SBP Teaser

SBP Certification for Brüning | Megawatt & Brüning | Euromulch

The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) is a certification system for biomass used in energy production. The aim is to fulfil legal, regulatory and sustainability-oriented requirements in the EU. At the same time, SBP certification ensures access to the EU market and makes sure that the legality of the tree harvest as required by the EU Timber Regulation is guaranteed. Producers of biomass, traders and energy producers who are end users of biomass products are certified. The holder of a SBP certificate may then use the label “SBP-compliant biomass” or “SBP-controlled biomass” for SBP-certified material.

The certification process begins with the biomass producer. SBP thus covers the entire supply chain from the forest to the final consumer. The energy inputs (e.g. heat, electricity, fuel) are checked from clearance, through production, including transport, to the last point of recycling. In addition, each margin receives its own test number and the respective “owner” of the goods is obliged to document the effects on the environment. In this way, the CO2 balance of the entire supply chain can be calculated at the end.

The materials accepted are responsible materials that are certified by FSC®, PEFC or SFI, among others, or evaluated in line with SBP’s risk-based approach. Despite the overlapping requirements, an FSC® or PEFC certification does not cover all criteria of the SBP certification. Various EU countries have made internal industry agreements that exceed the requirements of the EU, as these certificates are no longer sufficient for these countries. Instead, they can now be regarded as a basis for SBP certification. In total there are 6 standards, each with different scope and purpose, which apply to SBP-certified companies.

We are pleased to announce that the Brüning | Megawatt GmbH and the Brüning | Euromulch GmbH will be certified as SBP traders (Standard 4 Chain of Custody and Standard 5 Collection and Communication of Data). In addition, the Brüning | Megawatt GmbH will be listed as a producer of SBP-certified wood chips (Standard 2 Verification of SBP-compliant Feedstock as well as Standard 4 and 5). We were audited by NEPCon, an independent non-profit organisation. Each GmbH (limited company) of the Brüning | Group had to be certified individually, as multi-site certification cannot be represented by SBP.

Why SBP? “For us as Brüning | Group, it is strategically important to be up-to-date regarding biomass requirements in order to reliably prove their sustainability. But we also see it as a voluntary responsibility to make a contribution to sustainable forest management. Furthermore, we want to convince our customers with tested and certified quality,” explains Hendrik Bauer, responsible for sustainability and certification.

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