Overview
If your business uses biofuels, biomethane, agricultural feedstocks or recycled materials, you have probably encountered the term ISCC. You may have been asked for it by a customer, flagged it in a compliance review or seen it referenced in a regulatory document. What it actually means, and what getting certified involves, is less well understood than the requirement itself.
What Is ISCC? A Plain-English Explanation
ISCC stands for International Sustainability and Carbon Certification. It’s the world’s leading certification system for sustainable biomass, bioenergy and circular materials. In practical terms, ISCC provides a framework for verifying that raw materials and the products derived from them meet defined sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction criteria. It covers the full supply chain, from the point of origin of a feedstock through to the point of sale, ensuring traceability at every stage.
ISCC operates several certification schemes. The two most widely relevant for businesses are ISCC EU, which applies to regulated markets including the European Union and the United Kingdom, and ISCC PLUS, which applies to voluntary and non-energy markets globally. A third scheme, ISCC CORSIA, is specific to sustainable aviation fuel and the carbon offsetting framework for international aviation.
More than 11,000 companies in over 100 countries currently hold ISCC or ISCC PLUS certification. It is not a niche standard. For many businesses, it is fast becoming a baseline requirement.
Who Needs ISCC Certification?
Any business that produces, processes, trades, or uses biomass, biofuels or biobased products and wants to sell into regulated markets or make credible sustainability claims.
This covers a wide range of sectors. Biofuel producers and traders are the most obvious candidates, but ISCC certification is also relevant for businesses dealing in biomethane, used cooking oil, agricultural residues, forestry products and circular or recycled materials. If your supply chain includes any of these, and your customers or regulators are asking for proof of sustainability, ISCC is almost certainly the framework they have in mind.
For businesses supplying into the EU or UK specifically, ISCC EU certification is effectively mandatory. Without it, you cannot demonstrate compliance with the sustainability and greenhouse gas savings criteria required under RED II and RED III, which means you cannot legally sell biofuels or bioliquids into those markets.
ISCC and European Renewable Energy Directives (RED II / RED III)
The EU’s Renewable Energy Directives are the primary regulatory driver behind ISCC certification for most businesses.
RED II, adopted in 2018, introduced binding sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids used across transport, heating and electricity. It set mandatory greenhouse gas savings thresholds and required that certified feedstocks meet strict land use and environmental standards. ISCC EU was recognised by the European Commission as a voluntary scheme for demonstrating RED II compliance, making it the standard route to market access across the EU and UK.
RED III, which entered into force in 2023, strengthened those requirements further. It raised greenhouse gas savings thresholds, expanded the scope of renewable energy targets and introduced new requirements for advanced biofuels and recycled carbon fuels. Aviation and maritime fuels are now explicitly included within its scope for the first time.
ISCC EU certification provides documented proof that your business meets these requirements. Without it, access to European renewable energy markets is not possible.
ISCC PLUS: The Non-Energy Sectors
ISCC PLUS extends the ISCC framework beyond regulated biofuel markets into the broader bioeconomy and circular economy.
Where ISCC EU is driven by regulatory obligation, ISCC PLUS is used by businesses that want to demonstrate sustainable sourcing on a voluntary basis, or that operate in sectors not covered by RED. That includes food and feed producers, chemical manufacturers, packaging companies, textile businesses and producers of bio-based plastics.
If your feedstock is waste, recycled material or sustainably grown agricultural or forestry biomass, and your customers are asking you to prove it, ISCC PLUS is the relevant scheme.
ISCC PLUS is also the applicable scheme for biofuels destined for markets outside the EU, including Japan and Canada.
The scope of ISCC PLUS is broader than many businesses realise. If you are working with circular materials, bio-based inputs or any feedstock with a sustainability claim attached, it is worth understanding whether ISCC PLUS applies to your operations.
What the Certification Process Involves
ISCC certification is carried out by an independent, accredited certification body, not by ISCC itself. The process follows the same core steps regardless of which scheme applies.
You begin by registering with ISCC and selecting a certification body. The certification body conducts an on-site audit, reviewing your documentation, traceability systems, greenhouse gas calculations and compliance with the relevant sustainability criteria. If non-conformities are identified, corrective actions must be completed within 40 days.
Once the audit is passed, your certificate is issued and registered in the publicly accessible ISCC certificate database. Certificates are valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually through a new audit. For ISCC EU and high-risk supply chains, a surveillance audit within the first year of certification may also be required.
Certification is not a one-time exercise. Maintaining it requires ongoing compliance, regular supplier verification and accurate chain of custody documentation throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ISCC certification mandatory or voluntary?
ISCC EU certification is effectively mandatory for any business selling biofuels or bioliquids into the EU or UK market. Without it, you cannot demonstrate compliance with RED II or RED III and cannot access those markets. ISCC PLUS is voluntary but is increasingly expected by customers and partners in sectors such as food, chemicals and packaging.
How long does ISCC certification take?
Timelines vary depending on the size and complexity of your business. Once the on-site audit is complete, certificates are typically issued within 60 days, provided there are no outstanding non-conformities. Preparation time before the audit depends on the readiness of your documentation and traceability systems.
How long is an ISCC certificate valid?
All ISCC certificates are valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually through a new audit.
What is the difference between ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS?
ISCC EU applies to regulated markets, primarily the EU and UK, and is the route to compliance with RED II and RED III for biofuels and bioliquids. ISCC PLUS applies globally and covers a broader range of sectors and feedstocks, including food, feed, chemicals, packaging and recycled materials, where certification is voluntary rather than legally required.
Does ISCC certification cover the whole supply chain?
Yes. Every entity handling ISCC-certified material must hold a valid certificate. This means your suppliers, processors and trading partners may also need to be certified for your own certification to be meaningful. Traceability through the full chain of custody is a core requirement of the scheme.
How DoubleHelix Can Help
ISCC certification is achievable. The process is structured and well-defined. What trips businesses up is not the standard itself but the supply chain complexity behind it, particularly when feedstocks originate from high-risk regions or involve multiple tiers of suppliers.
DoubleHelix helps businesses achieve and maintain ISCC certification, with particular expertise in Southeast Asian supply chains where feedstock fraud risk is high. Through on-the-ground verification in Indonesia and active engagement with regional certification frameworks, we provide a depth of supply chain knowledge that goes well beyond documentation review.
If you are new to ISCC certification or working through a renewal, compliance gap or supplier verification challenge, we can help you understand exactly where you stand and what needs to happen next.
Contact DoubleHelix to discuss ISCC certification.
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