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
- Fact 1
- Fact 2
- Fact 3
- Fact 4
- Fact 5
-
Sustainable Aviation Fuel accounted for 17% of RSB certified products in 2019.
-
Nearly a third of RSB members represent the aviation sector, including airlines, SAF producers, and aviation industry and research associations.
-
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.
-
Many SAF initiatives worldwide, including the 28 airlines member of the Sustainable Air Fuel User Group (SAFUG), have committed to RSB-certified fuel.
-
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.
- GOAL 1
- GOAL 2
- GOAL 3
-
GOAL 1
Improve fleet fuel efficiency by 1.5% per year from now until 2020.
-
GOAL 2
Stabilise net aviation emissions at 2020 levels with carbon neutral growth.
-
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 […]
Read More
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 […]
Read More
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 […]
Read More
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)
Join: RSB Aviation Biofuel Summit | 20 March 2018
Developing a sustainable aviation industry in Ethiopia and beyond. RSB partners with Boeing to lead the sustainable development of aviation biofuels in Africa Location: Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Date: Tuesday 20th March 2018 Time: […]
Read More
Green Aviation Research & Development Network (GARDN) becomes latest organisation to join RSB
The Green Aviation Research & Development Network (GARDN) becomes latest organisation to join RSB Working together to create a sustainable aviation industry The Green Aviation Research & Development Network (GARDN) has recognised the role of RSB in supporting the development […]
Read More
World First as AltAir Biojet Fuel Refinery achieves RSB certification
The RSB is delighted to announce the certification of AltAir to produce biojet fuel, renewable diesel and naphtha, a gasoline component. This industry first sees AltAir join the ranks of RSB certified operators who have applied the RSB Global Standard to guide the development […]
Read More
Sustainable Biofuels: The preferred choice
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recent report encourages airlines to purchase only biofuels certified by a recognised third-party standard. They strongly recommend the RSB framework as the most complete and likely to address these sustainability risks.
Read More
Elena Schmidt on the development of sustainable aviation fuels
Leading up to the second ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels , several alternative fuels experts were invited to comment on development, financing and sustainability since the first Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels in 2009. This second ICAO Conference on Aviation […]
Read More
Welcome to our new member – The Mexico Biojet Cluster
We welcome the Mexico Biojet Cluster, represented by Ciatec, as a full member of the RSB. This demonstrates its commitment to the growth and production of sustainable biojet fuel. As a member, the Mexico Biojet Cluster representative will have access […]
Read More
The RSB’s General Assembly and Business Forum 2017
Would you like to help shape the future of a healthy bioeconomy? 14-16th November – Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver, Canada The RSB’s Assembly of Delegates and Business Forum is just a few weeks away and we look forward to rich, interesting […]
Read More
IATA Alternative Fuels Symposium | 16th – 17th November 2017
IATA will host the 3rd Alternative Fuel Symposium (AFS) on 16 – 17 November 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver, Canada. There will be two dynamic days of sustainable aviation fuel discussions where industry leaders developing supply, demand and policy will present the […]
Read More
ICAO 2016 Environmental Report Published
The RSB’s Executive Director, Rolf Hogan, authored “Beyond CO2? in Chapter 4 of ICAO’s Environmental Report for 2016 called “On Board A Sustainable Future”. The article looks at the importance of strong sustainability standards, the role of sustainable biofuels in achieving ICAO’s […]
Read More