ISCC Series: Introduction to the ISCC Certification—Driving Sustainability and Traceability

In today’s episode, our Intertek’s expert, Florencia Bahamonde, dives into the ISCC Certifications. ISCC standards drive sustainability and traceability across the supply chains, supporting companies to track certified materials at every stage, preventing fraud and ensuring that sustainability claims are verifiable.  

Speakers: 

• Moderator: Catherine Beare, Regional Director Business Assurance, UK and Iberia at Intertek 
• Presenter: Florencia Bahamonde, ISCC Senior Global Program Manager at Intertek 

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Transcript

Catherine Beare  Intertek    
Hello and welcome to Intertek’s ISCC awareness series where we will be delving into the latest in sustainable practices, the process of ISCC certifications and their impact on the world of business and beyond. I am your host, Catherine Beare and today I'm delighted to be joined by Florencia Bahamonde who is our ISCC Senior Global Program Manager. We're really excited to have Florencia because her background is fantastic and she comes not only from managing our ISCC programme on a global scale, but she also is providing expert technical expertise and support to our clients and Intertek global offices. She is, in fact a certified auditor for ISSCC Plus, ISCC EU and ISCC CORSIA programmes. So look Florencia, thank you so much for joining us today. 

 
Florencia Bahamonde Intertek    

Hi, Catherine, it's a pleasure to be here. 

 
Catherine Beare  Intertek    
Excellent. So look, let's dive into the topic and I want to start off with, you know, when we look at ISCC certification, let's start first of all with a very simple basics, explain what it means to us Florencia. 

 
Florencia Bahamonde Intertek    
Yeah. Great. So ISCC stands for the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification. So it's a globally recognized certification system that sets the standard for sustainability and traceability across supply chains. But it's more than just a certification because it represents a commitment to making out the world a more sustainable place. 

 
Catherine Beare  Intertek    
Yeah, fantastic. Thank you. Always good to start with these acronym explanations. So look, let's kick off with our first part. I want to talk a little bit about the advantages of ISCC now, what makes ISCC different from other sustainability certification schemes, Florencia. 

 
Florencia Bahamonde Intertek    
Well, that's really a great place to start. So ISCC stands out because it's a globally recognised certification system covering all types of biomasses, bio waste material, circular or renewable feedstocks. Unlike some schemes that focus on specific industries or regions, ISCC is truly international so this allows businesses to certify their sustainability efforts across various supply chains. 
 

Another key differentiator is ISCC’s stringent sustainability criteria, which include environmental, social, and traceability requirements. ISCC ensures that certified materials are sourced responsibly, adhering to principles such as land-use sustainability, greenhouse gas reduction, and human rights protections. 

Additionally, ISCC’s flexibility is a major advantage. It provides certification for various sectors, including food, feed, biofuels, and chemicals, making it a comprehensive and versatile choice for companies looking to improve their sustainability credentials. 

And finally, but not less important, ISCC maintains a robust Integrity Program, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the credibility and reliability of the certification system. The ISCC Integrity Program conducts independent audits, market surveillance, and risk-based monitoring to detect and prevent fraudulent activities within certified supply chains. 

 
Catherine Beare  Intertek    
Fantastic. So that's impressive. Having a strong Integrity Program ensures that ISCC certification is not just a label, I guess, but a guarantee of responsible sourcing. So thanks, that makes sense. Now, if we talk a little bit about the key of transparency. 
Now traceability is a big focus in sustainability discussions. Florencia can you explain why it's so crucial, particularly in the context of ISCC please? 

 
Florencia Bahamonde Intertek    
Absolutely. So Transability is fundamental because it ensures transparency and credibility in the supply chain with increasing regulatory requirements and consumer expectation. Businesses need to demonstrate where the raw materials come from and how they were produced. So ISCC requires a chain of cost to the system that tracks certified materials at every stage. 

Absolutely! So traceability is fundamental because it ensures transparency and credibility in the supply chain. With increasing regulatory requirements and consumer expectations, businesses need to demonstrate where their raw materials come from and how they were produced.  

ISCC requires a chain of custody system that tracks certified materials at every stage, preventing fraud and ensuring that sustainability claims are verifiable. This level of traceability is crucial for avoiding greenwashing and meeting compliance standards like the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and the Circular Economy Action Plan. 

Moreover, traceability helps businesses manage risks by identifying potential sustainability issues early. It provides accountability, helping companies and consumers make informed decisions about the products they use. 

 
 
Catherine Beare  Intertek    

Fantastic makes sense now. Traceability not only ensures ultimately that standards are met, but it also provides a transparent supply chain that consumers can trust, and certainly we know that this is becoming increasingly important as consumers are much more conscious of the impact of their purchases now. 

 
If I can maybe shift Florencia to ask a little bit more about I guess the future of ISCC and sustainable practises, we know that sustainability is evolving rapidly. What do you see as the future for ISCC and overall sustainable practises in general? 

 
Florencia Bahamonde Intertek    

The future really looks promising but also challenging. ISCC is continuously evolving to meet new sustainability goals and regulatory changes. We see a strong focus on circular economy models, carbon footprint reduction, and deforestation-free supply chains. 

With the increasing importance of bio-based and recycled materials, ISCC is expanding its reach beyond biofuels into the plastics, textile, and chemical sectors. Companies are under growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, and ISCC’s role in verifying compliance will only become more critical. 

Additionally, we can say that digitalization will play a significant role in sustainability. Blockchain and AI-based traceability systems could further enhance ISCC’s capabilities in tracking and verifying sustainable materials. 

ISCC will continue to be a key player in shaping sustainable supply chains globally, helping industries transition toward greener and more responsible practices. 

 
Catherine Beare  Intertek    
You're absolutely right, Florencia. I mean ISCC offers multiple certification options. I mean, I mentioned three of the ISCC standards you are certified under now. Can you walk us through the different standards and how businesses should choose the right one, please? 

 
Florencia Bahamonde Intertek    

Sure! ISCC, as you mentioned, has several certification options tailored to different needs: 

1. So we first have ISCC EU and this is the most widely used standard, ensuring compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) for biofuels and bioliquids. If you’re supplying biofuels to the EU market, this is the one you need. 
2. We also have ISCC PLUS. This is a voluntary certification covering bio-based, recycled, and renewable materials across multiple industries, including food, feed, and chemicals. 
3. And then finally there are ISCC CORSIA and CORSIA PLUS. This certification is designed for sustainable aviation fuels, aligning with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). 

Choosing the right certification depends on your industry and market requirements. If you’re in the EU biofuel market, ISCC EU is essential. If you’re in the broader sustainability space looking for voluntary certification to sustain and add credibility to your claims, ISCC PLUS is a great option. We will deep dive into all of these in our next episodes. 

Catherine Beare  Intertek    
Agree. It looks lovely. Succinct explanation of those, Florencia. So like the last one for me: do you give us a high level overview? You know quick one liner on how companies can get involved with this certification please? 

 
Florencia Bahamonde Intertek    
Certainly. So we know that sometimes organisations struggle to find the right information that either processes or materials are in the scope of the ISCC certification. So I suggest that for those interested in learning more and connect directly with the technical expert, please feel free to contact and reach out us by e-mail or phone and Catherine will provide you the details now. 

 
Catherine Beare  Intertek    
Yeah, thank you so much Florencia for that fantastic set of information you've just provided us with. And we would be delighted to discuss with you at Intertek as a global organisation with many ISCC auditors across the globe so do get in touch with us by e-mail at business.assurance@intertek.com and we will direct your inquiry to the relevant local office who, as Florencia said, would be delighted to walk you through how you get started on this journey. Florencia, thank you so much for your time today and for filling us in on our introduction to ISCC certification. Please do join us again for the second series in this pack. Thank you very much, Florencia. 

 
Florencia Bahamonde Intertek    
Thank you.