What Does Credible Certification Oversight Look Like? The 2025 RSB System Integrity Report
Independent certification body oversight demonstrates what credible sustainability certification transparency looks like in practice
In a sector where trust determines market access, RSB continues lead in transparent oversight. The newly released Oversight Body System Integrity Report 2025 documents a full year of independent third-party scrutiny, providing clear visibility and transparency into how RSB maintains credibility and rigour of its certification systems for the bio-based and circular economy.
Independent Oversight as Standard Practice
RSB has partnered with SAJOMA Climate Technical Consulting as its independent Oversight Body since 2023. Throughout 2025, SAJOMA conducted certification body performance assessment of a sample of participating operators representing 57.45% of all RSB certificates, using a science-based and impartial risk-based assessment methodology that prioritises high-risk feedstocks and countries.
Independent scrutiny isn’t a crisis response, but rather how RSB certification functions, making certification fraud prevention a standard practice.
A glimpse into what the report reveals
The 2025 report documents comprehensive oversight activities including:
- A risk-based assessment methodology identifying high-risk feedstocks (used cooking oil, palm oil mill effluent, exhausted molasses) and high-risk countries based on documented fraud cases and market dynamics.
- Common observations across certification body performance, from audit report documentation to timeline compliance.
- Structured improvement plans with defined responsibilities and implementation timelines for certification bodies.
- Mitigation Action Plan outlining short-, medium-, and long-term actions to strengthen certification system integrity.
More importantly, the report shows how RSB turns these observations into practical improvements. Through evidence-based corrective actions, the system gets stronger and more reliable across all certified operations.
Risk assessment that protects credibility
SAJOMA developed clear risk categorisations for feedstocks and counties based on documented evidence. This risk mitigation system integrity approach ensures that certificates involving high-risk feedstocks or countries receive enhanced scrutiny, including verification of volumes, audited supply chains, and cross-checking with independent data.
This adaptive approach to sustainability certification transparency recognises that fraud risk isn’t spread evenly. Credible certification must focus verification efforts where vulnerabilities are highest whilst maintaining diligent and streamlined due diligence processes for lower-risk operations. This applies across all RSB certification schemes, including RSB EU RED certification, RSB CORSIA certification for sustainable aviation fuel, and RSB Global certification for circular economy applications.
What this means for stakeholders
For certificate holders: Independent certification body oversight provides an additional layer of credibility to your investment in RSB certification. When supply chain partners ask what distinguishes RSB from alternatives, point to voluntary third-party verification of system integrity, that goes above and beyond regulatory mandates.
For companies evaluating certification: The report offers a clear, transparent look at how a certification system works in practice. You can see how RSB monitors quality, addresses issues and strengthens outcomes.
For policy makers: The report shows how voluntary schemes can deliver robust assurance through transparent governance, independent auditing and system-level oversight.
For NGOs and civil society: Transparency is the antidote to greenwashing. This report provides visibility into how certification systems can perform and evolve.
Ongoing commitment
The 2025 report represents one year of continuous oversight. SAJOMA’s Risk Mitigation Plan outlines specific initiatives through Q1 2026, including strengthened oversight coordination, monitoring of scheme transitions, development of cross-verification guidance, and expanded witness audit coverage.
The full RSB Oversight Body System Integrity Report 2025 is publicly available for download. Whether you’re evaluating sustainable biomaterials certification options, conducting supply chain sustainability verification, assessing regulatory recognition frameworks, or monitoring corporate sustainability claims, this report provides visibility and transparency into credible certification oversight.
Download the RSB Oversight Body System Integrity Report 2025
For questions about RSB’s oversight mechanisms or to discuss how RSB certification can support your organisation’s sustainability objectives, contact the RSB Certification team.