Green Fuels & Clean Skies: ISCC Certifications for SAF

 Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is transforming air travel’s path to net zero — but only with trusted certification. In this episode of Intertek’s ISCC Awareness Series, Florencia Bahamonde and Mike Koziar explore how ISCC certification ensures sustainability, compliance, and credibility for SAF worldwide, and what new technologies are shaping the industry’s future. 

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Transcript

Florencia: Hello, and welcome to Intertek’s ISCC Awareness Series, where we delve into the latest in sustainable practices, the ISCC certifications, and their impact on the world of business and beyond. I'm your host today, Florencia Bahamonde, ISCC  Sr. Global Program Manager joined by Mike Koziar, our Renewable Fuels Director, Caleb Brett Business Line. 

Mike: Hi, Florencia! Glad to be here.

Florencia: In this episode, we explore how Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is transforming the path to decarbonizing air travel—without the need for new aircraft or infrastructure. We’ll examine how ISCC certification safeguards sustainability, traceability, and compliance across global markets, addressing diverse regulations and international frameworks such as the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation mandate and ICAO’s CORSIA scheme.

Florencia: So, Mike, Let’s start at the very beginning. For those new to the topic, what exactly is Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and why is it such a game-changer for aviation’s sustainability journey?

Mike: SAF is a drop-in fuel that can replace conventional fossil-based jet fuel, produced from renewable or waste-based feedstocks like used cooking oil, municipal solid waste, or advanced synthetic pathways using renewable electricity and captured CO₂. Chemically, it’s almost identical to conventional jet fuel, which means no engine modifications are needed. Its main advantage lies in lifecycle greenhouse gas reductions — SAF can cut emissions significantly compared to fossil jet fuel, depending on the feedstock and process. Given that aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize due to weight and range constraints, SAF offers an immediate and scalable pathway to reduce emissions without waiting for revolutionary aircraft technology.

Florencia: So SAF isn’t just a technical possibility — it’s a practical solution available now, making it a cornerstone for the industry’s path to net-zero.

Mike: Florencia, ISCC is a name we hear more and more in connection with SAF. Which ISCC standards apply to SAF production, and how do they link to global regulatory frameworks? 

Florencia: Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is central to reducing aviation’s carbon footprint, but to make credible sustainability claims, its production and use must be verified through robust certification

All ISCC standards can be applied to SAF, and the choice depends on regulatory and customer needs:

• ISCC EU is officially recognized by the European Commission to demonstrate compliance with RED III sustainability criteria. SAF certified under ISCC EU can be claimed under the EU ETS, UK ETS, and the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate.
• ISCC CORSIA, recognized by ICAO — the International Civil Aviation Organization — ensures compliance with the CORSIA framework, enabling SAF claims under this global scheme to support aviation’s target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It’s also referenced in U.S. IRS guidance for SAF tax credit eligibility.
• ISCC PLUS is used mainly in voluntary markets, allowing SAF claims in non-regulated contexts where traceability and sustainability assurance are still valued by customers. 

Each of these ensures that feedstock sourcing, greenhouse gas calculations, chain-of-custody, and traceability are verified. 

Mike:  So, this flexibility means that ISCC can serve SAF producers and airlines across both regulated and voluntary markets worldwide, providing a single, credible framework for sustainability assurance.

Mike:  Let’s start with Europe. With the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation initiative mandating minimum SAF use starting at 2% in 2025, how can ISCC certification help fuel producers and airlines meet these requirements?

Florencia: ReFuelEU Aviation introduces legally binding SAF blending mandates for fuel supplied at EU airports — beginning at 2% in 2025 and ramping up to 70% by 2050. Compliance depends on demonstrating that the SAF meets RED III sustainability criteria, is traceable through the supply chain, and is reported into the Union Database. ISCC EU certification is an officially recognized route to achieve this, providing independent verification of feedstock sustainability, chain of custody, and lifecycle GHG savings. For producers, it enables market access and compliance recognition; for airlines, it delivers assurance that purchased SAF will be accepted under the regulation without compliance risks.

Mike: Of course, Europe isn’t the only arena for SAF regulation. Looking at the global picture, how does ISCC certification align with ICAO’s CORSIA framework for achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050?

Florencia: CORSIA — the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation — is ICAO’s mechanism to achieve net-zero by 2050. It is being phased in with voluntary participation from 2021 to 2026, followed by mandatory application from 2027 to 2035 for eligible operators. Airlines can reduce their offsetting obligations by using CORSIA Eligible Fuels, including SAF certified under ISCC CORSIA. This certification verifies compliance with ICAO’s sustainability, traceability, and GHG reduction criteria. For producers, ISCC CORSIA opens access to the global SAF market; for airlines, it provides the documented proof needed to claim emissions reductions under CORSIA.

Mike: Whether it’s meeting the EU’s regional SAF mandates or ICAO’s global carbon reduction scheme, ISCC certification gives both producers and airlines a reliable, recognized framework to prove compliance and advance their sustainability commitments.

Florencia: Now Mike, this one is for you,  Looking ahead, what are the main technology trends driving the development of SAF, and how are they expected to impact the industry?

Mike: SAF production is diversifying rapidly as new technologies mature and scale. The most established pathway today is HEFA — Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids — which uses waste oils, fats, and other lipid feedstocks. HEFA dominates current commercial volumes because it’s proven, cost-effective, and compatible with existing infrastructure.

We’re also seeing growing deployment of Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technologies, converting ethanol or isobutanol — which can be derived from renewable sources — into drop-in jet fuel. Similarly, Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis is gaining ground, producing SAF from syngas generated from biomass, municipal solid waste, or industrial off-gases.

Perhaps the most transformative trend is Power-to-Liquid (PtL) or e-fuels, which combine renewable hydrogen — produced via electrolysis — with captured CO₂ to create synthetic hydrocarbons. While still in early commercial stages, PtL offers the potential for virtually unlimited scaling without competing for biomass, making it central to long-term decarbonization strategies.

Florencia: That was incredibly informative — it’s clear there’s a wide range of SAF technologies advancing at different speeds, each with a role to play in aviation’s decarbonization. 

Florencia: Well Mike, to wrap up, I’d love to know — how can Intertek, can also support with testing alongside certification to help producers bring these fuels to market with full confidence?"

Mike: Alongside certification, Intertek offers extensive testing expertise through our Caleb Brett laboratories, recognized globally for petroleum, renewable fuel, and SAF analysis. We conduct full fuel property testing, ensuring SAF meets all technical and operational requirements for blending and use in aviation. Our services also include feedstock characterization, contaminant analysis, and advanced radiocarbon (¹⁴C) testing to verify bio-based content — an important complement to ISCC’s sustainability verification.

Florencia: Exactly—and that’s why Intertek is such a valuable partner. By combining ISCC certification with rigorous testing, Intertek provides a complete assurance package — proving both sustainability compliance and technical quality, which is critical for market acceptance and regulatory recognition."

Mike: For companies seeking further clarification or support, we encourage you to connect with an Intertek technical expert. You can reach out to us directly via email or submit an inquiry through our website—we’re here to help guide you from regulatory guidance to lab-tested proof of compliance. 

Florencia: That’s all for today’s episode of Intertek’s ISCC Awareness Series. Thank you for tuning in, and special thanks to Mike for sharing his insights. Stay tuned! We will continue diving into the ISCC certification in our next episodes.