UPM Biofuels has extended sustainability certification to cover all of its output streams from the Lappeenranta Biorefinery in Finland under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Scheme ISCC PLUS. UPM Biofuels produces renewable diesel and naphtha at the Lappeenranta Biorefinery in Finland. Wood-based renewable diesel UPM BioVerno for transportation is the main product. However, the process also generates a smaller share of renewable naphtha, which can be used as a biocomponent for petrol.

Existing biofuel sustainability certifications cover the use of these renewable fuels in transportation. However, with the new ISCC PLUS certificate, the wood-based fuels can now also be utilized as certified feedstock, for example in bioplastics production. Other output streams from the Lappeenranta Biorefinery are renewable turpentine, pitch and sodium bisulphite, which are formed as residues of biofuel production. Like the main products, all these residues have several applications in the chemical industry.

ISCC PLUS is a sustainability certification scheme for biobased applications like chemicals, food and feed products and applications in the bioenergy sector. It is built on the same basic requirements as the biofuel specific ISCC-EU scheme, covering sustainability and traceability criteria. In addition, the scope of this certification can be extended by voluntary add-ons like the Greenhouse Gas Emission Calculation, which is also included in the certification scope of UPM Biofuels.

"The new ISCC PLUS certification complements UPM's existing biofuel specific sustainability certificate portfolio to cover new potential bio-based market segments and their requirements. There is a growing need for certified renewable fuels and chemicals, for example in the biochemical and bioplastics industries which are seeking replacements for fossil usage in their processes and end use," says Sari Mannonen, sales and marketing director at UPM Biofuels.

"For example, UPM's renewable turpentine can be used in the production of bio-based aroma chemicals for the fragrance industry, and sodium bisulphite as a bleach in the chemical industry."

For biofuel markets the existing certificates from ISCC EU and the Finnish national sustainability scheme provide proof of compliance with the sustainability criteria set by the European Renewable Energy Directive. With both ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS certifications UPM will have access to other relevant bio-based market segments, and compliance with the sustainability requirements of important customer groups is guaranteed.