promote RSB certification for farmers, alongside long-time RSB participating operator and member, Nuseed.
For the people who grow Nuseed Carinata as a cover crop the benefit comes from improved soil health and reduced erosion – and a new income for agricultural communities. What’s more, the crop’s significant biomass and deep roots efficiently remove greenhouse gases from the air, sequestering it into the soil.
Watch the video here.
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MAY 2021
In May 2021, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pioneer SkyNRG announced that they had achieved the world’s first RSB CORSIA certification. This announcement marks another milestone in the history of SAF certification.
The CORSIA certification enables SkyNRG to supply airlines with CORSIA-eligible SAF with both RSB EU RED and RSB CORSIA claims, and for airline customers to count these towards their carbon reduction targets, enabling them to reduce their reliance on carbon offset credits to meet their CORSIA and other targets on direct emissions reductions. CORSIA, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, aims to lower CO2 emissions for international flights to curb the aviation impact on climate change. CORSIA is an initiative of ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization.
In 2013, SkyNRG became the first company in the aviation sector to achieve RSB certification, the “gold standard” of voluntary certification schemes. This paved the way for aviation to fly on RSB certified sustainable aviation fuels.
View SkyNRG’s RSB Certificate and Audit Summary Report.
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JUNE 2021
In June we published our Monitoring & Evaluation Report, examining our footprint and impact in the previous year. The findings showed while the year presented challenges to the market, with certified volumes dropping from 2019, the RSB saw a healthy growth in the number of sites, workers, and overall hectares covered by RSB certification, reflecting enduring sustainability commitments in the face of difficult market conditions for many operators. This was further reflected in continued support and engagement with the RSB’s projects and advisory services, where the RSB’s impact went beyond individual operators. |
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JULY 2021
In July RSB’s community of members continued to grow with LanzaJet and NISA joining to collaborate on driving the development of our best-in-class sustainability standard, supporting the needs of evolving bio-based and circular economies.
RSB’s membership community collaborates to develop new knowledge and insights on the cutting-edge challenges facing industry and works together to make a sustainable transition a reality. We do this through working groups, standard development, learning sessions, and more.
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“Our membership in RSB is vital to our mission in helping the aviation industry transition to a more sustainable future. It also reinforces our commitment to support other industries and find sustainable solutions to our world’s greatest challenges through collaborative partnerships.”
Jimmy Samartzis, CEO, LanzaJet
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AUGUST 2021
In August, we hosted our most well-attended webinar ever: New Sustainable Solutions for Aviation drew hundreds of participants to an event covering the most cutting-edge solutions to ensure credible sustainability for the industry – including a deep dive on RSB CORSIA and the latest updates on RSB’s approach for Book & Claim, a topic that gained enormous momentum through the rest of the year.
Watch the recording here.
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SEPTEMBER 2021
September saw RSB launch its consultation on the revision of the Principles & Criteria — the foundation of our best-in-class sustainability Standard. The review of the Principles & Criteria, conducted through a climate smart lens, aims to facilitate feedstock producers and their supply chains to increase productivity, enhance resilience, and reduce GHG emissions. While the first consultation is closed, the next round will begin in early 2022.
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Power-to-X Working Group
In response to increasing demand and market interest in Power-to-X (PtX) technologies, RSB launched a working group in September 2021 to convene stakeholders and experts to evaluate and agree on best practices to address and reduce sustainability risks related to PtX technologies, particularly for the aviation and shipping industries.
The RSB PtX Working Group is conducting the following activities:
1. Organising learning sessions on PtX technologies and sustainability best practices.
2. Advising on and discussing key sustainability areas.
3. Developing a commonly accepted proposal on best practices to reduce sustainability risks for PtX technologies implementation.
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OCTOBER 2021
October saw us welcome two new members representing very different sectors, with a mutual sustainability ambition: HEINEKEN and Target. |
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| RSB membership continues to attract global leaders and we invite you to learn more about our member community here. |
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“At HEINEKEN, we believe that the bioeconomy can only be sustainable if multiple environmental aspects are taken into account in the selection of biomaterials. We are happy to join RSB to ensure that the biomaterials used in our decarbonisation strategy are complying with the strictest environmental guidelines and look forward collaborating with RSB members.”
Nicolas Clerget, HEINEKEN Net Zero Champion
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NOVEMBER 2021
On 15-18 November, we hosted our first ever fully virtual Annual Conference. Offering more speakers, content and opportunities for interaction than ever before, the RSB Annual Conference 2021 was our most well-attended annual event yet.
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Highlights from the 2021 RSB Annual Conference include:
- Keynote addresses from Sheila Remes (Vice President of Environmental Strategy, The Boeing Company), Elizabeth Willmott (Carbon Program Director, Microsoft), and Ashleigh Morris (CEO, Coreo)
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- The Next Frontier for RSB’s Sustainability Framework – a session on the revision of RSB’s Principles & Criteria
- Bioeconomy: From Regional Initiatives to Global Impact – get to know how global goals, such as the Science Based Targets are being shaped and implemented, before diving into a roundtable of regional bioeconomy initiatives and explore how they can grow sustainably to meet global demand.
- Unlocking RSB Tools – learn how RSB’s tools can help companies to understand and manage their impacts during a brand new e-learning demonstration
- Scaling the Sustainable Bioeconomy – explore the methodology, outcomes and impacts of RSB’s project with The Boeing Company and get to know how it can be applied in other sectors and regions, with a keynote welcome from Sean Newsum (Director, Environmnetal Strategy at Boeing Commercial Airplanes).
- Book & Claim: Rapid Decarbonisation Within Reach – dive into the world of Book & Claim with an overview of RSB’s pilot with Air bp, an exploration of key challenges to be overcome and a discussion with some of the leading global initiatives.
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Report: Roadmap for SAF Development in Ethiopia
Launched in November 2021, this report is the result of a process to develop a 10-year SAF Roadmap for the Ethiopia by exploring and advancing Ethiopia’s capacity to produce biofuels for use as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Read the report
The Fuelling the Sustainable Bioeconomy Project is supported through a grant from The Boeing Company. |
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DECEMBER 2021
In early December, we launched an official stakeholder consultation on the RSB Book & Claim manual. Book & Claim is a chain of custody model that allows the physical product to be decoupled from its specific sustainability characteristics (i.e., GHG intensity) and these characteristics to be transferred as a credit through a dedicated registry.
The consultation, which runs until Friday 28 January 2022, will provide the RSB with valuable input to ensure the development of a robust, credible procedure for the transfer of a certified product’s sustainability characteristics via book & claim.
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2022
After an exceptional year in 2021, we are already looking forward to an amazing 2022. Highlights include:
- The formal launch of the RSB Approach for Book & Claim.
- The second round of stakeholder consultation on the revision of the RSB Principles & Criteria.
- RSB’s Annual Conference in November 2022.
- Continued development and work on our Power-to-X Working Group and SAF Policy Platform, as well as the launch of new member initiatives.
- Learning sessions to coincide with the delegated and implementing act of EU RED II.
- Continued impact via our global projects.
RSB members can expect a full programme of activities in 2022 to equip them with the tools and expertise to support leadership in the bio-based and circular economy.
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