Decarbonisation Technology May 2025 Issue

Certified material

Segregated in bookkeeping

Market

Segregated in bookkeeping

Non-certied material

Figure 4 Mass balance approach in certified supply chains

sustainability and traceability standards. SAF can be certified under all three ISCC schemes, while AMF certification occurs under both ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS. Each actor in the supply chain handling the alternative material – whether involved in production, collection, processing, storage, or trading – must hold valid ISCC certification. The supply chain for SAF and AMF begins at the source and may vary depending on the feedstock type. For bio-based feedstocks, the journey starts at a farm or plantation. In the case of bio-circular materials from waste or residues of biological origin, as well as circular materials from fossil-based waste or residues, the supply chain starts at the point of origin. The chain for renewable feedstocks begins at the renewable electricity unit. For each actor in the supply chain to handle these materials, a valid ISCC certification issued by a CB is required, and verifiable documentation that sustainability criteria are being met at every stage must be available. Evidence of such is passed along using a Sustainability Declaration (SD), often referred to as a Proof of Sustainability (PoS), which is a delivery document containing information about the certified material and must be issued by the supplier for every delivery. Such a system safeguards sustainability claims are transparent, traceable, and verifiable, creating a robust framework for compliance and trust within the certified supply chain. Often, in aviation and maritime transport, alternative drop-in fuels are stored and distributed via a shared infrastructure, making

it impossible to segregate certified fuels from conventional fossil fuels physically. Therefore, SAF and AMF supply chains regularly utilise mass balance – a chain of custody option that accurately captures sustainability characteristics while allowing logistical flexibility. This approach tracks the quantity and sustainability characteristics of bio-based, circular, or renewable energy-derived materials in the value chain and attributes them based on verifiable bookkeeping. Importance of certification for market integrity and credibility Certification plays a critical role in ensuring market integrity and credibility in the aviation and shipping industries, which are under increasing pressure to decarbonise and comply with stringent environmental regulations. As governments and investors increasingly prioritise net-zero commitments, certified SAF and AMF will be essential to future-proof organisations in the industry. With the transition to lower carbon fuels and sustainable operations well underway, certification provides a verifiable and transparent framework that reassures airlines, shipping companies, regulators, and consumers that sustainability claims are credible and measurable. Such frameworks not only support airlines and shipping companies in their compliance with regulatory requirements but also assist access to financial incentives, as certification encourages innovation by stimulating investment in advanced fuel production technologies, sustainable supply