Martina Fleckenstein – WWF Germany
Expanding sustainability criteria to other biomass uses than biofuels and
bioliquids Biomass Futures Project
30. 11. 2010
Content
1. Sustainable Biomass Current State and Trends
2. Global Sustainability Requirements
3. Metastandard Approach
4. Conclusion
1Sustainable ProductionCurrent State and Trends
Trends (1)
Development of industry-driven initiatives and labels
Legal requirements
EU Renewable Energy Directive Forest Law Enforcement,
Governance and Trade (FLEGT)
Trends (2)
Proliferation of certification schemes and labels
Confusing numbers of certification schemes
No guideboard for consumers and producers
No joint approach and benchmarking scheme
Market Transformation
6
Performance Curve
Regulation
Performance
Shift
Best Performance
Use market forces to drive performance
Improve impacts of 60% of operators
Environmental performance
Num
ber
of
pro
duce
rs
Erneuerbare Energien Konzept (August 2010)Zur Bereitstellung nachhaltiger Biokraftstoffe „[…] ist ein auf Zertifizierung basierender transparenter Handel unter Einbindung der Landwirtschaft, der Energiewirtschaft und der Abfallwirtschaft erforderlich.“Aktionsplan Stoffliche Nutzung (Sept. 2009)„Schaffung und Anwendung von internationalen Standards und Zertifizierungssystemen für die nachhaltige Erzeugung von agrarischen nachwachsenden Rohstoffen für stoffliche Zwecke in Anlehnung an bestehende internationale Zertifizierungssysteme als Zwischenschritt auf dem Wege zur Schaffung global gültiger Nachhaltigkeitskriterien für die Erzeugung agrarischer Biomasse.“
Koalitionsvereinbarung Bundesregierung (Okt. 2009)“Initiativen für eine international wirksame Nachhaltigkeitszertifizierung [zu] ergreifen, die sowohl die Kraftstoff- und Stromproduktion als auch die Nutzung für Lebens- und Futtermittel umfasst”
Political Framework in Germany
Mandatory sustainability requirements only for a small part of biomass use
Biomass
Conversion
Upgrading
Trade
Consumers
EnergyChemical/ technical
applications Food and feed
Renewable Energy Directive
BioKraft-NachV
BioStr-NachV
Source: Meo
Challenges for sustainability for material use of biomass
Proof of sustainable production
Acceptance of an „industry standard“
Generally accepted
standards of sustainability
Set of rules and suitable
systems
Chain of Custody (mass balance)for complex value supply chains
Product-related GHG-
balancing
Challenges
Quelle: Meo
2Global Sustainability Requirements
Definition for setting a credible sustainability standard
Focused on key impacts (social, economic and ecologic)
Based on objective and measurable performance
Developed in compliance with ISEAL‘S Code of Good practise for Setting Social and Environemental Standards
Multi-stakeholder approach (from Industries to Smallholders) and Transparency at all level
Created by a Consensus
Compliant with relevant national and international laws
Based on sound science
Globally applicable and adaptable to local/regional needs
Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS)
International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
Better Sugar Initiative (BSI)
Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuel (RSB)
Credible Sustainability Certification Schemes
Benchmarking
ISCC RSPO RTRS RSB BSI FSC
1.
Minimizing or eliminating the most important environmental and social negative impacts of the comodity/ product
2.
Based on objective and measurable performance
3.
Developed in compliance with ISEAL‘s code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards
4.
Involved a diverse group of stakeholders
Benchmarking
5.
Created by consensus
6.
Compliant with relevant national and international laws
7.
Science based
8.
Third party indepentent certification
ISCC RSPO RTRS RSB BSI FSC
Requirements on Principles
1. Reducing GHG emissions2. Protection and maintenance of land with high
carbon stock3. Protection of land with high biodiversity value4. Maintenance of soil quality and productivity5. Efficient use of water and maintenance or
enhance the quality of the water resources used6. Prohibition or avoidance of air pollution7. Efficient use of technologies and use of
agrochemicals, and waste management
Ecological Principles
Requirements on Principles
1. Respect land rights2. Respect working rights and ensure fair labour
conditions3. Food security
Social Principles
Economical Principles
1. Increase efficiency2. Boost local benefits
3.MetastandardApproach
Benchmarking of established systems against the Metastandard
Metastandard Concept
ISCC RSPO RSB FSCBSIRTRS
Metastandard(ecological and social principles and criteria for
the production of agricultural commodities)
Commodity specific certification
Benchmarking
Even so private and other voluntary sustainablitity initiatives may qualify!
Metastandard – pro and cons
Benefits of the Metastandard approach
Avoid duplication/ re-inventing the wheel
Higher acceptance
Availabilitiy in the short term
Cost effectiveness
Influencing existing
standards
Harmonizing existing
standards
Metastandard - pro und cons
Limitation of a Metastandard Approach
Changes in the Metastandard do not apply
directly
Introduction of minimal
Standards
Existing/ qualifying
standards do not cover all commodities
Framework for a Metastandard
Modularity level of requirements Modularity level of scale
CoC
GHG
Ecological/ social
Economical
Scale
Silver
Gold
Minimal requirements
Bronze
Principles
Requirements must refer to different levels of the Metastandard-System
Silver
Gold
Minimal Requirements
Bronze
Sustainability CoC GHG Water
•No Go Areas•Book and claim •none •none
•No Go Areas•Ecological 1•Social 1
•Mass balance
•GHG (default) •Water
•No Go Areas•Ecological 2•Social 2•Economical
•Mass balance •GHG •Water
•No Go Areas•Ecological 3•Social 3•Economical
•Segregation •GHG 3 •Water
Requirements must apply to different steps within the supply chain
Agricultural Requirements
• Sustainability Ökologisch Sozial Ökonomisch
• Chain of Custody
Segregation Mass balance Book and claim
• THG Footprint
• H2O Footprint
Processing Requirements
• Sustainability Ökologisch Sozial Ökonomisch
• Chain of Custody
Segregation Mass balance Book and
claim
• THG Footprint
• H2O Footprint
Refinement Requirements
• Sustainability Ökologisch Sozial Ökonomisch
• Chain of Custody
Segregation Mass balance Book and claim
• THG Footprint
• H2O Footprint
Retailer Requirements
• Sustainability Ökologisch Sozial Ökonomisch
• Chain of Custody
Segregation Mass balance Book and claim
• THG Footprint
• H2O Footprint
Meta-System
Minimal requirements
4.Conclusion
Expansion of sustainability standards to all uses of biomass and all feedstock
Important step towards globalization of environmental and social sustainability standards
Implementation of comparable framework conditions for agricultural production on a global scale
Opening up of a huge potential for the reduction of GHG emissions and prevention of loss of biodiversity
Important step towards the decarbonization of the economy
Establishment of sustainability as an important criteria of differentiation in global agricultural and bioenergy markets
Recommendations to German Government
1. Policy recommendation:
a. Support a Metastandard systems as voluntary guidelines on national level (Action plan at national level)
b. Initiate an international process for defining sustainable land use criteria focused on sustainable production
2. Economic incentives a. Grants or subsidies for a sustainable product
b. Funding schemes for sustainable production
c. Support market access (e.g. bio-based leading market initiative)
3. Granting of credit (financial sector)
Policy recommendations
4. Development of regulatory taxes (Sanctions)a. Increasing the existing environmental and energy taxes to enable a
corresponding reduction of subsidies supporting bio energy production and use.
b. Regulatory taxation for the material use of non-renewable, fossil carbon resources
5. Tax instruments (Incentive)Proposal of staggering VAT guided by greenhouse gas emission savings
6. Labelling as consumer driven instrumentBetter world logo as guideline for consumer
Bronce StandardSilver StandardGOLD StandardBetter World Logo
Global Sustainability Requirements for Agriculture Commodities- Feasibility Study and Pilottest
1. Analyses of the political and economical framework conditions
2. Recommendations for the implementation of global sustainability standards (esp. Focus on policy recommendations)
3. Pilot tests from different economic sectors (chemical industry, food and feed industry)
4. Dialogue with experts (national consultance of experts, European conference)
With support of
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