ISCC gives Asian biofuels access to European market

SCS Global Services has announced the expansion of its biofuel certification services in south east Asia.

The third-party environmental certification body will now conduct audits under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) programme, which will allow biofuel producers in south east Asia to meet the requirements for export into the European Union under its Renewable Energy Directive.

‘When produced responsibly, as confirmed against international norms, biofuels have the potential to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and provide a low-carbon alternative,’ says Robert Hrubes, executive VP of SCS. ‘Companies that achieve ISCC certification can credibly demonstrate that their product is an environmentally beneficial energy source.’

A number of Asian countries have set national goals related to biofuel usage. The governments of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines each have put biofuel mandates in place that require a certain percentage of energy to be produced with biofuels.

Certifications like ISCC can ensure that the expansion of biofuel production will not negatively impact food security and will not create an incentive for deforestation.