The RSB supports the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) for the aviation industry that promote social and environmental sustainability and safeguard food security. We do this by partnering with aviation initiatives worldwide, engaging airlines through membership, and helping supply chain companies achieve RSB certification for their alternative fuels.
AVIATION FAST FACTS
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Sustainable Aviation Fuel accounted for 17% of RSB certified products in 2019.
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Nearly a third of RSB members represent the aviation sector, including airlines, SAF producers, and aviation industry and research associations.
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RSB drives the sustainability agenda at global level through ICAO, and the RSB CORSIA Standard has been recognised by ICAO for CORSIA certification from December 2020.
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Many SAF initiatives worldwide, including the 28 airlines member of the Sustainable Air Fuel User Group (SAFUG), have committed to RSB-certified fuel.
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RSB certified SAF has a minimum 50% GHG emission reduction compared to the fossil fuel baseline and guarantees the protection of social and environmental rights and food security.
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE INDUSTRY
The aviation industry has committed to grow carbon-neutrally as of 2020, and to decrease GHG emissions by 50% by 2050.
We are working with industry leaders to achieve these goals – and to ensure that these developments have sustainability at their heart.
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GOAL 1
Improve fleet fuel efficiency by 1.5% per year from now until 2020.
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GOAL 2
Stabilise net aviation emissions at 2020 levels with carbon neutral growth.
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GOAL 3
By 2050, net aviation carbon emissions will be half what they were in 2005.
Practical Solutions For A Sustainable Aviation Industry
The RSB’s pioneering approach drives continuous improvement and adaptation to new market challenges and opportunities. With credible solutions, innovative and advanced approaches to the latest sustainability challenges and a proven track record in supporting the industry, we are delivering clear benefits and value to partners across the aviation supply chain.
RSB STANDARD FOR ICAO CORSIA
RSB’s ICAO CORSIA Standard specifies requirements for operators along the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply chain to produce SAF that complies with RSB’s sustainability requirements and is eligible under CORSIA.
The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or CORSIA, is an emission mitigation approach for the global airline industry, developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). CORSIA has been adopted as complementary to a broader package of measures to help ICAO achieve its goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onwards.
LOW ILUC
RSB’s progressive ILUC module is the first to address the challenges associated with indirect land use change in biomass production and enables SAF to carry an additional low ILUC claim with its RSB certification upon compliance with at least one of three sets of indicators: Waste & Residues, Unused Land, and Yield Increase. The module is available ahead of new regulations coming into force in the EU, and is part of the RSB CORSIA certification scheme.
GHG CALCULATOR
RSB’s Greenhouse Gas calculator is a market-leading tool based on emission factors and actual activity measurement The calculator integrates both the RSB Global and EU RED (soon EU RED II) methodologies, as well as CORSIA. The calculator enables operators to conduct their individual calculation of actual GHG LCA values to show a better performance than available default values. By offering the RSB GHG calculator, RSB supports the industry to decrease their carbon emission impact.
FOOD SECURITY
RSB’s approach to food security is extremely robust thanks to a dedicated focus on food security in our Principles and Criteria and a risk management and stakeholder consultation approach that ensures that issues which might impact local food production, such as water access, are identified and managed right from the start.
SDG ALIGNMENT
RSB is well aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and our partners in the aviation industry can be assured that RSB certified SAF is contributing to the realisation of many of the SDGs.
RSB'S WORK AT ICAO
EXPLORE RSB'S SAF PROGRAMMES
RSB's Aviation Team
Arianna Baldo
Programme Director // Sector Lead: Aviation
Arianna is based in Cape Town, South Africa and is RSB’s Programme Director, as well as leading our work in the aviation sector. She coordinates RSB’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) projects and partnerships, and engages stakeholders globally to support the […]
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Carolina Grassi
Policy & Innovations Manager - Latin America // Sector Lead: Ground Transport
Carolina is RSB’s Policy & Innovations Manager. A biologist with a Ph.D. in genetics and an MBA in Business Management, Carolina has dedicated her professional career to helping to achieve a balance between environmental protection and economic growth by establishing […]
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Elena Schmidt
Executive Director
Elena is RSB’s Executive Director. Elena Schmidt joined the RSB in 2015 and has served as the RSB Standards Director since that time. Prior to joining the RSB, she was Head of the TÜV SÜD Certification Body for Climate and […]
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WHY RSB
By 2030, the RSB will have supported the emergence of a new world bioeconomy founded on social, economic and environmental considerations that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals – reducing climate impacts, enhancing food security and rural development, and protecting ecosystems.
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 aviation industry as it seeks to fulfil its global commitments to greenhouse gas reduction while also ensuring social development and environmental protection.
RSB is a member-led organisation which represents a worldwide movement of businesses, NGOs, academics, government and UN organisations that have demonstrated their commitment to the development of the sustainable bioeconomy by working together to create our most trusted Standard.
The RSB Standard is the strongest and most trusted of its kind, recognised as such by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Testimonial
The International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation's (ICSA) vision for a “zero climate impact” international aviation pathway towards 2050 endorses RSB as the “best-in-class sustainability certification standard for advanced aviation fuels”
The International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation (ICSA)
SAF Sustainability Guidance for Airports
Airports play a crucial role in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) economy since they are the intersection node of several stakeholders of the aviation sector – including fuel producers, traders, airlines, governments, and society. However, airports do not yet have […]
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RSB announces new cross-sector initiative to navigate and enhance sustainability across the complex biomass policy landscape
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) has announced a new cross-sectoral platform for its members and invited stakeholders to navigate the complex biomass policy landscape and grow knowledge of sustainability topics. To accelerate the transition towards a sustainable and bio-based […]
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RSB launches report and infographic on SAF stakeholder meeting in South Africa
6 months ago, RSB hosted the South African SAF Stakeholder Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since then, much has happened in developing the SAF economy worldwide, including some exciting news coming from RSB’s collaborative network. However, there is still much […]
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Greencrude Pioneer Alder Fuels Joins RSB to Help Revolutionize Low-Carbon Fuel and Chemical Production
Alder Fuels, a clean tech developer and greencrude producer, has joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). Alder Fuels uses abundant sustainable biomass, such as regenerative grasses, forest residues, and agricultural waste products, to create low-carbon to carbon-negative Alder Greencrude […]
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RSB publishes White Paper on implementing public policies to shape the aviation industry
RSB is excited to share a newly published White Paper on implementing successful public policies to shape the sustainable future of the aviation industry – an outcome of the RSB SAF Policy Platform, a place for RSB’s members from industry […]
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RSB partners again with Aviation Carbon 2022
RSB is once again a supporting partner of the Aviation Carbon 2022 conference at London Heathrow, UK, 17 – 19 October 2022. Since the first event in 2012, Aviation Carbon has become a must-attend event for airlines and business […]
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Everything you always wanted to know about SAF (but were too afraid to ask)
“It causes deforestation” “It increases food prices” “It won’t prevent climate change” These are all common claims made about sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and they make for alarming reading. But are they true? The answer, as is usually the case, […]
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RSB researches SAF in top airports’ sustainability strategies
The drive to develop viable, fully commercialised sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is gaining momentum. By the beginning of 2020, over 250,000 flights had taken off using SAF blends and over 6 billion litres of offtakes had been achieved. Currently, SAF […]
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SINOPEC Zhenhai becomes first RSB-certified SAF production unit in Asia
SINOPEC Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company (SINOPEC Zhenhai)’s 100,000 ton/year HEFA SAF plant has successfully obtained certification from the RSB, becoming the first RSB-certified SAF production unit in Asia. The certification demonstrates that SINOPEC Zhenhai’s supply chain and production management […]
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