Summary
Details
- Global
The RSB Global Advanced Products Certification is targeted at companies producing, processing, trading, or using non-energy products made from bio-based, recycled, or circular feedstocks — particularly in sectors such as plastics, chemicals, packaging, textiles, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, and advanced materials.
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Background
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) is an international multi-stakeholder organization that develops sustainability standards for bio-based and circular economy products. Originally focused on sustainable biofuels, RSB later expanded its framework to include biomaterials and non-energy products through the RSB Global Advanced Products Certification.
The certification is designed for manufacturers, processors, traders, and supply-chain operators working with advanced materials and alternative feedstocks. It applies to products derived from:
Bio-based feedstocks
Recycled carbon and waste-derived materials
Production systems combining renewable and fossil-based inputs
The scheme supports certification for a broad range of sectors including plastics, textiles, packaging, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food ingredients, pulp, and paper products. RSB’s framework is built around its 12 Principles and Criteria, which cover environmental protection, greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, as well as social issues like human rights, labor conditions, and land use. The certification also incorporates chain-of-custody and traceability requirements to track certified material through supply chains. A key feature of the scheme is its support for both bio-based and recycled fossil-derived inputs within circular economy systems. Certified companies may also make verified claims regarding fossil resource displacement, recycled content, and lifecycle GHG reductions.
Certification Requirements
Organizations seeking certification typically begin by defining the scope of their operations and identifying which RSB standards and procedures apply to their activities. RSB uses a risk-based approach, meaning requirements vary depending on feedstock type, processing activities, and supply-chain role.
Key certification requirements generally include:
Compliance with RSB’s environmental and social sustainability principles
Implementation of a traceability or chain-of-custody system
Documentation of feedstock sourcing and material flows
Lifecycle GHG accounting and reporting
Independent third-party auditing by an approved certification body
The certification recognizes several chain-of-custody models, including identity preservation, segregation, mass balance, content ratio accounting, and book-and-claim systems.
RSB divides certified advanced products into three categories:
Bio-based products
Products with recycled carbon content
Products produced using a combination of renewable/recycled and fossil feedstocks
For some categories, minimum sustainability content thresholds apply. For example, Category I bio-based products generally require at least 25% bio-based content, while Category II recycled-content products require at least 25% recycled carbon content.
Current Status and Outlook
The RSB Global Advanced Products Certification has become part of the broader growth of circular economy and alternative materials markets. RSB continues to update its standards and traceability framework to reflect evolving fuel pathways and regulatory developments. The RSB Standard for Advanced Fuels reached version 2.8 in April 2026 and includes requirements covering recycled carbon fuels (RCFs), electrofuels (e-fuels), renewable hydrogen, and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs). The scheme is increasingly used by companies seeking sustainability verification for advanced plastics, chemicals, renewable materials, and recycled-content products. It is particularly relevant as regulators and corporate buyers place greater scrutiny on environmental claims, recycled-content disclosures, lifecycle emissions, and supply-chain traceability, especially within corporate net-zero, circular economy, and sustainable procurement initiatives.
Resources
RSB Certification for Advanced Products - https://rsb.org/certification/certification-schemes/rsb-global-fuels-certification/
Guide to RSB Certification for Advanced Products - https://rsb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RSB-Guide-to-Certification-for-Advanced-Products.pdf
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