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In partnership with Alaska Airlines and Boeing, the third RSB Innovations Meeting convened a powerful community of sustainability leaders, innovators, and practitioners in Seattle to shape the future of credible, science-based sustainability solutions.
Over two energising days, participants explored how aviation can act as a lighthouse sector for real and meaningful cross-industry transformation – focusing specifically at verified impact claims, innovations like book and claim systems, and trusted certification frameworks for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
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“I think the value of the RSB Innovations Meeting is meeting other people doing what you do. The networking opportunities and finding out really what the world wants to do, what the gold or platinum standard is in sustainability. I feel that RSB defines that very well.”
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DAY 1 – 20TH MAY
Held at Alaska Airlines’ historic Old Filson Store, Day 1 offered four curated sessions that laid the foundation for action, featuring expert speakers from within the RSB community and beyond.
Let’s take a look at the highlights of each session.
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Opening Plenary — Leading with Impact
Moderated by RSB’s Executive Director Elena Schmidt, this high-level panel addressed the pressing question: In an era of growing scrutiny, shifting policies, and market uncertainties, how can sustainability leaders maintain clarity, ambition, and trust? Discussions centred on bold, values-driven leadership and strategies to transform disruption into meaningful change through real-world collaboration and communication.
Speakers included:
- Andy Billig – Former State Senator, Washington State
- Gene Gebolys – CEO, World Energy
- Sandra Kilroy – Senior Director of Environment and Sustainability, Port of Seattle
- Brian Moran – Chief Sustainability Officer, The Boeing Company
- Ryan Spies – Managing Director of Sustainability, Alaska Airlines
- Kevin Welsh – VP of Environmental Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Airlines for America
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Impact Claims: Bridging the Price Premium for Sustainable Solutions
This session explored how science-based sustainability claims – such as those related to soil carbon and health, water use, and social impact – can support companies’ sustainability agendas beyond greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The discussion highlighted the importance of credible impact claims in justifying the price premium of sustainable solutions, and also served as the launch of the new initiative, the RSB Impact Claims Platform.
Speakers included:
- Adam Klauber – Vice President of Sustainability and Digital Supply Chain, World Energy
- Daniel Bloch – Director of Partnerships, LanzaJet
- Dan Lieberman – Global Lead, Sustainability Strategy, Nufarm
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SAF Certification Matters: Unlocking the Benefits for US SAF Supply Chains
This panel delved into how certification systems can support the growth of SAF in the United States. Discussions focused on creating economic opportunities, rural jobs, and market access while ensuring alignment with global and national sustainability standards.
Speakers included:
- Joanna Chavez – SAF Program Manager, Delta Air Lines
- Ryan Faucett – Vice President of Environmental Sustainability, The Boeing Company
- Stephanie Meyn – Climate Program Manager, Port of Seattle
- Sean Newsum – Managing Director of Environmental Affairs, Airlines for America
- Brandon Polander – Director of Circular Economy & Renewable Fuels LCA, Phillips 66
- John Plaza – CEO, SkyNRG Americas
- Nancy Young – Chief Sustainability Officer, Gevo, Inc.
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Book & Claim: Real Impact, Future Opportunity
This session examined how leading brands are utilising book and claim systems to deliver credible, in-sector climate impact. The discussion also covered the evolution of these systems to support emerging applications in sectors like steel and maritime, emphasising registry innovations and the critical role of interoperability in building a trusted, scalable system for the future.
Speakers included:
- Quintin Barnes – Program Manager of Decarbonization Market Measures, Smart Freight Centre
- Fanny Everard – Sustainability Program Manager, GBTA
- Jason Libersky – Founder & CEO, Quotient Markets
- Johan Mandaric Reunanen – Climate Impact Lead, Stegra
- Ryan Spies – Managing Director of Sustainability, Alaska Airlines
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The day closed with reflections from Adam Klauber (RSB Board) and Elena Schmidt, before transitioning to a relaxed evening reception where participants could unwind and reconnect before the excitement of the workshops started the following day.
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“RSB is an absolutely critical organisation in that it plays the role of a convener bringing together a wide range of companies, also policymakers and NGOs, all of whom have mostly aligned, but it’s sometimes different perspectives which are every bit as important to highlight and discuss as a group.”
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DAY 2 – 21ST MAY
Starting at the Seattle Museum of Flight, Day 2 featured three hands-on workshops designed to translate insight into practical outcomes – and was without a doubt a feature we will definitely continue with in this regional event! And thereafter, a few lucky participants were taken behind-the-scenes for an exclusive tour of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, courtesty of our partners at SEA Airport.
Let’s take a look at the highlights below.
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Workshop A: Innovations in Book & Claim
How can we scale credible sustainability claims across global supply chains?
This workshop explored the evolution and application of the RSB Book & Claim System as a powerful tool for credible, decarbonised supply chains. The session featured a live demo of the new registry interface, designed to enhance transparency, interoperability, and cross-sector engagement.
Speakers – including Quintin Barnes, Adam Klauber, Johan Mandaric Reunanen, Linda Kristoffersen (Vice President of Climate Data, Chooose), and Brandon Thomas (Low Carbon Business Development, Trafigura) – shared lessons from practical deployments and emerging use cases in hard-to-abate sectors like maritime, steel, and chemicals. Attendees discussed how enhanced traceability and robust accounting systems can make book and claim a mainstream mechanism for verified decarbonisation and impact.
The workshop also covered opportunities to align systems globally and ensure integrity as the market scales, particularly in light of growing policy and consumer pressure for transparent climate action.
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Workshop B: Building Credible Impact Claims Together
How can we prove real-world positive impacts – beyond carbon?
This workshop tackled the frontier of sustainability measurement: impact claims that go beyond greenhouse gas emissions to cover social, environmental, and economic outcomes. With a focus on real-world application, speakers – Daniel Bloch, Adam Klauber, and Dan Lieberman – guided participants through emerging methodologies, verification protocols, and the role of credible data in impact transparency.
Participants engaged with early drafts of RSB’s evolving approach to impact verification, shaping both the methodology and the criteria for integration into the RSB Book & Claim system. Discussions highlighted the need for flexibility to address diverse regional contexts, while maintaining the rigour needed to prevent greenwashing. A strong theme was the need to build systems that not only meet market expectations but also create real benefits for communities and ecosystems – from water stewardship and soil health to rural livelihoods and biodiversity.
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Workshop C: Unlocking Certification for SAF in the US
How can we unlock the full potential of SAF certification in the US?
In this high-energy workshop, participants tackled the specific challenges of scaling SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) certification across the United States. A diverse set of voices – from producers to policy experts – joined forces to map current pain points and co-design actionable pathways forward.
Speakers included Zoe Amerigian (Senior Analyst Sustainability Policy & Modeling, Gevo), Sean Arians (VP – Sustainable Production & Value Chain Engagement, National Cane Growers Association), Karen Boyd (Director of Product Sustainability, World Energy), Marianne Csaky (Director, Regulatory Affairs & Sustainability, LanzaJet), and Sean Newsum. Topics ranged from the complexity of ICAO CORSIA and RSB standards, to challenges around indirect land use change (iLUC), Chain of Custody models, and regulatory fragmentation.
In breakout groups, participants developed practical ideas for US-specific guidance, pilot initiatives, and certification streamlining. Discussions underscored the importance of aligning federal and state incentives, improving farmer engagement, and ensuring that SAF benefits – from rural development to emissions reductions – are credibly demonstrated and rewarded. The workshop also strengthened cross-sector connections that will be crucial to SAF market maturity and scalability in the US.
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“Whatever we are doing the fundamental principle to transparency its trust. This is why RSB is so important… If we can learn from others, as a community we can really advance the market.”
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SEA Airport Site Tour
The meeting concluded with a behind-the-scenes tour of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with transport provided generously by Boeing. Attendees experienced the airport’s sustainability initiatives, including AI-powered monitoring, beekeeping programmes, and runway raptor releases.
We’d like to thank our partners at SEA Airport for organising this exclusive visit – it was a fantastic way to close two days of energising and exciting discussions, and demonstrations.
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Looking ahead
Across all sessions, the RSB Innovations Meeting 2025 underscored the importance of:
- Trusted, science-based systems for sustainability claims and the role of leadership in embedding those systems across sectors.
- Transparent and interoperable innovations and mechanisms like book and claim
- Robust certification that enables market access and growth, especially when it comes certifying sustainable fuels
- Collaboration across value chains, sectors, and regions
RSB extends sincere thanks to our event partners – Alaska Airlines, Boeing, and SEA Airport – and to every speaker, participant, and contributor who helped make this event a success.
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If you’re interested in getting involved with RSB, look no further:
- Become an RSB member – if you’re not one already
- Sponsor the RSB Annual Conference 2025 – at our new venue
- Join one of RSB’s membership platforms – covering SAF, Impact Claims, Book & Claim, and more.
- Explore the RSB Academy – build your capacity to advance the sustainable bioeconomy.
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