Conference Recap – Sustainability Certification in India
On 6 July, we welcomed over 200 on-site participants to our inaugural Sustainability Certification in India conference, bringing together representatives from industry, government, Certification Bodies and the wider sustainability community to discuss the country’s evolving regulatory landscape and the role of certification in supporting more sustainable supply chains.
To open the conference, Dr Jan Henke, Director of ISCC System and Meo Carbon Solutions, gave an overview of the latest ISCC developments and their implications for industry. The event also featured very valuable keynote presentations from representatives of India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), who shared insights into India’s changing legislative framework for renewable fuels and the opportunities it creates for sustainable growth. Discussions highlighted the country’s growing renewable energy ambitions, including the rapid expansion of green hydrogen and renewable fuel initiatives.
Throughout the day, speakers explored key developments across renewable and circular value chains. Sessions examined the complementary roles of mechanical and advanced recycling, the contribution of refineries to a circular economy, and how ISCC PLUS certification supports traceability for certified circular plastics through a mass balance approach. They also discussed the importance of chemical recycling as a complementary method to mechanical recycling, as well as its role in sensitive applications such as food-contact and medical packaging.
Following the presentation on plastic recycling, a panel discussion on the future of recycling in India brought together representatives from Tetra Pak India, the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), the Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons (AARC) and ISOQAR India. Panellists discussed the implementation of India’s Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules and the role of ISCC PLUS in supporting traceability, credibility and greater uptake of recycled materials.
Renewable fuels were one of the key focuses of the conference. Presentations highlighted India’s growing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) market, where aviation demand is expected to continue rising over the coming years. Speakers also noted that while global SAF production is projected to reach around 2.4 billion litres in 2025, it still accounts for less than 1% of total aviation fuel use. This demonstrates both the progress being made and the need for further scale-up.
The conference also explored the expanding biomethane sector, with speakers highlighting India’s estimated production potential of 9.3–11.4 million tonnes per year. Today, over 200 compressed biogas (CBG) projects are already operational, with further projects under construction, illustrating the country’s growing renewable gas market and the role of certification in enabling access to international markets.
The conference concluded with a presentation on opportunities and benefits of ISCC and how to implement our certification into supply chains. Speakers also highlighted how internationally recognised certification can help translate policy into practice, supporting compliance while facilitating international trade and strengthening confidence in sustainable supply chains.
Key takeaways
The discussions throughout the conference also highlighted how certification is already supporting India’s sustainability ambitions while creating opportunities for future growth. ISCC PLUS is already being used by System Users to report recycling quantities through India’s Extended Producer Responsibility Portal under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, with participants noting that official recognition could further strengthen compliance as recycling targets increase in the coming years. In the aviation sector, ISCC CORSIA certification is already helping companies meet SAF blending requirements. Looking ahead, speakers identified RFNBOs as a promising emerging market, with India’s expanding renewable electricity capacity providing a strong foundation for the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all speakers, panellists and participants for contributing to a successful conference. We look forward to continuing the dialogue and supporting the development of sustainability certification in India.
