2BSvs certification: EU-Recognized Certification for Sustainable Bioenergy

Background

2BS was established in 2012, following the introduction of the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Its purpose was to translate the Directive's sustainability requirements into an auditable certification system that could be used by agricultural producers, biomass suppliers, processors, traders and fuel producers.

Under the Renewable Energy Directive, qualifying biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels must satisfy sustainability and GHG emissions-saving criteria to count towards EU renewable-energy objectives and qualify for certain regulatory treatment. The EU permits recognized voluntary certification schemes to verify compliance with these requirements. 2BSvs is one such scheme.

Certification Requirements

2BSvs follows biomass and renewable fuels through the supply chain, from biomass production and collection through processing, fuel production and trading. The exact requirements depend on the operator's role and the material concerned. Its requirements broadly focus on:

• Sustainable feedstocks: Agricultural and other biomass must satisfy RED sustainability requirements, including restrictions concerning biomass sourced from land with high biodiversity value or certain converted land.

• GHG emissions: Applicable fuels must meet the RED's lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions-saving requirements compared with their fossil-fuel reference.

• Traceability and mass balance: Certified material must be tracked through the supply chain, with operators maintaining the information required to demonstrate the origin, quantity and sustainability characteristics of material.

• Waste and residues: Operators using waste and residue feedstocks must demonstrate their eligibility and comply with specific requirements intended to establish their origin and status.

• Documentation and controls: Certified organizations must maintain appropriate records, sustainability declarations and other evidence needed to demonstrate conformity during audits.

2BSvs accepts evidence from other voluntary schemes recognized by the European Commission, provided the material falls within the scope for which the other scheme has been recognized. This facilitates the movement of certified material between operators using different EU-recognized schemes.

Certification and Auditing

Certification is carried out by independent certification bodies referenced by 2BS. An organization first registers with 2BS and contracts with an approved certification body, which then performs the certification audit against the standards relevant to the organization's activities.

A 2BSvs certificate is valid for five years, subject to annual audits. Operators must therefore continue demonstrating conformity after initial certification rather than treating certification as a one-off assessment. Changes to an organization's certification scope can also trigger additional audit requirements.

Current Status

2BSvs has been updated to reflect RED III, following the adoption of Directive (EU) 2023/2413. Changes include updated GHG-saving requirements and revised provisions affecting bioenergy operators. The European Commission validated the updated 2BSvs documentation in 2025. For companies supplying renewable fuels or biomass into European markets, 2BSvs therefore provides an independently audited route for demonstrating that relevant products meet the RED sustainability, traceability and GHG emissions requirements.

Resources

• https://www.2bsvs.org/fees/how-to-get-certified/

• https://www.2bsvs.org/fees/documents/

• https://www.2bsvs.org/certificates/valid-certificates/