Reflecting on 2022 with RSB
As businesses rebuild and start to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we may still need to remind ourselves that this year has been anything but ’normal’. As psychologist Naomi Holdt said, “We crawled into 2022 still carrying shock, trauma, grief… The memories of a surreal existence… And then it began… The fastest hurricane year we could ever have imagined.”
Not only did climate change, war, energy scarcity, inequality and the pandemic’s resurgent waves, make our global recovery incredibly challenging, the growing pressure of the challenges at hand has made it all that much more relentless. So, as we reflect on what has been another successful year for RSB and its collaborative network, let’s remember that the transition towards a circular bioeconomy must also be sustainable, just and even compassionate.
As keynote speaker at this year’s RSB Annual Conference Suzanne Simard wrote: “There is no moment too small in the world. Nothing should be lost. Everything has a purpose, and everything is in need of care.” On that note, The RSB Secretariat would like to sincerely thank all of you – members, colleagues and collaborators – for your continued leadership, focus, and determination to create a net positive world.
In particular, we’d like to welcome our 26 new RSB members:
Indigo Ag, IOC, Deutsche Lufthansa, Nova Pangaea Technologies, Bluecat Paper, Port of Seattle, Virgin Voyages, Raízen, BioInnovate Africa, Alder Fuels, Deutsche Post DHL Group, 4AIR, Braskem, Enertrag, USA BioEnergy, WasteFuel, Arena Aviation Capital, Green Fuels Research, Twelve Benefit Corp, Sasol, Walter J Palmer Consultants, Jia RU SDN BHD, GE Aerospace, Preferred By Nature, Advanced Hydrocarbon Fuels and the Mediterranean Shipping Company.
We are thrilled you have joined our collaborative network, and look forward to further working with you in developing our sustainability framework, and our growing selection of platforms and initiatives, including the SAF Policy Platform, PtX Working Group, Sustainable Airports Platform, and the newly formed Sustainable Biomass Policy Platform.
Here are the highlights from 2022, and we look forward to a compassionate 2023…
January 2022
ILLUMINATING THE PATH FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND CONSERVATION
RSB’s multi-stakeholder member community has developed an approach to define which types of woody biomass feedstock can be used and which safeguards have to be applied to create a positive climate impact without endangering ecosystems. Read more here.
February 2022
RSB EU RED RECOGNISED UNDER RED II
The EC Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass Fuels voted on 3rd February 2022 to approve RSB’s EU RED Standard under the recast RED II regulations. Read more here.
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF INVASIVE PLANTS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
To unlock the significant potential of invasive alien biomass to feed the biofuel and bioenergy markets, RSB includes guidance on its harvest within its new Standard Amendment for Woody Biomass. Read more here.
March 2022
LAUNCH OF ETHIOPIA’S SAF ROADMAP IN ADDIS ABABA
RSB hosts stakeholders from government, private sector and civil society to launch the roadmap for developing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Ethiopia. Read more here.
STANDARD MODIFICATION: PALM-BASED AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING RESIDUES
RSB Board of Directors approves the interim modification of two RSB Standards with updated sustainability requirements for palm-based agricultural processing residues. Read more here.
April 2022
RSB HOSTS SAF STAKEHOLDER MEETING IN SOUTH AFRICA
RSB hosts a first-of-its-kind South African SAF Stakeholder Meeting in Johannesburg, in partnership with WWF South Africa, and publishes the next steps that can be undertaken to make SAF a sustainable reality in the region. Read more here.
May 2022
WWF LAUNCHES REPORT ON POTENTIAL OF SAF PRODUCTION IN SOUTH AFRICA
RSB member and long-term partner WWF South Africa publishes a report on the potential for SAF production in South Africa, across 7 feedstock/technology combinations. Read more here.
SINOPEC ZHENHAI BECOMES FIRST RSB-CERTIFIED SAF PRODUCTION UNIT IN ASIA
SINOPEC Zhenhai’s 100,000 ton/year SAF plant has successfully obtains certification from the RSB, becoming the first RSB-certified SAF production unit in Asia. Read more here.
RSB RESEARCHES SAF IN TOP AIRPORTS’ SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES
As part of the Sustainable Airports Platform, RSB conducted research and discovered that of the 32 airports researched, only 12 mentioned SAF in their sustainability strategies. Read more here.
June 2022
GREATVIEW LAUNCHES RSB-CERTIFIED GREATVIEW PLANET
RSB partner Greatview develops its first sustainable packaging solution, Greatview Planet, in co-operation with INEOS and UPM Biofuels – all certified by the RSB. Read more here.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES ANNOUNCES BOOK & CLAIM PILOT PROJECT WITH RSB
As part of a pilot project within the RSB Book & Claim system, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Singapore Airlines (SIA), and Temasek launch the sale of SAF credits, via book and claim. Read more here.
July 2022
RSB SUPPORTS GERMANY’S H2GLOBAL TO RAMP UP HYDROGEN ECONOMY
RSB announces a supporting role in the H2Global funding programme – an important instrument of the German government to ramp up the hydrogen economy. Read more here.
August 2022
RSB PARTNERS AGAIN WITH AVIATION CARBON 2022
RSB announces it is once again supporting the Aviation Carbon 2022 conference in London for the 10th anniversary event. Read more here.
September 2022
RSB CO-HOST EVENT IN BRAZIL WITH BOEING
At the Fuelling the Bioeconomy and a Sustainable Future of the Aerospace Industry event in São Paulo, RSB shared our experience of implementing strong sustainability principles to support Brazil’s bioeconomy, and celebrated our long-standing partnership with Boeing in Brazil and worldwide. Read more here.
RSB PUBLISHES WHITE PAPER ON IMPLEMENTING PUBLIC POLICIES TO SHAPE THE AVIATION INDUSTRY
As part of the RSB SAF Policy Platform, RSB publishes White Paper describing the main sustainability issues for the SAF sector, as well as how the RSB Principles & Criteria (P&C) relate to each sustainability issue. Read more here.
RSB PUBLISHES 2021 IMPACT REPORT
For the first time ever, RSB publishes its integrated Impact Report that brings together all of the different realms in which RSB’s sustainability framework is creating real and lasting change. Read more here.
October 2022
RSB HOST FIRST-EVER INNOVATIONS MEETING IN BOSTON
RSB hosted a brand-new in-person event for RSB members and invited stakeholders to dig deeper into the next stage of sustainability innovation and the bioeconomy. Read more here.
SGS BECOMES FIRST ENTITY IN SPAIN TO BE ACCREDITED BY RSB STANDARD
SGS, a world leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification, obtains accreditation under the RSB Standard to verify the sustainability of biofuels – making them the first entity in Spain to be accredited by the RSB. Read more here.
November 2022
RSB HOSTS 2nd FULL VIRTUAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
RSB’s flagship event, sponsored by The Boeing Company and Gevo, Inc., was another huge success! From expert panels to public debates, industry insights to collaborative action, and everything in between, this year was the most eventful Annual Conference yet. Read more here.
RSB ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVE, RSB SUSTAINABLE BIOMASS POLICY PLATFORM
RSB announces a new cross-sectoral platform for its members and invited stakeholders to navigate the complex biomass policy landscape and grow knowledge of sustainability topics. Read more here.
December 2022
RSB AND CERTIFHY FORM IMPACT ALLIANCE
RSB and CertifHy™ have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to form an Impact Alliance aimed at accelerating the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy.. Read more here.
RSB BOARD OF DIRECTORS GROWS
RSB’s multi-stakeholder community elect two new board of directors, Adam Klauber and James Onchieku, and three of RSB’s existing Directors stay on for additional terms. Read more here.
RSB P&C AMENDMENT APPROVED FOR 1-YEAR PILOT PERIOD, OTHER STANDARD AMENDMENTS APPROVED
RSB’s revised P&C were approved by the RSB membership community for a one-year pilot period. During this period, RSB participating operators will be invited to pilot the revised requirements, provide feedback and further refine these revisions to RSB’s foundational sustainability requirements. Read more here.
RSB LAUNCHES NEW SUSTAINABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR POWER-TO-X TECHNOLOGIES
As part of its RSB Power-to-X Working Group, RSB launches the newly approved sustainability guidance and requirements for Power-to-X (PtX) technologies.. Read more here.
As we close off the year, we thank you all once again for an exceptional year, and look forward to sharing a full programme of activities in 2023 to equip our members and partners with the tools and expertise to support the sustainable and just transition towards a circular bioeconomy.
We wish you all a peaceful end to 2022!
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