Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance certifies SeQuential biodiesel plant

The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance, a non-profit organisation, has announced that it has given a sustainability certificate to US biodiesel producer SeQuential for its “innovative and nearly zero-waste production of renewable fuel”.

The SBA has developed and implemented an objective certification standard for measuring the sustainability of biodiesel production and use. SeQuential has been awarded via independent third-party audit score, the Gold level standard for biodiesel production.

According to the SBA, SeQuential is dedicated to building a better energy model focused around regionally sourced biodiesel.

All of the fuel SeQuential produces is made from used cooking oil recycled from restaurants and businesses within a roughly 500-mile radius of its Salem, Oregon, plant.

Additionally, the company fuels its collection and delivery vehicles with high blends of its own biodiesel and offsets its energy consumption by using solar panels and setting regular energy conservation targets.

“The Gold Certified level is currently the highest standard achieved for sustainable biodiesel production,” said Jeff Plowman vice-chair of the SBA and Certification Committee Chair.

The audit checklist for biodiesel production is based on the SBA’s Baseline Practices for Sustainability, and evaluates the following:

• Air Emissions
• Water Resources
• Waste Handling
• Plant Energy
• Sustainable Sourcing
• Community Benefit
• Plant/Worker Benefit
• Quality

“We’re thrilled to be receiving SBA Gold Certification,” said Tyson Keever, CEO at SeQuential. “It’s rewarding to see our team’s commitment to sustainability recognised. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our sustainability practices through ongoing partnership with the SBA.”

In a statement, the SBA said: “This audit of SeQuential biodiesel production, the second of its kind, has given the SBA Certification Committee some valuable insight to the success of the audit procedure.

“The committee is dedicated to an ongoing analysis of sustainable practices in biodiesel production, distribution and use of biodiesel and is looking forward to a procedural review this year.”