The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) has published v2.1 of the SBP Standards, reinforcing sustainability safeguards, improving audit consistency, and strengthening alignment with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII), whilst maintaining the scheme’s established risk‑based certification framework.
SBP is an international certification scheme designed for woody biomass used in industrial, large-scale energy production.
The SBP Standards v2.1 builds on practical experience gained from the implementation of Standards v2.0, including insights from certification audits and the application of normative interpretations and guidance.
These lessons have been systematically reviewed and incorporated into the updated Standards to improve clarity, consistency, and practical implementation. The update also reflects regulatory developments and stakeholder input received during the public consultation process.
The consolidated and comprehensive standards package comprises SBP Standards 1 to 6, the Glossary, and Instruction Documents 1A and 5E, alongside updated Q&As and Normative Interpretations published on the SBP website.
Consultation responses published
SBP has also published its responses to stakeholder consultation comments and an accompanying Overview of Changes, providing transparency and context on how the Standards have evolved since v2.0.
SBP Standards v2.1 will take effect on July 29, 2026, with a transition period lasting until October 28, 2027. During this period, Certificate Holders will be able to prepare for the implementation of the updated requirements and incorporate the updates into their normal audit cycle.
Audits against v2.1 may only be conducted once a Certification Body has formally updated its accreditation scope to include the new version.
According to SBP, the update is designed to strengthen and future‑proof the SBP certification scheme in an evolving regulatory and operational landscape.
In particular, v2.1 reinforces alignment with EU REDIII requirements, introduces clearer safeguards for sustainable feedstock sourcing, clarifies SBP-recognised risk management pathways, including the use of Company Risk Assessments where no Regional Risk Assessment is available, and improves governance, audit consistency, and data integrity across the scheme.
Whilst the updates are targeted and substantive, the fundamentals of the SBP scheme remain unchanged. The SBP risk‑based approach continues to underpin certification, and the overall structure of the Standards is retained.
The publication of SBP Standards v2.1 is an important milestone for the SBP certification scheme. These updates reflect extensive stakeholder input and practical experience, whilst ensuring SBP remains robustly aligned with evolving regulatory requirements such as EU REDIII. They strengthen confidence in the sustainability and integrity of biomass supply chains, whilst maintaining the risk‑based approach that underpins our scheme, commented Carsten Huljus, CEO at SBP.
SBP encourages Certificate Holders to begin reviewing their current practices against the updated Standards and to engage early with their Certification Bodies to plan for the transition.
Supporting materials and further guidance will be made available to assist stakeholders in understanding and implementing the new requirements.
The publication of SBP Standards v2.1 demonstrates SBP’s ongoing commitment to credible, transparent, and robust sustainability certification.
