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SBP Bulletin
March 2016 Issue 2
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Welcome to issue 2 of the SBP Bulletin. Early in the year we announced the appointment of a new, full time Chief Executive Officer. I am pleased to welcome Carsten Huljus, who joins SBP on 1 May 2016. My colleagues and I look forward to working with him.
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During the first quarter of the year we have been busy implementing the SBP Framework and have seen a further 13 certifications, including that of the first biomass trader. That makes 16 in total and it is encouraging to see the ever-increasing interest in the scheme, witnessed through the growing number of applications for certification and the widening of our geographic spread with certifications already in eight countries.
On to more practical matters, we have updated some of the Standards documentation, including opening a consultation on Instruction Document 5A: Collection and communication of data. Also, a new Instruction Document has been introduced, Instruction Document 3F: Requirements for certified organisation certificates.
Finally, in February the European Commission launched a public consultation on an updated EU policy on sustainable bioenergy for the period 2020-2030. This is part of the EU renewable energy package, which is anticipated before the end of this year. SBP will be participating in the consultation.
You can read more on the above topics and other key highlights below.
As always, we welcome your views and comments on the work of SBP, please keep them coming.
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Peter Wilson, Executive Director
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A new CEO
In January, SBP announced that Carsten Huljus will be taking up the position of full time, Chief Executive Officer from 1 May 2016. Carsten is currently Managing Director of a certification body, GFA Certification. He brings with him a wealth of experience and detailed understanding of forest management and chain of custody certification schemes.
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The appointment of SBP’s first, full time CEO marks the transition of SBP into a fully operational entity. Joining SBP at this important time in its development, Carsten will be responsible for the leadership and management of SBP, including engagement with its many stakeholders, such as biomass supply chain actors, policy makers and environmental NGOs.
Peter Wilson, currently Executive Director, will take up the new post of Standards Director with Simon Armstrong continuing as Technical Director.
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Certifications Update
We have had an encouraging start to the year with 16 organisations now certified under the SBP scheme, including the first biomass trader. The geographic spread has widened to eight countries – Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and the United States. There are a further 70 organisations, including both Biomass Producers and traders, that have applied for SBP certification through SBP-approved or applicant Certification Bodies.
Stakeholders are notified of all applications for SBP certification via an email circular. If you wish to be added to the circulation please email Melanie Wedgbury.
Stakeholders are reminded that they may comment at any time if they hold particular concerns about any of the Certification Bodies or biomass supply chain actors, or indeed about the SBP Framework itself.
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Standards Documentation
Draft Instruction Document 5A v1.1
Following a lot of work by the technical experts of the SBP’s Assurance Framework Development Group, draft Instruction Document 5A v1.1 was published for consultation on 4 March. The Instruction Document accompanies Standard 5: Collection and Communication of Data and defines the requirements and options for collecting data that may accompany SBP-certified materials throughout the supply chain.
The draft Instruction Document can be viewed here.
Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the draft. It is requested that responses are tabulated into three columns headed: Section Number; Comments; and Suggested Solution. All written comments should be sent to Melanie Wedgbury by the close of business on Monday, 4 April 2016.
Supply Base Report template v1.1
The Supply Base Report template has been updated to v1.1 and is available on the SBP website here.
The template is used by Biomass Producers when completing their Supply Base Report, which is ultimately published on Biomass Producers’ and SBP’s websites.
Instruction Document 3F
Instruction Document 3F has been introduced and is available on the SBP website here.
The Instruction Document accompanies Standard 3: Certification Systems. Requirements for Certification Bodies and defines the requirements for certified organisation certificates.
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Interpretation Q&As
Users of the SBP Framework are invited to raise matters requiring interpretation or clarification to assist with implementing the Standards. The matters raised, along with their answers, are grouped according to the Standard and published on the SBP website here.
Following input from our users, the website was updated with the latest batch of Q&As in March. Please note there is now a download of all the interpretation Q&As available on the same webpage.
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SBP Training Sessions
Two training sessions for Certification Bodies, lead auditors, certification decision makers, scheme managers, and technical reviewers are scheduled for 11 April in the UK and 21 April in the US. Details are available here.
Participants will receive training and be examined on three subject areas: Supply Base Evaluation, Chain of Custody, and Energy and Carbon Data. In addition to demonstrating existing auditor competence, participants must pass all three examinations in order to conduct SBP audits on behalf of a Certification Body.
To register participants for one of the training sessions please contact Melanie Wedgbury.
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SBP Workshop at Argus Biomass Conference
SBP will be holding a half-day workshop for interested parties at the Argus Biomass Conference in London, UK on 5 April 2016. The workshop offers a detailed insight into the SBP and its Framework. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the standards and processes that make up the Framework, learn more about the technical and reporting aspects of the scheme and the commercial implications, as well as receive the latest news of the Framework’s implementation. The workshop is suitable for all interested parties from Biomass Producers, through biomass traders, to woody biomass users.
Participants must be registered for the conference. For registration details go to: https://goo.gl/e7L0QM.
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EU Bioenergy Sustainability Policy
In 2015, in its Energy Union strategy, the European Commission announced that it would come forward with an updated bioenergy sustainability policy, as part of a renewable energy package for the period after 2020. In February 2016, the Commission launched a public consultation on the preparation of a sustainable bioenergy policy.
SBP will be participating in the consultation, which closes on 10 May 2016. Details of the consultation are given here.
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