We link to the official source rather than hosting copies, and you should be suspicious of sites that do the opposite. Scheme documents are updated, sometimes several times a year, and a downloaded copy sitting on a third party website goes stale silently. Someone then files last year's form and finds out at audit. On top of that these are the schemes' own copyrighted documents, and several of the mandatory templates sit in a members' area precisely because they are controlled. So: links to the current version, plus our own explanation of which document does what, which is the part that is genuinely hard to find.
- 1Origin of the material
- 2Chain of custody
- 3Mass balance bookkeeping
- 4Scheme certificate
- 5Claim on the invoice
A claim is only as good as the weakest box to its left.
Start here: the Commission's own list
Before you pick a scheme, check it is currently recognised. The European Commission maintains the authoritative list of voluntary schemes recognised for demonstrating compliance under the Renewable Energy Directive, and recognition is granted for a period and then renewed. A certificate under a scheme whose recognition has lapsed is a problem you do not want to discover at the receiving end.
- European Commission, voluntary schemes is the master list and the only source that settles an argument about whether a scheme counts.
The checklist: exactly what you need, per product
The question we are asked more than any other, and the one this page exists to answer. The full list of documents in this trade is long; the list for your specific cargo is short. Here is what a European buyer will actually ask for.
| Product | Always required | Additionally, and often forgotten |
|---|---|---|
| Used cooking oil | Dated analysis (FFA, MIU, IV, sulphur) · scheme certificate with the scope visible · Proof of Sustainability per consignment · SDS from the supplier | Self declaration at the point of origin, signed where the waste arose. Going to a hydrotreater? Add silicon and phosphorus |
| Animal fats and tallow | Analysis (FFA, MIU, titre) · ABP category (1, 2 or 3) · approval number of the rendering establishment · scheme certificate · PoS | Commercial document under Regulation (EU) No 142/2011. For import: health certificate and the border control post |
| Fish oil and marine fats | Analysis with iodine value · ABP category and establishment approval · health certificate for import | Annex IX status confirmed in writing by the certifier. Fish oil is not named as its own entry, so do not assume |
| Vegetable oils | Analysis (FFA, MIU, peroxide, colour) · scheme certificate · PoS | EUDR evidence for palm and soy: geolocation of the plots and the due diligence statement |
| FAME and HVO | Certificate of analysis against EN 14214 or EN 15940 · PoS with the greenhouse gas figure · SDS | The CFPP grade for the destination country and season. A compliant cargo can still be unsellable in the wrong month |
| Plastic waste and pyrolysis oil | Analysis including chlorine and silicon · waste classification · receiving installation's permit · SDS | For movement: notification under Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 where it applies. For a circular claim: ISCC PLUS, not ISCC EU |
| Crude glycerine | Analysis with glycerol content, MONG, ash, salt and methanol · SDS | Methanol above roughly 0.5 % changes the transport classification. Settle it before the truck is booked |
Three things fail more often than everything else combined. The scheme certificate does not cover the activity actually being performed, most often storage. The self declaration at the point of origin is missing, which cannot be fixed retrospectively because it has to be signed where the waste arose. And the entity name differs between the certificate, the invoice and the bill of lading, which stops a compliance desk cold no matter how good the material is.
Send us the pack before you send it to a buyer. We will tell you what is missing in a day rather than letting you find out over three weeks and one lost enquiry. It costs you nothing and it is the single most useful thing we do for a first-time exporter.
The schemes, and where their documents live
Each of these publishes its own system documents, procedures and templates. Where a template is mandatory it usually sits in the members' or client area, which is a good sign rather than an obstacle: controlled documents should be controlled.
| ISCC | The scheme most feedstock and pyrolysis oil trades run under, with ISCC EU for the Renewable Energy Directive and ISCC PLUS for circular and bio-based materials. System documents, procedures and templates: ISCC documents. Scheme overview: iscc-system.org. |
|---|---|
| REDcert | Widely used in Germany and across the EU, with REDcert EU for the Directive and REDcert2 for the chemical industry. redcert.org. |
| 2BSvs | French origin, common on agricultural feedstocks and widely accepted across the EU. 2bsvs.org. |
| KZR INiG | Polish scheme, frequently seen on central and eastern European volumes. kzr.inig.eu. |
| SURE | Focused on solid and gaseous biomass for heat and power. sure-system.org. |
| Bonsucro | Sugarcane and its derivatives, including ethanol. bonsucro.com. |
| CertifHy | Hydrogen and derivatives, relevant if you are moving toward RFNBOs. certifhy.eu. |
| Others | RSB, Better Biomass, RTRS, Red Tractor, SQC, TASCC and UFAS also appear. Check the Commission list above for current status before relying on any of them. |
Which document does what
This is the part people actually get stuck on. The names sound interchangeable and are not.
| Proof of Sustainability (PoS) | Issued per consignment by a certified operator, carrying the sustainability characteristics down the chain. This is the document that decides whether a volume counts for a mandate. Not a certificate, not a declaration: it travels with the goods. |
|---|---|
| Sustainability Declaration | The declaration accompanying a delivery within a scheme, confirming the material meets the scheme's requirements. Terminology varies between schemes, which is exactly why people mix it up with a PoS. |
| Self declaration (point of origin) | Signed by the party where a waste or residue arises, confirming what the material is and that it is genuinely a waste or residue. The foundation of an Annex IX claim, and the document most often missing from a thin file. |
| Scheme certificate | Proves the OPERATOR is certified, with a scope and a validity period. It says nothing about any particular cargo. Always check the scope covers both the product and the activity: see ISCC certification. |
| Certificate of analysis | The measured values for one batch. Nothing to do with sustainability; everything to do with whether the cargo meets contract. See test methods. |
| Safety data sheet | Hazard and handling information, issued by the supplier. Structure and a section by section checklist: SDS template. |
| Waste shipment paperwork | Annex VII, or a full notification dossier where consent is required. Changed materially in 2026: see waste plastics. |
The legislation itself, in one place
- Directive (EU) 2018/2001, RED II and Directive (EU) 2023/2413, RED III, including Annex IX.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on shipments of waste.
- Regulation (EU) 2025/40, packaging and packaging waste.
- Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, REACH and Regulation (EU) 2020/878 for the safety data sheet format.
- Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 on animal by-products, which governs category 1, 2 and 3 material.
- Directive 2008/98/EC, the Waste Framework Directive, for waste status and end of waste.
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, deforestation free products.
Always read the consolidated text on the date that matters to you. Legislation is amended, and a provision quoted from a blog post is worth nothing in an audit.
What we can actually do with all this
- Tell you which documents your specific trade needs, which is a shorter list than this page suggests and depends on product, origin and destination.
- Check a file before it goes to a buyer. Most rejected enquiries fail on a missing self declaration, an out of scope certificate or an undated analysis, not on price.
- Introduce you to a certification body and stay involved through the audit rather than handing you over: see ISCC certification.
- Read a certificate properly. Scope, validity and the exact product listed. We have turned down volumes on scope alone, and that is cheaper than finding out later.
The Proof of Sustainability, and what it has to demonstrate
This is the document people ask about most and understand least. A Proof of Sustainability travels with the consignment, not with the company. It is issued by a certified operator for a specific delivery, and it is what allows the volume downstream to be counted against a mandate. Without it your material is chemically identical and commercially worth a great deal less.
- It is per consignment. A scheme certificate proves the operator is certified. A Proof of Sustainability proves this delivery qualifies. Sending a certificate when a buyer asked for a PoS is one of the most common delays we see.
- It carries the greenhouse gas figure. Plants commissioned from 2021 onward have to demonstrate at least a 65 percent greenhouse gas saving. The figure can be built from default values where they exist for that feedstock, or from actual calculated values, and which route you use has to be consistent and auditable.
- It rests on the chain of custody behind it. Records have to run from the point of origin through to the point of delivery, and a certified operator is audited annually by an independent body. The PoS is the visible end of that chain; the audit is what makes it worth anything.
- The exact form belongs to the scheme. Each scheme publishes its own template and updates it, which is why we link to ISCC documents rather than hosting a copy that would quietly go out of date.
The practical failure we see most often is not a missing PoS but an inconsistent one: a greenhouse gas figure that does not match the declared feedstock route, a consignment volume that does not tie back to the delivery documents, or a certificate whose scope does not actually cover the product being sold. Any of those turns up at the buyer's audit rather than at yours, which is the expensive moment to find out.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a Proof of Sustainability?
A document issued by a certified operator for a specific consignment, confirming that this delivery meets the sustainability requirements of a recognised scheme. It travels with the goods rather than with the company, and it is what allows the volume to be counted against a mandate downstream. It is not the same as the scheme certificate, which proves only that the operator is certified.
What greenhouse gas saving does a biofuel have to show?
For plants commissioned from 2021 onward, at least 65 percent. The figure can be built from default values where they exist for that feedstock, or from actual calculated values specific to your raw material and process. Whichever route you use has to be applied consistently and has to survive the annual audit.
Where do I get the actual PoS template?
From the scheme itself. Each one publishes and updates its own form, so a copy hosted anywhere else goes out of date without anyone noticing. ISCC's documents are at iscc-system.org, with the mandatory templates in the client area. What we can do is check the one you have filled in before a buyer sees it.
Where can I download an ISCC sustainability declaration template?
From ISCC itself, at ISCC documents. Mandatory templates sit in the client area, which is deliberate: controlled documents should be controlled, and a copy hosted elsewhere goes stale without anyone noticing. We link to the current version rather than hosting our own copy for exactly that reason.
What is the difference between a Proof of Sustainability and a certificate?
A certificate proves the OPERATOR is certified, with a scope and a validity period, and says nothing about any particular cargo. A Proof of Sustainability is issued per consignment and carries the sustainability characteristics with the goods. You need both, and confusing them is one of the most common reasons a file gets sent back.
Which certification schemes are recognised in the EU?
The European Commission maintains the authoritative list, and recognition runs for a period and is then renewed, so check it rather than assuming. The ones you are most likely to meet in feedstocks and renewable fuels are ISCC, REDcert, 2BSvs, KZR INiG, SURE and Bonsucro, with CertifHy relevant for hydrogen and derivatives.
Do you host copies of these documents?
No, and that is a considered decision rather than laziness. Scheme documents are updated regularly, and a copy on a third party site goes stale silently until someone files an outdated form and discovers it at audit. They are also the schemes' own copyrighted documents. Linking to the issuing body means you always get the current version.
What is a self declaration for a point of origin?
A signed statement from the party where a waste or residue arises, confirming what the material is and that it genuinely is a waste or residue rather than something produced deliberately. It underpins an Annex IX claim and is the document most often missing when a file looks thin. See Annex IX feedstocks.
Can you help us get certified?
We introduce you to a certification body, help you prepare, and stay involved through the audit rather than handing you over at the door. What we cannot do is issue certificates or declarations ourselves, and neither can any broker: those come from certified operators and accredited bodies, which is what makes them worth having. See ISCC certification.
Market news
Recent headlines from across the feedstock and renewable fuel sector. Nothing specific to this market has come through the wires lately, so this is the wider view. The links go to the publisher; we do not host or edit their reporting, and a headline here is not our endorsement of it. Scroll for more.
- Indonesia’s palm oil export growth slows ahead of B50 biodiesel rollout
- Sorghum producers urge US Senate to preserve year-round E15
- Peninsula and Evos plan biofuel hub at Algeciras
- PureCycle increases revenue in Q3
- PowerCell clinches SEK 21 million order for integrated Fuel-to-Power system
- MFA looking to address maritime liens in bunker contracts to support the understanding of rights, risks, and remedies for stakeholders
- BASF’s engineering plastics plants in Shanghai and Zhanjiang certified ISCC PLUS
- BASF: ISCC Plus-Zertifizierung von zwei Produktionsstandorten für technische Kunststoffe in China
- IPG launches new PCR Air Pillow Film
- New IMarEST analysis evaluates IMO NZF amendment options ahead of ISWG-GHG 22
- Results of new MESD study ‘demonstrate the qualified readiness of existing large harbour craft in Singapore for B100 adoption’
- Envision to explore green hydrogen design for Sasol’s Sasolburg facility
- INEOS and Recuro sign memorandum of understanding to construct advanced recycling facility in Norway
- Scaling circular investment: From barriers to opportunity
- Circular Packaging Challenge 2026: international open call for startups advancing packaging circularity
- RI.CIRCO.LO.: helping Lombardy's SMEs develop circular initiatives in priority sectors
- Axens launches a new ERA for French SAF
- Public procurement: the hidden EU bioeconomy driver
18 headlines, updated automatically. Last refreshed .
Sources and further reading
Primary sources for the rules and figures on this page, so you can check them yourself. Legislation is amended: always read the consolidated text on the date that matters to you.
- SPECIMEN SDS: Used cooking oil (worked example, 16 sections per Regulation (EU) 2020/878)
- SPECIMEN SDS: Animal fat and tallow (worked example, 16 sections per Regulation (EU) 2020/878)
- SPECIMEN SDS: Crude glycerine (worked example, 16 sections per Regulation (EU) 2020/878)
- SPECIMEN SDS: FAME biodiesel (worked example, 16 sections per Regulation (EU) 2020/878)
- SPECIMEN SDS: HVO renewable diesel (worked example, 16 sections per Regulation (EU) 2020/878)
- SPECIMEN SDS: Plastic pyrolysis oil (worked example, 16 sections per Regulation (EU) 2020/878)
- European Commission, recognised voluntary schemes
- ISCC documents and templates
- REDcert
- 2BSvs
- KZR INiG
- SURE
- Bonsucro
- CertifHy
Who to ask about Document library
Just ask. Not sure which of these you need for your specific trade? Tell us the product, the origin and the destination and we will tell you. You get Bart van den Brug on the other end, same working day, in English or Dutch, and across the team also in French, Portuguese, Polish, Czech and Russian.
On how we work: we are a broker, so we never take title and we do not trade our own book. We are paid a commission on business that concludes, which is why you will also hear it from us when the answer is no, or when your parcel is not ready for the conversation you want to have. A market read or a second opinion on a specification costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Happy to look at whatever you have, even if it is half an analysis and a question.
+31 6 115 83 448
[email protected]
Sustainable Commodities 3 B.V., Lemmer, the Netherlands
Last reviewed 10 August 2026. Regulatory references are given for orientation and are not legal advice: verify against the current Official Journal text before contracting.