The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) has today published its first annual report. The report covers the calendar year 2016, and is available at: www.sbp-cert.org/documents/annual-reports.

Carsten Huljus, SBP Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The report provides an easy-to-follow guide to SBP, which we hope helps to communicate what is a fairly complex certification system. The performance review takes a good look at the key outputs of 2016. A lot has been achieved in a short period and we are grateful to all our stakeholders for the invaluable support they have given to the process.

“The current governance arrangements are described alongside the critical role of independent oversight. In linking good governance and independent oversight we aim to deliver a credible and robust certification system.

“I trust our first annual report will make a good base against which we will be able to monitor and report on our performance and progress in the coming years”.

The Certification Body, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), became an ‘SBP-approved’ Certification Body in May 2016.

As part of the SBP’s processes and procedures, a Certification Body is evaluated against SBP’s requirements (SBP Standard 3). Where those requirements are not fulfilled a non-conformity is raised against the Certification Body’s own process and procedures. In cases where an approved Certification Body does not effectively implement corrective action of a major non-conformity and demonstrate conformity within the required timeframe, SBP shall immediately start the suspension process.

Consequently, PwC has been suspended (effective date 23 January 2017) for SBP biomass producer (including Supply Base Evaluation) and supply chain certification for Canada and the USA.

Once evidence has been provided that the major non-conformities in question have been closed, and providing the other SBP requirements are still fully met, SBP will be able to lift the suspension. However, the period of suspension shall not exceed six months unless specifically authorised by SBP.

Until the suspension is lifted, PwC shall not enter into new agreements for certification, and may only perform initial certification services with explicit written approval from SBP. PwC shall, however, continue to conduct surveillance audits for existing clients during the period of suspension

SBP has today launched a consultation as part of its governance transition process.

Following a comprehensive review of 12 certification systems in operation across a variety of sectors a proposal for the new governance arrangements for SBP has been developed. The overriding objective is to transform SBP into a multi-stakeholder governed organisation. Further details on the governance transition process may be viewed here.

As part of the process we are now consulting on the key documents that will underpin the new structure and define the core of SBP’s future governance arrangements.

Thomas Dalsgaard, Chairman of SBP, commented: “We are at an important stage in the development of the certification system. Our plan to transform SBP into a multi-stakeholder organisation is gaining momentum and the new arrangements are on schedule for implementation in early 2019.

“This consultation is fundamental to the new arrangements and we encourage interested parties to take part and help to shape SBP’s future”.

The documents on which we are seeking stakeholders’ views can be found at: https://sbp-cert.org/documents/consultation-documents/live-consultations. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments and feedback using the templates provided by 31 January 2018. All responses should be sent to info@sbp-cert.org.

NEPCon has become the first Certification Body to be accredited by Accreditation Services International (ASI) for SBP certification services.

ASI, the appointed accreditation body for the SBP certification system, has undertaken a thorough assessment of the processes and procedures in place at NEPCon and is satisfied that the accreditation requirements for the SBP certification system have been met.

The ASI accreditation process starts with a desk review of supporting documentation from the Certification Body, and is followed by an on-site head office assessment. The last stage is a witness assessment of a Certification Body audit. A recommendation decision is then submitted to the ASI Accreditation Committee, with the final accreditation decision taken by the ASI Managing Director.

Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented: “The accreditation process introduces an important level of independent, third-party oversight, bringing SBP into line with other, well-recognised certification systems. I congratulate NEPCon on their achievement.”

Certification Bodies must become accredited by ASI if they wish to provide SBP certification services to their clients and prospective clients from 1 January 2018. The requirement applies to all Certification Bodies, including those that are currently SBP-approved.

Control Union Certifications BV (CUC) has become the second Certification Body to be accredited by Accreditation Services International (ASI) for SBP certification services.

ASI, the appointed accreditation body for the SBP certification system, has undertaken a thorough assessment of the processes and procedures in place at CUC and is satisfied that the accreditation requirements for the SBP certification system have been met. Further details and the accreditation certificate can be found at: http://www.accreditation-services.com/archives/certification_bodies/control-union-certifications-b-v-5.

The ASI accreditation process starts with a desk review of supporting documentation from the Certification Body, and is followed by an on-site head office assessment. The last stage is a witness assessment of a Certification Body audit. A recommendation decision is then submitted to the ASI Accreditation Committee, with the final accreditation decision taken by the ASI Managing Director.

Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented: “The accreditation process introduces an important level of independent, third-party oversight, bringing SBP into line with other, well-recognised certification systems. I congratulate Control Union Certifications on their achievement.”

Certification Bodies must become accredited by ASI if they wish to provide SBP certification services to their clients and prospective clients from 1 January 2018. The requirement applies to all Certification Bodies, including those that are currently SBP-approved.

SCS Global Services (SCS) has become the third Certification Body to be accredited by Accreditation Services International (ASI) for SBP certification services.

ASI, the appointed accreditation body for the SBP certification system, has undertaken a thorough assessment of the processes and procedures in place at SCS and is satisfied that the accreditation requirements for the SBP certification system have been met. Further details and the accreditation certificate can be found at: http://www.accreditation-services.com/archives/certification_bodies/scs-global-services-4.

The ASI accreditation process starts with a desk review of supporting documentation from the Certification Body, and is followed by an on-site head office assessment. The last stage is a witness assessment of a Certification Body audit. A recommendation decision is then submitted to the ASI Accreditation Committee, with the final accreditation decision taken by the ASI Managing Director.

Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented: “I congratulate SCS Global Services on their achievement. There are now three Certification Bodies accredited for SBP certification, which is an important step in SBP’s development and one that underpins the independent oversight of our certification system.”

Certification Bodies must become accredited by ASI if they wish to provide SBP certification services to their clients and prospective clients from 1 January 2018. The requirement applies to all Certification Bodies, including those that are currently SBP-approved.

SBP has today published the final draft Regional Risk Assessment for Portugal. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the draft.

Regional Risk Assessments are a key part of SBP’s focus on identifying and mitigating risks associated with sourcing feedstock for biomass wood pellet and woodchip production. The SBP certification system is designed to provide assurance that all feedstock is sourced legally and sustainably.

Feedstock certified at the forest level through FSC^® or PEFC schemes and feedstock from recycled sources is automatically SBP-compliant. All other feedstock must be evaluated using a risk-based approach.

Typically, the Biomass Producer – a pellet or woodchip mill – is responsible for carrying out the risk assessment and putting in place mitigation measures to manage any specified risks such that they can be considered as controlled and hence low risk. It is the role of an independent, third-party Certification Body to check that the feedstock evaluation has been correctly undertaken.

The purpose of a Regional Risk Assessment is to evaluate an entire geographic region and determine the risks associated with sourcing feedstock for biomass wood pellet or woodchip production from that region. Thus, the need for individual Biomass Producers to conduct risk assessments is avoided. Further, Regional Risk Assessments are particularly valuable where statutory protection for forested land is limited.

Carsten Huljus, SBP Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Identifying and managing any risks so as to prevent illegal and unsustainable feedstock entering the supply chain of biomass used in energy production is central to the role of SBP.

“We encourage interested parties to take part in the consultation”.

The final draft Regional Risk Assessment for Portugal may be viewed at: https://sbp-cert.org/documents/consultation-documents/draft-regional-risk-assessment-portugal.  Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the final draft to info@sbp-cert.org by the close of business on Friday, 16 February 2018.

DNV GL Business Assurance Finland Oy Ab (DNV GL) has become the fourth Certification Body to be accredited by Accreditation Services International (ASI) for SBP certification services.

ASI, the appointed accreditation body for the SBP certification system, has undertaken a thorough assessment of the processes and procedures in place at SCS and is satisfied that the accreditation requirements for the SBP certification system have been met. Further details and the accreditation certificate can be found at: http://www.accreditation-services.com/archives/certification_bodies/dnv-gl-business-assurance-finland-oy-ab.

The ASI accreditation process starts with a desk review of supporting documentation from the Certification Body, and is followed by an on-site head office assessment. The last stage is a witness assessment of a Certification Body audit. A recommendation decision is then submitted to the ASI Accreditation Committee, with the final accreditation decision taken by the ASI Managing Director.

Carsten Huljus, Chief Executive Officer of SBP, commented: “I congratulate DNV GL Business Assurance Finland on their achievement. There are now four Certification Bodies accredited for SBP certification, representing a solid foundation for our ongoing work with ASI and that of delivering assurance of quality certification”.

In August 2017, SBP submitted its certification system to the Dutch regulator for benchmarking against the requirements of the Dutch SDE+ subsidy scheme. ADBE, the Commission responsible for carrying out the benchmarking, has concluded their preliminary assessment. The assessment, whilst positive, identified several areas that would need to be addressed should SBP wish to achieve full compliance with the requirements of SDE+.

The assessment procedure was developed on the assumption that certification schemes would not be modified as a result of the findings. However, having received the preliminary assessment and considered its findings, SBP has taken the decision to modify its certification system to incorporate certain specific requirements of SDE+.

The nature of the assessment procedure means that SBP must first withdraw its current application and then make a new submission, which incorporates the necessary modifications. The new submission will focus on biomass produced from secondary feedstock only, with the aim of enabling the Dutch market to be supplied with biomass carrying an SBP claim. The modifications are not expected to have any material impact on companies in the supply chain.

In parallel, SBP will determine the market demand for biomass produced from primary feedstock, and should there be sufficient demand SBP will consider further modifications to meet the SDE+ requirements specific to primary feedstock.

The Dutch regulator has confirmed that, for the interim period, which is expected to run until the end of 2018, the SBP Chain of Custody system in combination with FSC and PEFC endorsed Forest Management claims, can be used to demonstrate compliance with the Dutch sustainability requirements.

SBP has today announced the appointment of Francis Sullivan as its independent, non-executive Chair, effective from 1 July 2018. The appointment marks the first step in the implementation of SBP’s new, multi-stakeholder governance model.

Francis, currently a Senior Adviser at HSBC Holdings plc, will replace Thomas Dalsgaard, Executive Vice President of Ørsted and CEO of Ørsted Energy Thermal Power, who has held the office of Chair since October 2016. Thomas will step down as an SBP director and Chair of the SBP Board coincident with Francis taking up his appointment.

Francis has a background in environmental science, specialising in forestry and land use, and spent the first 16 years of his career with WWF, the conservation organisation, in various leadership roles, during which time he played a major role in establishing the Forest Stewardship Council. He then moved to HSBC, the multinational bank, to lead its work on integrating sustainability and climate change mitigation perspectives into the business. After 14 years at HSBC, Francis brings with him a wealth of experience and understanding of delivering sustainability solutions in a commercial setting.

Commenting on his appointment, Francis Sullivan said: “I am delighted to be appointed as SBP’s first independent Chair. The transition SBP is making towards a multi-stakeholder governed organisation is in line with best practice as demonstrated by leading sustainability standards. It is a bold and positive step to balance environmental, social and commercial interests on the Board. I look forward to playing a full part in the implementation of the new arrangements to achieve SBP’s vision”.

Thomas Dalsgaard, who led the search and selection process, commented: “I am pleased that Francis has accepted the role of independent Chair. Francis’ strong background and experience make him well equipped to provide leadership to the SBP Board during the transformation to a multi-stakeholder organisation. I am confident that I shall be leaving SBP in safe and competent hands”.