Better Biomass recognised by European Commission

2018-12-06

The Better Biomass certification scheme has been re-recognised by the European Commission in the framework of the Renewable Energy Directive. Companies can use Better Biomass to demonstrate compliance with the legal sustainability requirements in this Directive. These requirements apply to biofuels and bioliquids. The recognition is valid for a new period of five years.

Directive 2009/28/EC, better known as Renewable Energy Directive (RED), lays down requirements to safeguard sustainable sourcing of biomass for the production of biofuels and bioliquids. These requirements relate to greenhouse gas emission savings, protection of highly biodiverse land and land with high carbon stocks as well as to traceability and transparency in the supply chain.

The RED requirements are incorporated in the standards NTA 8080-1:2015 (sustainability) and NTA 8080-2:2015 (chain of custody). With Better Biomass, companies are assessed whether they conform to the NTA 8080 requirements. Companies that are Better Biomass certified are able to demonstrate to comply with the RED. Better Biomass certified products may be counted in the renewable energy target. The implementation decision of this re-recognition will be enforced from 18 December 2018.

Second recognition in a row

In November 2018, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy approved the Better Biomass certification scheme in the framework of the Dutch Decree conformity assessment of solid biomass for energy applications. This approval is applicable to all five biomass categories that are distinguished, and applies for the global use of the ‘Better Biomass certified’ claim.

Better Biomass is applicable to solid, liquid and gaseous biomass for biofuels, power and or heat production and bio-based products. The biomass producer has more flexibility in this way to market its products under a harmonised set of sustainability requirements. The two legal recognitions offers the market also access to a robust certification scheme to independently demonstrate the sustainable origin and utilisation of biomass.