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Effective 1 July 2026, RSB has formally confirmed the Biomass and Biofuels RSB GHG Tool (Version 6 and above) and the RFNBO and RCF RSB GHG Tool (Version 1 and above) as the current up-to-date tools for greenhouse gas (GHG) calculations within its certification system.
This confirmation provides clarity for operators across sectors, ensuring that emissions are calculated using methodologies aligned with RSB certification requirements and recognised by international regulatory frameworks.
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Two tools, one certification system
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RSB provides distinct GHG calculation tools tailored to the specific characteristics of different fuel and material pathways:
- The Biomass and Biofuels RSB GHG Tool (Version 6 and up) applies to materials and fuels including biofuels, bioliquids, biomaterials, biomass fuels and advanced products.
- The RFNBO and RCF RSB GHG Tool (Version 1 and up) applies to renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs), recycled carbon fuels (RCFs), and other e-fuels.
Each tool is independently scoped and aligned with the requirements of its respective production pathways, while operating within the same certification framework.
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Technical functionality: Biomass and Biofuels RSB GHG Tool
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The Biomass and Biofuels RSB GHG Tool is an Excel-based lifecycle assessment tool designed to support certification and feasibility studies by enabling transparent and auditable emissions calculations.
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Lifecycle modelling across the full supply chain
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The tool follows a structured, step-by-step supply chain approach, covering all stages from feedstock cultivation through processing, transport and final product. It applies a well-to-wheel system boundary, capturing:
- core lifecycle emissions,
- land-use change emissions,
- and emission savings or credits.
This ensures that emissions are calculated consistently across the full production pathway.
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Automated methodology alignment
The tool supports multiple certification schemes simultaneously:
- RSB Global (Advanced Products and Advanced Fuels),
- RSB EU RED,
Users select the relevant scheme, and the tool automatically applies the appropriate methodology, including differences in baselines, land-use treatment and emissions accounting.
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Integrated data model
The tool combines two types of data:
- Primary input data provided by the operator (e.g. fertiliser use, energy consumption, transport distances),
- Background data embedded in the tool, including emission factors from recognised databases such as Ecoinvent and EU RED sources.
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Users enter absolute operational data, which the tool converts into standardised outputs using defined functional units, including:
- g CO2eq/MJ fuel for fuels,
- g CO2eq/kg feedstock for feedstocks (dry basis).
Project modelling and scenario analysis
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Operators can:
- create project models reflecting real operations,
- duplicate projects to test alternative scenarios,
- conduct sensitivity analysis by varying parameters such as yields, energy inputs, or transport distances.
This functionality supports both certification preparation and feasibility assessments.
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Pathway and co-processing functionality
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The tool supports modelling of:
- cultivated and collected feedstocks (including residues and waste),
- multiple production pathways for fuels and materials,
- co-processing configurations, where biogenic feedstocks are integrated into fossil-based systems.
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Co-processing is analysed through:
- a baseline scenario (fossil-only), and
- a biogenic feedstock scenario,
allowing the incremental emissions impact of renewable inputs to be quantified.
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Transport and supply chain modelling
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Transport emissions can be modelled in different configurations:
- parallel transport (multiple origins to one destination),
- series transport (sequential movements across the supply chain).
This enables accurate representation of complex supply chain structures.
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Automated allocation and conversion factors
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The tool automatically calculates:
- Feedstock Factors (FF) to convert feedstock inputs into final product outputs,
- Allocation Factors (AF) to distribute emissions across co-products.
These calculations ensure consistency in emissions attribution across multi-output systems.
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Transparent emission factor handling
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Users can:
- apply default emission factors embedded in the tool, or
- introduce user-specific emission factors, where appropriate.
All emission factors are visible, supporting transparency and auditability.
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Results generation and audit-ready outputs
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The tool generates detailed outputs structured by certification scheme and product type, including:
- total lifecycle emissions,
- emission savings calculations,
- disaggregated emissions per stage (e.g. cultivation, transport, processing),
- breakdowns in absolute and percentage terms,
- graphical visualisations and contribution analysis.
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Results are prepared for certification audits and submissions, ensuring direct usability in compliance processes.
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Technical functionality: RFNBO and RCF RSB GHG Tool
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The RFNBO and RCF RSB GHG Tool (Version 1.01) is a separate, pathway-specific tool designed for:
- renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs),
- recycled carbon fuels (RCFs),
- and other e-fuels.
It is confirmed as the valid tool for certification in these pathways and applies within RSB’s standards for advanced fuels, including Power-to-X systems. The tool reflects the methodological requirements specific to non-biological and recycled carbon pathways, including the treatment of renewable electricity inputs, the calculation of emissions from captured carbon, and alignment with the applicable regulatory criteria for these fuels. As with the Biomass and Biofuels tool, it produces standardised, auditable outputs structured for direct use in certification submissions.
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Why this matters for certification
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The confirmation of these tools establishes a clear, defined foundation for GHG accounting across sectors. By specifying the valid calculation tools, RSB ensures that:
- emissions are calculated using consistent methodologies across operators,
- results are comparable across supply chains and pathways,
- data used in certification is transparent and auditable,
- and outputs are aligned with international regulatory frameworks.
This is particularly relevant as markets and regulators increasingly require independently verified lifecycle emissions data to substantiate sustainability claims.
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Positioning within the RSB standard
GHG tools play a critical role in RSB certification, but they operate within a broader system. RSB certification requires operators to demonstrate sustainability across environmental, social and governance dimensions simultaneously, not only carbon performance.
This means that while GHG tools provide the technical basis for emissions accounting, RSB certification outcomes reflect full supply chain performance, including impacts on land, water, biodiversityand communities.
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Access and next steps
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The tools (Biomass and Biofuels Version 6 and up RFNBO and RCF Version 1 and above, effective 1 July 2026) are available through RSB’s certification resources or to be purchased independently and require a formal access request. Users receive:
- the tool itself,
- supporting documentation, including the GHG calculation methodology,
- guidance materials and built-in instructions within the tool.
Operators seeking certification are encouraged to consult the full guidance to ensure correct application.
Read the guidance and access the tools or watch the GHG Calculator Tool webinar here: RSB GHG Calculator ToolsÂ
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