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)
RSB, SA Canegrowers Research Points to SAF Potential in South Africa
RSB has been working with the South African Canegrowers Association (SA Canegrowers) to identify opportunities for South African sugarcane ethanol to access local and international biofuels markets, particularly for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). The South African sugarcane industry is looking to […]
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RSB in EU project helping CPH and European airports to achieve sustainable and carbon-neutral aviation
In close collaboration with Danish Technological Institute, a consortium led by Copenhagen Airport (CPH) in collaboration with 14 other European partners has won an EU tender to create the sustainable airport of the future. A grant of close to EUR 12 […]
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RSB Publishes TOR for Development of a SAF Roadmap for Ethiopia
RSB is looking for a consultant and/or a consortium of consultants and interested parties to develop a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) roadmap for Ethiopia in close collaboration with a group of Ethiopian stakeholders, which have been organised into a SAF […]
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RSB launches new research, engagement in the Chinese SAF Market
RSB launches new research, engagement in the Chinese SAF Market As part of its global drive to support the aviation industry in achieving decarbonisation through the use of alternative sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), RSB is turning its attention to China. […]
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RSB submits CORSIA Standard for approval
RSB has adapted its best-in-class sustainability standard — recognised as uniquely credible, practical and robust — to incorporate CORSIA requirements in our new RSB CORSIA Standard, which was recently submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for recognition. The RSB CORSIA […]
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Ethiopian Sustainable Biofuel Future Scenario at a glance
As part of the Fuelling the Sustainable Bioeconomy powered by The Boeing Company, RSB gathered a group of key stakeholders in the Ethiopian bioeconomy to examine and uncover strategies and scenarios for the future development of a sustainable biofuels industry […]
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RSB submits application for CORSIA recognition
RSB has formally submitted its application to be recognised as a sustainability certification scheme under CORSIA. The submission is a big step in a process that has seen RSB work to adapt its best-in-class sustainability standard to incorporate the requirements […]
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RSB looks to the future with key aviation players
The RSB Annual Meeting has once again played host to aviation industry experts as RSB continues to cement its position as the standard of choice for sustainability-committed industry leaders. In 2019, RSB continued to contribute towards the ongoing development of […]
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Solaris oil to pave the way for scaling up RSB-certified sustainable local fuel supply in South Africa
2016 saw South African Airways (SAA) perform Africa’s first flight powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel produced from Sunchem’s nicotine-free tobacco plant Solaris. It was refined by World Energy Fuels in the USA, supplied by SkyNRG and supported by Boeing. This momentous […]
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