Overview
If your business produces, trades, or uses solid biomass for energy, you have probably encountered the term GGL. What it actually covers, and whether it is the right scheme for your supply chain, may be less obvious than the requirement itself. This article explores what GGL certification is and why your business needs it if you deal with solid biomass.
Table of Contents
1. What is GGL Certification?
GGL stands for Green Gold Label. It is an international certification scheme for sustainable biomass, established in 2002 and owned by the GGL Foundation. As one of the earliest biomass certification schemes, GGL has built a long track record in certifying and tracing biomass through complex international supply chains.
GGL certification covers the entire supply chain, from production and processing through to transport and final use. Certification is carried out by accredited, independent third-party certification bodies like DoubleHelix, with audits conducted annually.
GGL is specifically designed for solid biomass. It is not the correct certification for biomethane. If your business handles biomethane, the relevant scheme is ISCC, which we cover in our article, What Is ISCC Certification and Who Needs It? This distinction matters because the two terms are often used loosely, and applying for the wrong scheme can waste valuable time and money.
2. What Biomass Products Does GGL Cover?
GGL standards apply across several distinct supply chain roles, including chain of custody, forest management sources, agricultural sources and generators or utilities at the energy production end.
In practical terms, the material scope covers the following items:
- Wood pellets and forestry residues
- Palm kernel shells
- Processing residues
- Forestry residues
- Agricultural by-products, including coconut shell and sunflower seed shell
- Bioliquids, in certain market contexts
GGL also recognises material certified under several other schemes, including RSPO, FSC, PEFC, ISCC, and MSPO. Where your feedstock already holds one of these certifications, this can reduce duplication and streamline your path to GGL certification.
3. Why European Biomass Markets Require Certification
The regulatory driver behind biomass certification in Europe is the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive. Under RED III, the transport sector faces a binding 29% renewable energy target by 2030. Greenhouse gas (GHG) savings thresholds have also tightened. Existing biofuel installations must now achieve at least 70% savings, and new installations must reach 80%. Crucially, RED III requires mandatory sustainability verification and certification across the value chain, making mass balance traceability a legal requirement rather than a voluntary good practice. Without a recognised certification scheme, biomass producers and traders cannot demonstrate compliance with these sustainability criteria.
Importantly, GGL has been pursuing recognition under EU RED II and RED III since January 2022. A newly developed GGL RED Module, designed to extend across all types of solid biomass and to address EUDR alongside RED requirements, has been submitted to the European Commission for formal assessment in 2026. At the time of writing, formal EU-level recognition has not yet been confirmed.
4. What GGL Certification Requires from Your Business
The GGL certification process is set out directly by the GGL Foundation. The same process applies regardless of the size of your business or which biomass category you fall under. The steps are as follows:
- Submit an application to a GGL-accredited certification body
- The certification body will review your application
- Once accepted, a contract is signed based on what you submit
- Your business then implements all GGL requirements before audit
- When ready, you coordinate with the certification body for the audit
5. How the GGL Audit and Certification Process Works
The GGL audit is carried out by an independent, accredited certification body, not by the GGL Foundation itself. DoubleHelix, through the Singapore Accreditation Council, is one such body.
The auditor will verify your compliance against the applicable GGL standards, reviewing items such as chain of custody records, energy and carbon data tracking, and supporting documentation. After the audit is complete, the report is reviewed by technical staff at the certification body. If there are no outstanding major non-conformities, your certificate is issued. Thereafter, an annual surveillance audit is carried out to confirm that you continue to meet the applicable requirements.
6. GGL vs Other Biomass Certification Schemes
GGL | SBP | ISCC | |
Full name | Green Gold Label | Sustainable Biomass Program | International Sustainability and Carbon Certification |
Biomass scope | Woody biomass, agricultural residues, waste wood and bioliquids | Woody biomass for industrial-scale energy generation | Biofuels, biomethane, biomass, and circular materials |
Primary market | Global, strong presence in Japan FIT/FIP, and certain European national frameworks | European utility-scale power generators | EU (RED II/III), aviation (CORSIA), global voluntary markets |
EU RED recognition | RED Module submitted for European Commission assessment, with formal recognition pending | Recognised under RED II and RED III | Recognised under RED II and RED III |
Japan FIT/FIP | Recognised | Recognised | Recognised |
Best suited for | Producers and traders handling diverse solid biomass, including agri-residues and palm kernel shells | Woody biomass producers supplying European power generators | Biofuel, biomethane, and biomass producers with RED II/III obligations |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GGL certification mandatory?
GGL certification is not directly mandated by legislation, but it functions as a practical requirement for market access in many contexts. Without GGL or an equivalent recognised certification, biomass producers and traders cannot demonstrate compliance or access European markets.
Does GGL cover biomethane?
No. GGL is designed for solid biomass, covering wood pellets, agricultural residues, forestry residues, and similar solid feedstocks used for energy. If your business handles biomethane, the relevant certification scheme is ISCC.
Is GGL recognised under the EU Renewable Energy Directive?
Not yet at the formal EU level. The GGL Foundation has been pursuing recognition under RED II and RED III since 2022 and submitted an updated RED Module to the European Commission for assessment in 2026.
What is the difference between GGL and SBP?
GGL and SBP are both biomass certification schemes, but they cover different scopes. SBP is designed specifically for woody biomass producers supplying European power generators, and is recognised under EU RED II, RED III, and Japan FIT/FIP. GGL covers a broader range of feedstocks, including agricultural residues, palm kernel shells, and bioliquids, and holds recognition for certain categories under Japan’s FIT/FIP programme alongside other accepted schemes.
DoubleHelix Supports GGL Certification
GGL certification is achievable, and the process itself is well defined. We support businesses through the GGL certification process, with particular expertise in the Southeast Asian supply chains.
Contact DoubleHelix to discuss GGL certification for your biomass supply chain to identify your applicable category and requirements.
For a fuller picture of how biomass certification fits within the wider regulatory landscape, visit our full guide to EUDR.