ISCCPLUS

We support the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy through our globally applicable ISCC PLUS certification system. Our approach actively involves a diverse range of stakeholders in decision-making processes, including policymakers, System Users, Certification Bodies, research institutes, and NGOs.

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ISCC PLUS

Supporting thecircular economy and bioeconomy

ISCC PLUS is a voluntary certification scheme designed to validate sustainability characteristics of alternative feedstocks. It verifies the additional efforts companies make beyond regulatory compliance and can be complemented by a range of add-ons. We enable the tracking of alternative materials throughout the supply chain by offering different chain of custody options: physical segregation, controlled blending, and mass balance.

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Explore the voluntary add-ons

Ensuring traceability – an examplesupply chain

Every element of the supply chain must be certified. This means that each site handling alternative materials must hold a valid ISCC PLUS certificate, which is issued per site and valid for 12 months. Transport operators are not required to be certified.

1

Farm/Plantation/Forest Sourcing Area or Point of Origin

Agricultural supply chains begin at the farm, plantation or forest sourcing area, where biomass is produced. Waste and residue supply chains start at the point of origin, such as a restaurant generating used cooking oil.

2

First Gathering Point/Central Office (CO) or Collecting Point/CO

Raw materials are collected, aggregated and documented. First Gathering Points receive agricultural or forest biomass, Collecting Points gather waste and residues, and Central Offices manage groups of suppliers.

3

Processing Unit

Processing Units convert raw materials into intermediate products through industrial processing steps. From this stage onwards, agricultural and waste-based supply chains follow the same downstream structure.

4

Trader (with storage)

Traders purchase and sell certified materials within the supply chain. If they operate storage facilities, they may also store materials while ensuring traceability and compliance with chain-of-custody requirements.

5

Processing Unit

Additional Processing Units further transform intermediate materials into higher-value intermediates or base materials through refining or chemical conversion for use in downstream manufacturing.

6

Final Product Refinement

Certified materials are incorporated into finished or consumer-facing products, such as packaging, textiles, plastics, or other goods made with renewable or recycled feedstocks.

7

Market/Brand Owner

Products containing certified materials are placed on the market by manufacturers, brands, or retailers. Using ISCC logos and claims companies can communicate verified sustainability characteristics.

ISCC PLUS coversall markets

All materials and products linked to alternative feedstocks can become ISCC PLUS-certified. Feedstocks can be handled as physically segregated or mixed with conventional feedstocks via controlled blending or mass balance.

Plastics and packaging

We offer a credible sustainability certification standard for products linked to recycled and bio-based plastic.
Alternative Transport Fuels

Explore how ISCC PLUS can support your journey towards more sustainable fuels across road, aviation, maritime and eFuels markets.
Textiles

We provide a robust sustainability certification for textiles linked to alternative feedstocks.
Food and Feed

We certify sustainable sourcing of raw agricultural materials to reduce deforestation, promote responsible land management, and support ethical, traceable supply chains.
Electricity, Heating and Cooling

ISCC PLUS supports sustainable solutions for liquid, gaseous and solid fuels.
Other Recycled or Bio Materials

Our robust certification system supports the sourcing of recycled and bio-based materials across complex global supply chains.

Benefitsof ISCC PLUS

Credibility

ISCC PLUS is the leading sustainability certification system for the circular economy and bioeconomy.

Agility and adaptiveness

We continuously improve our certification system based on industry and legislative developments, multi-stakeholder feedback and ongoing research.

Verified claims

ISCC PLUS System Users can demonstrate their commitment to the circular economy and bioeconomy by using third-party verified claims. Certified finished goods for end consumers can bear the ISCC on-product logos.

Traceability of alternative feedstocks

We provide three chain of custody methods to help you track the flow of alternative feedstocks throughout the supply chain: mass balance, physical segregation and controlled blending.

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Get ISCC PLUS certified

Getting certified with ISCC follows a clear, structured process. We guide you step by step, from identifying the right certification scheme to receiving your certificate and handling certified material in line with ISCC requirements.
Climate Pledge Friendly Programme

The collaboration between ISCC PLUS and the Climate Pledge Friendly Programme on Amazon promotes supply chain transparency and credibility toward end consumers. The programme lets consumers digitally discover and shop for third-party certified finished goods on Amazon, including many certified under ISCC PLUS.

Our document library

Explore our library to find all relevant system documents, guidance, templates and supporting materials in one place.

 

Whether you are preparing for certification or looking for requirements, our library provides the most up-to-date documents to support your work.

To the library

Alternative feedstocks

The basis of every ISCC PLUS certification is the use of alternative feedstocks. Materials can be classified into four categories.

Circular materials

We certify circular materials that are derived from the mechanical or chemical recycling of fossil-based waste and residues, e.g. mixed plastic waste, waste textiles or end-of-life tires.

Bio-circular materials

Bio-circular materials are derived from waste and residues of biological origin. Examples include used cooking oil, tall oil, food waste, and agricultural or forestry residues.

Bio materials

Sustainably grown agricultural feedstocks and sustainable forest biomass are the basis for ISCC PLUS certified bio materials.

Renewable-energy-derived materials

Materials that use renewable energy sources as an integral part of the reaction can become ISCC PLUS certified. An example is Power-to-X: the process of converting renewable electricity (Power), generated from wind, solar or water, into a variety of end products (X).

Recycling

We certify all kinds of waste and residues, including mechanically and chemically recycled materials.

Mechanical recycling

Mechanical recycling is a resource efficient process that transforms waste plastics into new materials, helping to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. The process starts with the collection and sorting of plastic waste, which is then shredded into small pieces. After being washed, these pieces are melted and formed into new plastic pellets. These recycled pellets can be used to create a variety of new plastic products, such as bottles, textiles or packaging material.

 

Since it involves fewer chemical processes and lower energy use, mechanical recycling generally has a smaller environmental impact than chemical recycling, making it the preferred choice. However, this recycling option has its limitations; over time, the process degrades the quality of plastic, limiting the number of times it can be recycled. Additionally, it is not feasible to mechanically recycle heavily contaminated or multi-layer plastics (e.g. some food packaging or beverage cartons).

Chemical recycling

Chemical recycling is an advanced process that breaks down waste plastics into their chemical building blocks through processes like pyrolysis, gasification or depolymerisation. Unlike mechanical recycling which melts and forms only clean single-material waste into plastic pellets, chemical recycling can be applied to a wider variety of plastics, including mixed and contaminated materials. Chemical recycling is used to complement mechanical recycling and has the potential to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

Acceptance of other schemes

  • Voluntary schemes: ISCC schemes are accepted under PLUS. Other voluntary schemes may be accepted following a positive equivalence benchmark.
  • SAI-compliance: Raw materials from Germany or Austria meeting the SAI GOLD COMPLIANT standard. SAI SILVER COMPLIANT may also be accepted if clearly declared and maintained.
  • Governmental approaches: ISCC may recognise equivalent government systems operated by public authorities that meet ISCC waste and residue criteria. Under ISCC PLUS accepted approaches include the Danish National Waste Register, German Waste Monitoring System (ASYS), the Dutch Manure System as well as the Queensland Regulated Waste Tracking System

References

Ournewsroom

ISCC PLUS certified companies are leading the way in using renewable and recycled raw materials. All of them contribute in different ways, as waste collectors, processors, converters and brand owners. In our newsroom you will find ISCC PLUS System User success stories.

29 April 2026

Event recap: Inaugural Meeting of the Technical Stakeholder Committee – Agri-Food and Feed

Yesterday afternoon, we successfully hosted our inaugural conference dedicated to the agriculture sector and the Food and Feed sector, marking an important milestone in bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain to exchange insights on policy developments, market trends, and the growing role of certification in sustainable agriculture. ISCC’sperspectiveand the story so far The […]
22 April 2026

ISCC PLUS in the tyre industry: driving the transition to certified materials

Every year, billions of tyres are produced globally, creating a significant sustainability challenge. Their complex composition, reliance on both fossil and biogenic materials, and limited recyclability make tyres among the most difficult products to transition towards a circular economy. At the same time, sustainability expectations and regulatory requirements are evolving rapidly. Initiatives such as the […]
22 April 2026

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