From raw material to plane, sustainability needs to be proven
Decarbonizing aviation is one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition. Unlike other sectors, The electrification of medium and long-range commercial aircraft still faces technological and operational limitations. That is why, os Sustainable Aviation Fuels (PURE), or Sustainable Aviation Fuels, gained space as one of the main alternatives to reduce emissions in the sector.
But producing a fuel from a renewable source does not mean, by itself, that it is sustainable.
It is necessary to prove the origin of the raw material, Track your supply chain and demonstrate fuel environmental performance. It is in this context that the ISCC CORSIA and RSB ICAO CORSIA certifications come into play..
What is CORSIA?
O Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (LANE) is the mechanism created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to contribute to reducing emissions from international aviation.
Inside the system, fuels considered eligible can contribute to reducing emissions attributed to airlines, as long as they meet specific sustainability criteria and are duly certified.
For the SAF, This means that it is not enough to be a renewable fuel: It is necessary to demonstrate its origin, traceability and reduction of emissions throughout the life cycle.
Why certification is necessary?
Imagine a chain that starts in the field or in the collection of waste and ends in refueling an aircraft:
raw material → processing → SAF production → distribution → airline
Along this path, different companies can participate in the chain. Without a verification system, it would be difficult to guarantee that the fuel sold actually has the declared environmental attributes.
Certifications function precisely as a trust structure. Independent audits verify origin information, volumes, movement of materials, production processes and sustainability characteristics.
Not within the scope of CORSIA, ISCC CORSIA and RSB ICAO CORSIA are recognized schemes to demonstrate compliance of fuels with applicable sustainability requirements.
ISCC CORSIA
ISCC CORSIA was developed to certify CORSIA-eligible fuel supply chains, covering sustainability-related requirements, traceability and greenhouse gas emissions.
The system includes different raw materials, including waste, by-products and certain agricultural raw materials. ISCC documentation, for example, contemplates possibilities such as sugar cane, agricultural waste, used cooking oil and forestry waste.
One of the central elements is the chain of custody, which allows you to monitor the movement of materials and control sustainability attributes throughout the chain.
ISCC also uses the concept of mass balance, allowing certified and non-certified materials to be processed within certain systems, provided that the corresponding volumes and attributes are properly accounted for and audited.
RSB ICAO CORSIA
The RSB ICAO CORSIA has the same objective of allowing the certification of fuels eligible for CORSIA, but uses the framework of sustainability principles and criteria developed by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB).
In addition to issues related to emissions and traceability, the RSB approach addresses broader environmental and social aspects, as land use, conservation, labor rights, human rights and food security, as applicable to the certified chain.
The standard also recognizes different chain of custody models, including segregation and mass balance, allowing you to track sustainability attributes from origin to the next points in the chain.
ISCC CORSIA or RSB CORSIA?
The two certifications have the same central objective within CORSIA, but present differences in the structure and criteria used.
The choice may depend on the raw material, of the production process, two markets served, buyer requirements and the company's sustainability strategy.
In case of ISCC, there is still the ISCC MORE LANE, which expands certain requirements related to biomass production and incorporates environmental criteria, additional social and economic.
Thus, the choice of certification should not be treated simply as a decision between two seals. It is a decision related to the supply chain strategy and the markets the company wants to access.
And the emissions?
Another fundamental point is the assessment of the life cycle (LCA).
The climate sustainability of SAF is not only determined by emissions during burning. Different stages of the chain are considered, from obtaining the raw material to the production and use of fuel.
CORSIA establishes a baseline of 89 gCO₂e/MJ for conventional aviation fuel and requires eligible fuels to meet the emission reduction criteria established by the mechanism.
That is why, two fuels classified as SAF can have very different carbon intensities, depending on the raw material, of the industrial process, energy consumption and logistics.
An opportunity for Brazil and for more sustainable chains
The development of the SAF market represents a relevant opportunity for Brazil. The combination of agricultural production, availability of biomass and waste, experience in biofuels and industrial infrastructure creates favorable conditions for the country to participate in the expansion of this market.
But transforming this advantage into international competitiveness requires more than production capacity.. It is necessary to build chains capable of tracking raw materials, quantify emissions and prove sustainability attributes.
An example of this movement is the ISCC CORSIA certification obtained by Petrobras for the Duque de Caxias Refinery (REDUC), related to the co-processing of refined vegetable oils for the production of SAF.
The case demonstrates how certification begins to be part of the very structuring of this market. in the end, SAF growth will depend on technology, scale and competitiveness, but also trustworthy. Airlines, producers, suppliers and investors need to be sure that the environmental attributes associated with the fuel can be proven.
In this case, Certifications such as ISCC CORSIA and RSB ICAO CORSIA are no longer just compliance instruments and start to function as a trust infrastructure, connecting sustainable production, traceability, reduction of emissions and access to international markets.
For companies that intend to participate in this chain, being prepared means understanding requirements, structure processes, organize evidence and ensure that environmental information can be verified.
It is in this process that biO3 can contribute, supporting companies in structuring sustainability strategies, traceability, environmental management and preparation for certifications, transforming environmental requirements into structured processes and business opportunities.
For Brazil, the challenge is to transform your advantage in biomass and biofuels into a competitive and globally recognized SAF chain.
In the future of sustainable aviation, it will not be enough to produce a renewable fuel. It will need to prove its sustainability from field to wing.
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