Renewable feedstock provider earns certification

The Greenwood Tree Farm Fund (GTFF) has claimed to be the first short-rotation forest plantation in the world to earn certification under the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB).

The RSB certification covers GTFF's cultivation, management and harvesting of coppiced poplar trees, used as biomass feedstock for the cellulosic ethanol industry or pelletised for direct combustion in biomass electric plants.

The certification was conducted by SCS Global Services (SCS), whose manager of supply chain services, Neil Mendenhall, says: ‘While biofuels for both transportation and energy production offer promise as an alternative to fossil fuels, production of its raw material can have a major impact on land, air and water resources.’

GTFF is managed by GreenWood Resources (GWR), which has been recognised for its effort to maintain biodiversity, protect water resources, account for greenhouse gas emissions, treat workers fairly and benefit the community.

‘Biomass from trees is an ideal solution for generating renewable fuels and chemicals,’ adds Jeff Nuss, GWR CEO. ‘Our high-yield, short-rotation tree farms need less fertiliser and less energy to produce than traditional row crops, and they produce greater energy output per unit of production. We take our sustainability mission seriously.’