REDcert² - Certification for sustainable material flows in the chemical industry
REDcert²Chemistry is a voluntary certification scheme that goes beyond legal requirements and is not governed by the Renewable Energy Directive. It enables the certification of sustainable material flows and the substitution of fossil raw materials with, for example, sustainable biomass and recyclates in the chemical and processing industry.
The chemical industry faces the challenge of replacing fossil raw materials with sustainable alternatives, while ensuring traceability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The REDcert² scheme for the chemical industry provides companies with a credible solution to demonstrate the integration of sustainable material flows and the reduction of their environmental footprint.
The scheme can be applied at all stages of the value chain, from preparation and processing to trade, certified end products and brand owners. The production of sustainable biomass as a raw material comes from the REDcert-EU scheme or a certification scheme recognised by REDcert².
Recognising other certification systems reduces administrative costs and avoids double certification. This creates opportunities – not barriers.
By participating in REDcert²Chemistry, you send a strong signal in support of responsible business and sustainable innovation.
Why REDcert²Chemistry?
Because the future demands responsibility
REDcert²Chemistry provides companies in the chemical industrie and biomass sector with a practical and credible solution for the certification of sustainable material flows. In light of increasing regulatory requirements and growing expectations for sustainable production, REDcert²Chemistry enables a reliable certification and thereby strengthens companies’ market position.
Credibility and transparency
Independent third-party verification significantly increases the credibility of the REDcert² sustainability certification. It ensures that companies' sustainability practices are objectively assessed and certified. This transparency allows consumers and business partners to trust that certified products actually meet sustainability standards.
Selection of the right value chain model
Choosing the right value chain model is crucial for the efficient implementation of sustainable processes and the achievement of corporate goals. Within the REDcert² scheme for the chemical industry, participants can choose between segregation, controlled blending, or mass balance value chain models. The well-established biomass-balanced approach enables companies to integrate sustainable raw materials into existing products today – transparently, credibly and without changing their processes.
Recognition of other certification schemes
The recognition of other certification schemes by REDcert² allows companies to source sustainable raw materials more flexibly and efficiently by using certified inputs from various schemes. This reduces administrative workload, lowers costs, and enhances marketability through a broader portfolio of sustainable products.
Reduction of the administrative burden
The REDcert² scheme for the chemical industry offers the option of including multiple sites under a so-called “multisite certificate.” This not only reduces administrative effort but also shortens audit durations by avoiding redundant inspections. The result is a more efficient and cost-effective certification process that helps companies achieve their sustainability goals more quickly and with less bureaucracy.
Transparent communication
Transparent communication is a key element of the REDcert² certification scheme. It ensures that all stakeholders receive clear and understandable information about sustainability practices and processes, thereby strengthening traceability and trust. The disclosure of relevant information and the implementation of fraud prevention measures in the confidential audit process ensure that only genuinely sustainable materials and processes are certified.
Technical support
REDcert² provides companies with comprehensive technical support through personalized consulting, informative materials, and training sessions to facilitate certification implementation. Ongoing knowledge exchange and regular updates to the scheme principles promote continuous process improvement. This ensures a transparent, efficient certification process that helps participants achieve their sustainability goals.
Flexibility of raw material procurement
The recognition of additional certification schemes enables companies to integrate different suppliers into their value chain and thereby make their procurement processes more efficient. Standardisation eliminates artificial scheme boundaries and reduces bureaucratic hurdles. Especially in times of scarce resources, this flexibility allows for a quick switch to alternative raw material sources, ensures production continuity and minimises the risk of supply bottlenecks. The harmonisation of raw material procurement, together with all partners, strengthens the development of sustainable supply chains and makes an important contribution to climate and resource protection.
Scheme Participants
Registration
REDcert²Chemistry
Become a part of the REDcert² scheme
Participation in the REDcert² certification scheme is simple an can be complete in just a few steps.
1. Registration:
To get started, register your company for the REDcert² scheme for the chemical industry at https://www.redcert.org/registrierung.
2. Data verification:
After registration, the information you provided will be carefully reviewed to ensure completeness and accuracy.
3. Contract conclusion:
The contract is finalized after all relevant data has been checked and no discrepancies have been found. After receipt of the signed contract, participation is confirmed and the next steps can begin. The contract is then sent by email for signature and must be returned once signed. After the signed version has been received, the contract is officially finalized and the next steps are initiated.
4. Commissioning a certification body:
Important: After the contract is finalized, you must commission a certification body approved for the REDcert² scheme for the chemical industry to carry out the certification process.
You can find a list of approved certification bodies.
5. Start of the certification process
If all formal requirements have been fulfilled, the actual certification process begins. The specific requirements of the REDcert² scheme are reviewed to ensure that your company meets all necessary criteria.
Scheme documents
Overview of scheme documents
The scheme principles of the REDcert² scheme form the basis for the certification of sustainable material flows in the chemical industry. This website provides a detailed overview of the scheme principles that ensure the implementation of the REDcert² Chemistry certification criteria. Here you will find comprehensive information on the requirements and processes that ensure that all certified materials and products meet the highest sustainability standards.
General scheme principles
Scheme principles
Checklists
Approved certification schemes
REDcert²Chemistry
Approved certification schemes
In the REDcert²Chemistry scheme, companies may use certified sustainable produced biomass, recycled materials, and intermediate products, provided they hold a REDcert² recognized sustainability certification that meets comparable requirements.
This flexibility enables companies to integrate various raw materials into their production processes while fulfilling their environmental responsibilities. By using certified sustainable biomass sources and recycled materials, companies actively contribute to climate protection and promote the circular economy.
REDcert conducts regular benchmarking to verify compliance with sustainability standards and to ensure the quality of the materials used. These processes are essential for maintaining the credibility and effectiveness of the scheme. A detailed description of the benchmarking procedures and criteria can be found in Annex 2c of the current scheme document.
| Certification scheme | Biomass | Recyclates | Intermediates |
| REDcert-EU | √ | × | √ |
| REDcert² Food/Feed | √ | × | √ |
| RED II - approved voluntary schemes1 | √ | × | √ |
| ISCC PLUS | √ | √ | √ |
| RSB | √ | √ | √ |
| FSC | √ | × | × |
| PEFC | √ | × | × |
| SAI-benchmarked2 | √ | × | × |
| EuCertPlast | × | √ | × |
1 Online at energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renewable-energy/bioenergy/voluntary-schemes_en
2 Due to the current revision of the RSPO documents, the recognition is only valid provisionally until
31.12.2024. 3 All schemes that have achieved an equivalence level of at least bronze under the Farm
Sustainability Assessment (FSA) current at the time; see also saiplatform.org/resource-centre/fsa/
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