International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) is a globally recognized, multi-stakeholder certification system designed to ensure the sustainability, traceability, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings of biomass and bio-based products across international supply chains. ISCC provides certification for a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, forestry, energy, food, chemicals, and packaging.
ISCC was the first international system capable of verifying sustainability and GHG reductions for all types of biomass and bioenergy. Developed through the contributions of over 250 stakeholders from Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia, ISCC is known for its practical orientation, cost-efficiency, and broad acceptance in regulatory and voluntary markets, including compliance with the European Union Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED).
The system certifies that biomass is not sourced from areas with high biodiversity value, high carbon stock (such as primary forests and peatlands), or areas with legally protected ecosystems. It ensures that production practices safeguard soil, water, and air quality, uphold labor and human rights, and respect land use rights and food security.
ISCC certification involves rigorous audits, chain-of-custody verification, and monitoring of GHG emissions throughout the lifecycle of certified materials. By promoting sustainable land use, emissions reduction, and transparent supply chains, ISCC contributes to the global transition towards a low-carbon and circular bioeconomy.
Standards and Guidelines
- ISCC EU 102 Governance – General principles governing ISCC globally. v4.1 (Jan 2024).
- ISCC EU 103 – Requirements for Certification Bodies and Auditors v4.1 (Jan 2024).
- ISCC EU 201 – System Basics v4.1 (Jan 2024).
- ISCC EU 202-1 – Agricultural Biomass: ISCC Principle 1 v4.1 (Jan 2024).
- ISCC EU 202-2 – Agricultural Biomass: ISCC Principles 2- .v1.1 (Dec 2022).
- ISCC EU 202-3 – Forest Biomass: ISCC Principle 1 v1.0 (Dec 2024).
- ISCC EU 202-4 – Forest Biomass: ISCC Principles 2-6 v1.0 (Mar 2023).
- ISCC EU 202-5 – Waste and Residues v4.1 (Jan 2024).
- ISCC EU 202-6 – RFNBO and RCF v1.4 (Jan 2025).
- ISCC EU 202-07 – Low ILUC Risk Feedstock v1.1 (Aug 2024).
- ISCC EU 203 – Traceability and Chain of Custody v4.1 (Jan 2024).
- ISCC EU 204 – Risk Management v4.1 (Jan 2024).
- ISCC EU 205 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions v4.1 (Jan 2024).
- ISCC EU 205-1 – RFNBO and RCF Greenhouse Gas Emissions v1.4 (Jan 2025).