UPM receives ‘world’s first’ RSB certification for wood-based liquid biofuels

UPM Biofuels has received an RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) certificate for its UPM BioVerno renewable diesel and naphtha and its production sidestreams turpentine and pitch (resin).

RSB verifies the sustainability and reliability of feedstock sourcing and production. 

In RSB certification, the sustainability of biofuels is evaluated against 12 principles which have been approved by many stakeholders, including NGOs and UN agencies. In addition to the greenhouse gas savings compared to fossil fuels, the RSB principles cover biodiversity, human rights and environmental and social responsibility throughout the value chain.

RSB is one of the European Commission's approved voluntary schemes, which can be used to show compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive's sustainability criteria. RSB certification can also be used to verify the sustainability of biomaterials for non-energy application.

UPM Biofuels uses crude tall oil, a residue from pulp production, to produce both biofuels and biomaterials in its Biorefinery in Lappeenranta, Finland.

RSB executive director Rolf Hogan said: "The RSB is proud to count UPM among the visionary biofuel producers that are RSB certified. Using residues, like those from pulp and paper production, to produce energy helps to build a new world free of fossil fuels with minimal impact on nature and food production. This is the first certification of biofuel produced from wood-based feedstocks and RSB looks forward to working with UPM to promote this innovative solution for the bioeconomy.”

Green schemes

UPM Biofuels has previously received sustainability certificates under the Finnish National Sustainability Scheme, ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) schemes.

"RSB certification is a valuable addition to our current sustainability certifications and we see that it can lead to great new collaborations with RSB certified end users,” said Maiju Helin, Head of Safety, Sustainability and Quality at UPM Biofuels.

Helin added: “RSB and ISCC are both considered strong sustainability certification schemes and both have their own strengths. We are the only biofuel producer able to show compliance with both voluntary schemes together with a national scheme. This is very strong evidence of sustainability in all UPM Biofuel operations.”

UPM's renewable fuels  known as UPM BioVerno fuels are  an innovation that reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% when compared with fossil fuels, according to the company.

UPM BioVerno diesel, a drop-in fuel, also reduces tailpipe emissions significantly, the company said. UPM BioVerno naphtha can be used as a biocomponent in gasoline or as renewable feedstock for bio-based applications, such as bioplastics. UPM's renewable fuels are produced from a residue of UPM's own pulp production, crude tall oil, with no edible materials being used. 

UPM started production of its wood-based renewable fuels in the UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery in January 2015. The production capacity of the biorefinery is 120 million litres of renewable fuels annually