Transparency, trust and best practice
of responsible biomass use

Sustainable biomass sourcing contributes positively to sustainable practices in forestry and farming, supporting the continual regeneration of woodlands, soils and other natural resources while avoiding activities that lead to the depletion of resources, carbon stocks or biodiversity.

Sustainable biomass sourcing contributes to greater carbon storage in the landscape where it is sourced. When carbon storage is analysed at the landscape level it can show that biomass sourcing leads to a positive or neutral balance between growth and harvesting rates. Biomass is not sourced from forests where carbon stocks are declining, except where removing wood supports the health of forests.

Sustainable bioenergy uses feedstocks that lead to good carbon outcomes, such as lower-value agricultural and forestry by-products, low-grade roundwood (including thinnings) and residues, or responsibly grown energy crops. It does not displace products that would have a more positive impact on climate or sustainable development goals.

Sustainable biomass sourcing never leads to deforestation, depletion or other forms of negative land use change. By providing additional income for sustainable and continuous forest management, it disincentivises negative land use change.

Sustainable bioenergy operators follow the IPCC’s carbon accounting standards, under which carbon emissions are counted in the land and forestry sector. This ensures reliable international data on carbon stocks in forests and avoids double counting of emissions.

Sustainable bioenergy operators employ established and internationally recognised independent certification systems and standards within their supply chains. One example is the independent Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP), which uses third-party auditing to guard against unsustainable land management using a regional, risk-based approach that reflects real-world forest economics.

Sustainable bioenergy operators engage in transparent sourcing and supply policies, providing clear data about the origins of their feedstocks and impact on land use in supply base areas, and impact of other operations. These are communicated transparently via national regulators and other public channels.

Sustainable bioenergy delivers significant greenhouse gas reductions compared to alternative dispatchable technologies. The emissions of the whole of the bioenergy supply chain are recorded and reported transparently to national regulators in the country of end use.

Sustainable biomass sourcing contributes to the management of healthy forest ecosystems and supports ecological restoration. Sustainable bioenergy operators work with suppliers to ensure their operations contribute to the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. Without such management, forests can be more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, through wildfires (as seen in California and Australia), insect infestations (as seen in Canada) and disease (as seen in the UK).

Sustainable bioenergy follows the management plans and supports the conservation goals of local, regional, national and international areas of nature protection, as defined by nation states and the UN, to protect biodiversity.

Sustainable bioenergy sourcing practices contribute to the conservation of unique and sensitive wildlife habitats and help to protect them from loss or degradation by working with our suppliers and stakeholders in the forest. Management of the forest ensures that features and species of outstanding or exceptional value are identified and protected.

Sustainable bioenergy operators support local forestry and farming communities through employment and training opportunities in sustainable forestry and farming practices.

Sustainable bioenergy operators support land managers and foresters in their sustainable management of the forest resource.

Sustainable biomass sourcing works alongside other sustainable land use sectors such as timber supply and agriculture, helping to improve the safe delivery of land management operations.

Sustainable bioenergy operators act fairly as employers and avoid any exploitation of people connected to their supply chains, such as contractors and their communities.

Sustainable bioenergy practices respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and follow the principles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).