What Is RSB Certification and Who Needs It Under EU Renewable Fuel Rules?

Viktiga slutsatser

• Three EU mandates are active at once in 2026: FuelEU Maritime, ReFuelEU Aviation (REFEUA), and RED (Renewable Energy Directive) III. Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certification satisfies all three.  
• RSB EU RED, RSB’s own scheme aligned with the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (not to be confused with RED III itself), is recognized by the European Commission and accepted by the UK under its RTFO (Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation).  
• RSB CORSIA is recognized by ICAO for international aviation.  
• Bio-based fuel without recognized certification is automatically designated as the least efficient fossil fuel under FuelEU Maritime.
• The first FuelEU Maritime reporting period closed 31 December 2025. Reports were due to verifiers by 31 January 2026, verification completed by 31 March, and documents of compliance were issued by 30 June. 

Renewable fuel producers, traders, shipping operators, and aviation stakeholders are facing new regulations in Europe. FuelEU Maritime, ReFuelEU Aviation, and the Renewable Energy Directive III (commonly known as RED III) are all active in 2026, reshaping how bio-based fuels are recognized, documented, and counted toward compliance obligations across the region.

The result of these three overlapping regulations is a more demanding environment for companies operating across fuel markets. In the past, for example, fuels could be classified as bio-based or sustainably produced in theory, but today’s economy requires formal confirmation of these designations. To count toward key European requirements, sustainability claims must be supported by recognized certification, credible documentation, and chain-of-custody systems that can stand up to regulatory review.

In this article, we examine how the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certifications relate to different industries and fuel regulations. Widely used across renewable fuel markets, RSB certification functions in maritime, aviation, road transport, and voluntary markets where sustainability claims must be independently verified.  

For organizations working within more than one fuel pathway or jurisdiction, understanding how RSB certification aligns with EU requirements can help reduce complexity and support more consistent compliance planning.

What happens to uncertified bio-based fuels under FuelEU Maritime? 

FuelEU Maritime applies to ships over 5,000 gross tonnes on EU or European Economic Area (EEA; [EU member states plus Norway and Iceland]) routes and uses a phased reduction schedule for greenhouse gas intensity, beginning with a 2% reduction in 2025 and increasing over time. Non-compliance can result in financial penalties, and repeated non-compliance can create additional operational consequences.

FuelEU Maritime introduced new requirements for the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of energy used on ships calling at EU and EEA ports. Under the regulation, bio-based fuels must meet recognized sustainability and certification requirements to receive favorable treatment.  

In practical terms, this means that a shipping operator may purchase or use a bio-based fuel, but if the required certification and documentation are not in place, the fuel may not deliver the expected compliance benefit. This can create commercial and regulatory risk, particularly where fuel decisions were made before all documentation requirements were fully understood.

For shipping operators, fuel suppliers, and traders, a fuel’s renewability and sustainability go hand in hand, and these attributes must be documented through a certification scheme recognized for the relevant compliance pathway.

Why is 2026 important for renewable fuel compliance?

Several EU renewable fuel mandates are now active at the same time, creating overlapping requirements for companies that sell into more than one market. FuelEU Maritime affects maritime fuel use. ReFuelEU Aviation establishes requirements for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at EU airports. RED III raises the broader renewable energy ambition across the EU and strengthens the framework for determining which biofuels can count toward compliance.

Some significant facts to keep in mind:

• ReFuelEU Aviation (REFEUA) already requires a 2% SAF share at EU airports, and this is increasing to 6% in 2030 and 20% by 2035. This deadline is non-negotiable. If missed, the fuel doesn't count toward the mandate, regardless of how sustainable it may be. count toward the mandate, regardless of how sustainable it may be.
• RED III raised the EU's binding renewable energy target minimum to 42.5% total energy use by 2030, with an official stretch goal of 45% for the same 2030 deadline. It also tightened the rules that decide whether a biofuel counts at all, meaning certification is now mandatory.
• FuelEU Maritime sets a yearly limit on the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy a ship uses. Going over that limit will get a penalty that increases for each consecutive year a ship goes over it.

These intersecting regulations matter because producers and traders increasingly operate across multiple markets. A renewable fuel producer may serve aviation, maritime, and road transport customers and thus need to be compliant with all regulations touching each of these fuel types. Likewise, a trader may need documentation that supports claims about fuel provenance and sustainability in more than one market, for example in both the EU and the UK. And a buyer may need confidence that a certificate will be accepted when the time comes to report or verify compliance.

RSB EU RED is designed to align with the EU Renewable Energy Directive framework and is recognized by the European Commission. It is also accepted by the UK under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). This enables one certification pathway to support several regulatory use cases, including RED-related markets, ReFuelEU Aviation, FuelEU Maritime, and UK compliance.

For international aviation, RSB CORSIA supports eligibility under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). RSB Global also supports voluntary markets where regulatory requirements may not yet apply but where credible sustainability claims remain important.

Understanding the Different RSB Certification Pathways

For companies that operate across markets, selecting the right RSB pathway depends on the fuel type, feedstock, intended market, chain-of-custody model, and the claims that need to be supported. In some cases, one certification can help address multiple requirements. In others, the company may need to map its markets carefully before beginning the certification process.

Documentation, Chain of Custody, and Book & Claim

As renewable fuel markets expand, documentation is becoming just as important as sustainable production. Certification must demonstrate not only that a fuel meets sustainability requirements, but also that the sustainability attributes can be tracked, transferred, and claimed appropriately.

This is where chain of custody becomes central. Companies need systems that show how feedstocks, intermediate products, finished fuels, and sustainability claims move through the supply chain. Depending on the market, this may involve physical segregation, mass balance, or other recognized chain-of-custody models.

Book & Claim is also becoming more relevant, particularly in markets where the physical fuel and the sustainability claim may not move together. Under a Book & Claim model, the verified sustainability attributes of a fuel can be transferred separately from physical delivery, allowing organizations in different locations to support sustainable fuel use without requiring direct physical shipment of that specific fuel.

This can be especially useful for aviation and maritime fuel markets where infrastructure, geography, and supply availability may not always align neatly with buyer demand. Book & Claim requires strong controls, clear registry processes, and certification for the entities participating in the transaction.

What is driving RSB demand across Europe?

The cumulative momentum of RED III, ReFuelEU Aviation, and FuelEU Maritime is significant right now, and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) reinforces this movement, contributing to the effect of “everyone pulling in the same direction.” Europe is not the only significant driver of demand, however. Producers and traders in other regions increasingly treat RSB certification as an essential means of gaining access to European buyers. This is because a compliance submission recognizes the certificate, not the fuel's country of origin.

The Book & Claim system has grown alongside this gathering regulatory momentum. As alluded to in the previous section, the Book & Claim system separates the sustainability credentials of a fuel from its physical delivery, so a producer in one country can sell certified volume to a buyer elsewhere without shipping the actual fuel between them. That's what makes cross-border trade in sustainable fuel workable at all. It’s also helpful that RSB issues multisite certificates, which can help reduce overall fees associated with certification and thus, increase demand for RSB certification from a purely financial perspective.

What should be considered when preparing for RSB Certification?

Companies preparing for RSB certification should begin by clarifying the regulatory and commercial claims they need to support. A producer selling into the EU aviation market may have different documentation needs than a trader supporting maritime fuel claims or a company participating in voluntary renewable fuel markets. Some questions to answer before committing to certification:

• Which markets will the fuel be sold into?
• Which regulatory frameworks apply?
• What feedstocks are being used?
• How is the fuel tracked through the supply chain?
• Will sustainability attributes be transferred physically, through mass balance, or through Book & Claim?
• Which entities in the supply chain need to be certified?
• What documentation will customers need for compliance reporting? 

These questions can help companies think through necessary precursors to certification, because above all, successful certification reflects an established, verifiable system functioning properly that can demonstrate that sustainability claims are supported by recognized standards, documented processes, and credible verification.

What experience matters in complex renewable fuel markets?

As demand for RSB certification grows, companies may encounter a range of certification providers. While approved certification bodies operate under the same RSB framework, renewable fuel certification can involve complex technical questions, particularly when projects include novel feedstocks, multi-site operations, international supply chains, aviation or maritime claims, or Book & Claim transactions.

In these situations, practical experience can help reduce friction. An auditor who understands feedstock evaluation, chain-of-custody systems, and the documentation expectations of regulated fuel markets can help companies prepare more efficiently and avoid common gaps before they become compliance problems.

For companies entering the certification process now, this type of experience can be valuable not because certification is a marketing exercise, but because renewable fuel compliance often depends on getting the details right from the beginning.

Planering framåt

The renewable fuel market in Europe is moving quickly. FuelEU Maritime, ReFuelEU Aviation, RED III, and related market mechanisms are putting more pressure on producers, traders, and operators to substantiate sustainability claims with recognized certification and reliable documentation.

For companies using or supplying bio-based fuels, early preparation can make the certification process more manageable. Understanding which RSB pathway applies, how chain of custody will be documented, and which entities need certification can help avoid delays once customers or regulators begin requesting evidence.

SCS Global Services issued RSB’s first certification in North America in 2012 and has certified under the scheme in Europe since 2014. To this day, we specialize in supporting companies navigating RSB certification for renewable fuels, including aviation, maritime, road transport, and voluntary market applications. Our team can help organizations interpret requirements, evaluate certification pathways, and prepare for the documentation and audit process.

Contact our RSB certification team to discuss your fuel pathway, feedstock, chain-of-custody model, and market objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RSB certification required for FuelEU Maritime compliance?

FuelEU Maritime does not require RSB certification by name. It requires bio-based fuels to meet sustainability and certification requirements under a recognized voluntary scheme aligned with the Renewable Energy Directive framework. RSB EU RED is one recognized pathway that can support compliance.  

Does a shipping operator become RSB certified by buying certified fuel?

Not necessarily. Certification typically applies to the fuel producer and relevant entities in the chain of custody. For shipping operators, the benefit is the verified documentation associated with certified fuel, which can support FuelEU Maritime reporting.

What is the difference between RSB EU RED, RSB CORSIA, and RSB Global ?

RSB EU RED is recognized by the European Commission and serves EU regulatory markets, including RED III, ReFuelEU Aviation, and FuelEU Maritime. RSB CORSIA, recognized by ICAO in December 2020, makes SAF eligible under the international aviation scheme. RSB Global is the voluntary standard for markets without RED-aligned rules. All three are built on the same set of RSB Principles and Criteria, 12 in total, covering everything from legal compliance and greenhouse gas emissions to labor rights and land use.

Can one RSB certificate cover multiple production sites?

Yes. RSB can issue multisite certificates, which may be useful for companies operating across more than one site.

What is Book & Claim?

Book & Claim is a chain-of-custody mechanism that allows the verified sustainability attributes of a fuel to be transferred separately from physical delivery. Companies registering units in the RSB Book & Claim Registry must hold RSB Trader certification. The first certified transaction for sustainable maritime fuels under the Book & Claim system closed in Q2 2026.

Om författaren

Miguel Ruiz is Program Manager for RSB Certifications at SCS Global Services and a certified auditor for leading sustainability certification schemes, including RSB and ISCC. He is an experienced Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) practitioner with expertise in sustainability, carbon accounting, renewable energy systems, and low-carbon value chains. In his role, Miguel supports organizations in demonstrating compliance with sustainability standards and advancing decarbonization strategies.  

Prior to joining SCS Global Services, he worked as a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), contributing to projects focused on energy system decarbonization. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement), specializing in biomass co-refining and sustainable bio-based value chains, as well as an advanced degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Granada. His multidisciplinary background combines scientific research, sustainability certification, and technical expertise in renewable and bio-based solutions.