R&D Projects
RSB stays at the forefront of bioeconomy innovation by participating in numerous research and development (R&D) and innovation projects worldwide. By applying its comprehensive sustainability framework to guide the development and certification of novel products derived from renewable feedstocks, RSB ensures that the transition from a fossil-based to a biocircular economy safeguards both social and environmental aspects.
Knowledge gained from R&D and innovation projects and the latest scientific findings is continuously applied to update and expand our framework and standards, ensuring they evolve in line with emerging sustainability challenges.
Our Current Portfolio
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RSB has a proven track record in R&D and innovation projects as an enabler and trusted partner of industry, academia and NGOs, ensuring that the inevitable transition to a bio-based and circular economy will positively impact people and the planet.
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The above diagram describes the main activities RSB is involved in with its R&D and innovation projects.
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The current projects in our portfolio below are partly funded by the European Commission through Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe – the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation – and partly funded through other innovations funds.
Take a look at our portfolio below.
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ALIGHT
ALIGHT is an EU-funded Smart Airport project, launched in November 2020 and running for four years to develop a model of a sustainable airport of the future.
RSB will provide important guidance on the use of SAF in the project – ensuring that the project utilises SAF that is compliant with RSB’s best-in-class sustainability framework, and by providing expert advice and support throughout the project.R
CARINA
The CARINA project focuses on new, sustainable and diversified farming systems – including two new oilseed crops, carinata and camelina – that are able to provide low iLUC feedstocks for the bio-based economy. The project is supported by the European Union within the framework of the Horizon Europe programme.
RSB will perform the environmental assessment of the CARINA value chain. Furthermore RSB will provide key support in the definition and implementation of a certification standard for the production of low iLUC feedstock for bio-based material starting from a bottom-up approach with the direct engagement of stakeholder and civil society.
STAR4BBS
STAR4BBS aims to maximise the potential of sustainability certification schemes and labels to support a successful transition to a sustainable bio-based economy. The project will develop indicators and a new monitoring system for assessing the effectiveness and robustness of existing schemes and labels, and related traceability systems applicable to biological feedstock and bio-based materials and products.
RSB will provide expertise on traceability and in the development of the indicators and will support outreach to industry and other certification schemes and labels.
FLITE
The FLITE consortium, led by SkyNRG and with LanzaTech as the technology provider, will build the first-of-its-kind LanzaJetTM Alcohol to Jet (AtJ) facility. The facility will convert waste-based ethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a scale of at least 30,000 tons/yr.
RSB will provide key support in preparing the programme through guidance on RSB certification of the facility. This will involve the mapping of supply chain feedstocks, risk assessments and screening, training to the facility operators, and ongoing support to prepare for certification.
ICARUS
ICARUS is an EU-funded project to advance SAF production by addressing critical technology limitations.
RSB will provide important guidance with the approach to SAF certification, developing a guidance for SAF certification of the three proposed value chains. RSB will also contribute with its knowledge and networks through the different platforms that are in place such as the RSB SAF Policy Platform and Sustainable Airports Platform.
OLGA
OLGA aims to demonstrate the impact of the environmental innovations and concepts presented at the lighthouse airport (Airport of Paris) and occasionally directly in fellow airport: Milano Malpensa in Italy, Zagreb in Croatia and Cluj Napoca in Romania. Such innovations are scalable and generic, laying the foundations for greener airports throughout Europe.
RSB will provide its expert view on sustainability of SAF, with sustainability criteria to be taken into account in the traceability solution to be put in place.
CLEVER Expert Forum
The CLEVER project is at the forefront of refining GHG emission calculations in the transportation sector, a critical step in meeting Paris Climate Agreement targets. Building on existing global efforts, the CLEVER project, which stands for Creating Legitimate Emission Factors for Verified GHG Emission Reduction in Transport, aims to standardise different emission factor methods into one precise, unified approach.
CLEVER’s Expert Forum serves as a collaborative hub for project partners to engage with experts covering a wide range of relevant perspectives. As part of the Expert Forum, RSB aims to engage with partners to identify commonalities and differences across existing methodologies, and to establish a consensus on gaps, areas for improvement and the approaches to achieve the project objectives.