Green Gold Label (GGL) is an international certification system developeda to ensure the sustainable, traceable, and responsible sourcing of biomass and bioenergy. Initially established to certify sustainable biomass for energy generation, GGL has evolved into a globally recognized system that covers a wide range of biomass feedstocks across the entire supply chain — from production to end-use.
GGL is designed to provide assurance to regulators, energy producers, and other stakeholders that biomass used for energy or industrial purposes complies with stringent environmental, social, and economic sustainability criteria. The system incorporates both chain of custody verification and sustainability assessment, ensuring traceability and legality at every stage of the biomass supply chain.
The certification is applicable to producers, traders, processors, and end-users of biomass and bio-based products. GGL-certified biomass must not originate from areas with high conservation value, high carbon stock, or peatlands, and must be produced under practices that minimize environmental degradation, uphold labor rights, and respect local communities. Compliance is verified by accredited independent certification bodies through regular audits.
Green Gold Label supports alignment with international sustainability frameworks, including the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), and is compatible with voluntary carbon market initiatives. Its robust certification process enables market access, particularly for entities seeking to meet renewable energy targets and sustainability reporting obligations.
Standards and Guidelines
- GGLS1 – COC criteria v3-1.
- GGLS1 Annex – List of Prohibited Materials v1-0.
- GGLS2 – Agricultural Source Criteria v2-3.
- GGLS4 – Transaction and Product Certificate v2-2.
- GGLS4a.-Transaction-statement-v1-4-template.
- GGLS4b. Transaction statement guidance v1-1.
- GGLS5 – Forest Management Criteria v2-4.
- GGLS6 – Power Company Criteria v1-2.