EU-RED Standard
The Bonsucro EU-RED Standard allows Bonsucro-certified biofuels and biomass fuels made from sugarcane to comply with the sustainability criteria set out in the European Union Renewable Energy Directive II. Compliance with EU-RED sustainability criteria is required to count these fuels towards the EU renewable energy objectives.
What is the Renewable Energy Directive?
The EU Renewable Energy Directive (EU-RED) is the legal framework for the development of renewable energy across all sectors of the EU economy.
Adopted initially in 2009, the first Directive promoted the use of energy from renewable sources and set binding national targets for renewable energy in energy consumption and in the transport sector, to be met by 2020.
The Directive was revised (recast) in 2018 as part of the “Clean Energy for All Europeans” initiative. This recast directive 2018/2001/EU (more commonly known as EU-RED II or RED II) set out a new target for renewable energy by 2030, of 32%, and the sustainability criteria were extended to cover biomass fuels for heating, cooling and power generation. EU-RED II entered into force in 2020.
In 2022, the European Commission revised its rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria, which include low indirect land-use change-risk criteria. These changes were laid down in the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996.
And now, in 2023, the European Commission published a third version of the EU-RED, the revised Directive EU/2018/2001 (commonly known as EU-REDIII or REDIII), including further amendments to the sustainability criteria for biofuel and biomass fuels in the EU.
EU-RED Standard v3.0
Version 3.0 supersedes Bonsucro EU-RED Standard v2.1. Version 3.0 was developed to include the requirements of the Revised Directive EU/2018/2001 (EU-RED III).
Compliance of all Bonsucro EU-RED certified economic operators with the requirements specified in the Bonsucro EU-RED Standard v3.0 is required from 21 May 2025 onwards, i.e. the date when the revised Directive EU/2018/2001 enters into force. From this date onwards, all Bonsucro EU-RED audits will have to be conducted in accordance with the requirements set out in the Bonsucro EU-RED Standard v3.0. The same applies to scope extensions.
The changes from version 2.1 to 3.0 can be found in section 1.3 of the Standard. Bonsucro has updated the checklist for the certification bodies carrying out audits against v3.0, to be used in addition to the current Bonsucro calculator. Find below all those documents.
Download Guidance for EU-RED Standard Default Values
Learn the key changes to the EU-RED Standard
EU-RED Annual Activity Report to the European Commission
The European Commission requires recognised voluntary schemes to send a yearly summarised report containing the results of its annual monitoring activities.
This report shall follow the minimum requirements set out in Annex III of the Commission Implementing Regulation 2022/996, and it includes the amounts of sustainable material (e.g., feedstock, biofuels, bioliquids, and biomass fuels) certified by Bonsucro in the previous calendar year. For more information, see our data report on certified volumes for 2024.
- Read our Annual Activity Report for 2024.
- Read our EU-RED Non-Conformities Analysis Report for 2024.
EU-RED Summary Audit Report
The Directive, through the Implementing Regulation 2022/996, article 6 (b) requires that a Summary Audit Report, drawn up in accordance with Annex II of the Implementing Regulation, shall be made public.
For all Bonsucro EU-RED certified economic operators, you can find the Summary Audit Report together with the information on our Bonsucro Certificate Holders in our website.
The Union Database for Biofuels
The Union Database for Biofuels (UDB) is a traceability tool required by Article 28(2) of EU-RED II. It was created by the EU Commission to guarantee the traceability of liquid and gaseous biofuels, which qualify for inclusion in the renewable energy quota within the transportation sector across all EU member states. From 15 January 2024, UDB has been accessible for successfully registered economic operators for online registration of their initial stock and transactions of liquid renewable and recycled carbon fuels.
21st November 2024 marks the deadline for the UDB system to be in operation by the EC. This date DOES NOT apply to Economic Operators. The EC plans to agree on a date with the EU Member States when the use will be mandatory. Once an agreement is reached the EC will communicate the date through the certification schemes.
Announcements and clarifications from the EC can be found on a Public Wiki page here
All Bonsucro EU-RED certified economic operators need to be registered on the UDB by Bonsucro – please contact your account manager if you are not registered.
To learn more about the UDB and its impact on Bonsucro members, please watch our webinar – available in English and Portuguese.
For all inquiries and feedback on any of the Bonsucro standards, revision processes or to request a hard copy of public summaries, standards or other related materials, please contact standards@bonsucro.com
