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Why ISO 13659 matters more than it looks

ISO 13659 may sound like another technical standard, but it arrives at a very important moment. Many organisations already use book and claim for sustainable fuels and renewable energy. They do this because physical supply chains are complex. Fuel and power flow through shared tanks, pipelines and grids, so it is not easy to follow every sustainable unit from origin to final user.

Up to now, each scheme has worked with its own rules. Some are strong and transparent. Others are less clear. ISO 13659 does something very simple but very powerful. It offers a shared language for book and claim. It helps everyone agree on what good practice looks like.

For sustainability professionals this is not only about compliance. It is about clarity, trust and scale.

Book and claim in everyday language

Book and claim can feel abstract, but the idea is simple.

An organisation buys a product or service with a positive environmental attribute. For example, a batch of sustainable aviation fuel, a volume of marine biofuel or renewable electricity. That positive attribute is turned into a certificate inside a registry. The fuel or power itself may go into a common system, but the certificate can move separately.

Another organisation can then buy and retire that certificate. When it does this, it can make a climate related claim that matches the attribute recorded in the registry. The key is that each unit is used only once.

If the rules are weak, trust falls quickly. If the rules are strong and clear, more buyers are willing to join. ISO 13659 aims to strengthen those rules in a consistent way across sectors.

The quiet insight inside ISO 13659

The non obvious value of ISO 13659 is not only in its technical detail. It is in the way it can change internal conversations.

Until now, many book and claim schemes sit mostly with sustainability teams. They manage certificates, track claims and prepare reports. Finance teams see it as an added layer of cost. Operations teams see it as something that happens far from the daily pressure of moving aircraft, ships and trucks.

ISO 13659 invites these groups to speak a shared language.

It encourages clear answers to questions such as

Who is allowed to issue certificates
Who checks the underlying activity
Who can claim the environmental benefit
How is double counting avoided across markets and reports

Once an organisation answers these questions in a structured way, new benefits appear. Data becomes easier to audit. Climate claims become easier to explain to customers. Internal approvals become smoother because people trust the governance around the scheme.

A new backbone for transport decarbonisation

For transport, book and claim is not a side topic. It is becoming a central tool in decarbonisation plans.

In aviation, not every airport will receive physical sustainable aviation fuel in the near term. Book and claim allows corporate buyers and airlines to support production even when the aircraft they use do not always depart from a location with direct access to the fuel.

In maritime, global shipping routes cross many ports with different levels of fuel availability. Certificates for low carbon or zero carbon marine fuels can help ship owners and cargo owners support cleaner energy where it is available, and claim the benefit in a transparent way.

In road transport, logistics operators can use certificates for renewable power or advanced biofuels to clean up complex fleets and shared infrastructure.

ISO 13659 does not solve every challenge in these sectors. However it gives a more stable backbone for the many book and claim systems that already exist or are now emerging. That backbone supports better registry design, clearer claims and more confident investment in new fuels.

Practical steps for sustainability professionals

ISO 13659 is a useful trigger for a simple internal review. Sustainability professionals can start with a few practical steps.

They can map where book and claim already appears in their organisation. For example, in fuel contracts, renewable energy purchases, voluntary climate commitments or customer specific offerings.

They can check how registries are managed. Who holds access. What data is recorded. How certificates are issued and retired. What evidence is kept for verification.

They can review climate related claims in reports and marketing materials. Do these claims match the certificates that have been retired. Are time periods and volumes aligned. Could an external reader misunderstand the messages.

Specialist advisory firms with deep experience in transport and sustainability can support this review. They can translate ISO language into practical checklists, training sessions and revised claim frameworks that work for real world teams. The result can be a cleaner story that stands up to scrutiny from auditors, regulators and customers.

Turning a standard into a strategic tool

It is easy to see ISO 13659 as another item on a long compliance list. That view misses an opportunity.

Handled well, the standard can become a strategic tool. It can help leadership teams decide where they want to position themselves in emerging markets for sustainable fuels and energy. It can guide the design of new customer products that bundle transport services with high quality environmental attributes.

It can also support better cooperation along value chains. Fuel producers, carriers and corporate buyers can align on shared registry rules and claim principles. This reduces friction, speeds up deal making and reduces the risk of disputes about ownership of climate benefits.

The most interesting insight is that a technical standard can quietly reshape behaviour far beyond the legal or audit function. It can influence how sustainability teams talk to finance, how sales teams talk to customers and how boards talk about progress toward climate targets.

Conclusion

ISO 13659 is more than a footnote in the standards catalog. It is a new language for book and claim at a time when many organisations depend on this model to move faster on climate goals.

By treating it as a chance to tidy data, clarify claims and align internal teams, sustainability professionals can turn a complex topic into a source of confidence. The organisations that lean into this work early are likely to find that they can act with more speed and credibility in markets for sustainable fuels and renewable energy.

In other words, ISO 13659 rewards those who see it not only as a rulebook, but as a quiet enabler of better climate action across aviation, maritime and road transport.

ISO 13659 and the quiet power of book and claim

ISO 13659 is about to give book and claim a clear global language. In reality it can become a bridge between climate goals and the messy reality of fuel and energy supply chains.

What book and claim really unlocks

Book and claim separates physical flows from environmental value. Aircraft ships and trucks may still run on a blended fuel mix while the climate benefit is recorded and traded as certificates. When the rules for these certificates are consistent transparent and verifiable more organisations can join without overhauling their infrastructure.

This model lets sustainability teams act now while long term infrastructure catches up.

The positive shift behind ISO 13659

The real insight is that ISO 13659 turns book and claim from a patchwork of schemes into a common backbone. It asks clearer questions about who issues credits who can claim them and how double counting is avoided. That structure gives comfort to auditors regulators and customers.

For leaders it is not only a compliance topic. It is a chance to redesign data flows between sustainability finance and operations.

What transport decision makers can do next

Organisations in aviation maritime and road transport can start mapping their existing certificate or credit use against the logic of ISO 13659. They can test whether their registries evidence and claims would stand up to a more formal review.

Specialist advisers can help teams translate the standard into simple checklists staff training and customer communication so that credible climate action becomes easier to scale.

Conclusion

ISO 13659 will reward early movers who treat book and claim as a strategic tool rather than a last minute fix. Starting that internal conversation today is a practical step toward more confident climate claims tomorrow.

A Step Forward for Aviation Decarbonization

The European Commissions Sustainable Transport Investment Plan or STIP signals progress in the journey toward lower carbon aviation. It sets out a direction of travel rather than a final destination. While much work remains before policies take full effect, the plan reflects a growing awareness of the real world challenges airlines face as they transition to more sustainable operations.

Recognizing the SAF Market Reality

One of the strongest elements of the STIP is its acknowledgement of the structural challenges around sustainable aviation fuel. The price gap between conventional fuel and SAF and the lack of mature supply chains are now clearly on the table. This recognition is important because effective decarbonization depends not only on ambition but also on practical market conditions.

The proposal to extend SAF support through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and to reduce administrative complexity is a positive signal. It suggests a shift toward solutions that balance environmental goals with operational feasibility.

Book and Claim as a Market Enabler

The Commissions openness to tradable SAF certification and book and claim mechanisms is another encouraging development. Allowing airlines to claim SAF based on purchase rather than physical uplift at a specific airport could unlock supply across Europe. This flexibility would support investment in production facilities while promoting fairness for operators regardless of geography.

Alignment with global frameworks such as CORSIA also points toward greater international consistency which is essential for an industry that operates across borders.

Transparency and Pricing Confidence

For SAF markets to mature transparency is critical. Airlines need clarity on pricing supply and certification to ensure that higher costs deliver real environmental value. Improved access to sustainability data and simpler reporting processes can help build trust and prevent inefficiencies from slowing progress.

Looking Ahead

The STIP is best viewed as a foundation rather than a finished solution. Its value will depend on how intentions translate into legislation during upcoming reviews of EU ETS and ReFuelEU. Continued dialogue and adaptive policy design will be key to turning momentum into measurable emissions reductions.

Conclusion

The STIP reflects a more grounded understanding of aviation decarbonization. By addressing market barriers alongside climate ambition it opens the door to more effective and scalable solutions. The next phase must focus on turning this positive direction into durable and workable outcomes for the sector.

Source

EUROCONTROL has published its Trajectory 2030 Strategy, offering a structured and forward-looking view of how European aviation can evolve over the rest of the decade. Rather than focusing only on near-term fixes, the strategy provides a practical blueprint that links operational performance, collaboration, and long-term resilience across the pan-European network.

A Strategy Built Through Collaboration

One of the most notable aspects of Trajectory 2030 is its development process. The strategy was shaped through extensive dialogue with Member States, European institutions and a wide range of aviation stakeholders. This inclusive approach ensures that the outcomes reflect shared priorities rather than isolated objectives. The endorsement of the strategy by Member States in November 2025 reinforces its collective ownership and credibility.

Engage Deliver Modernise in Practice

The strategy is organised around three drivers. Engage focuses on deeper cooperation with States partners and global regions. Deliver concentrates on strengthening core functions such as network management innovation and sustainability. Modernise looks inward by accelerating digitalisation improving governance and reinforcing skills and culture. Together these drivers translate high level ambition into measurable initiatives that can be tracked over time.

Why This Matters for Sustainable Aviation

Trajectory 2030 quietly reinforces an important shift in European aviation. Efficiency resilience and sustainability are treated as interconnected goals rather than competing ones. By aligning capacity planning innovation and environmental performance, the strategy creates space for smarter operational decisions that reduce waste and improve system wide outcomes.

Conclusion

EUROCONTROL Trajectory 2030 is less about bold slogans and more about disciplined execution. Its real value lies in providing a common reference point for policymakers operators and industry partners as they navigate growth uncertainty and sustainability expectations. For organisations working at the intersection of regulation operations and environmental performance, the strategy signals a clear direction of travel and an open invitation to collaborate in shaping the next phase of European aviation.

Download Document File Here: EUROCONTROL Trajectory 2030 Strategy

Source

Raising the Bar for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

EcoCeres recent certification under the RSB ICAO CORSIA scheme marks an important signal for the aviation sector. At a time when scrutiny around sustainable aviation fuel is intensifying, this certification reinforces the idea that credibility now matters as much as capacity.

The RSB ICAO CORSIA framework is widely viewed as one of the most rigorous sustainability benchmarks globally. It goes well beyond carbon accounting and examines biodiversity protection, labour safeguards, and full traceability of feedstocks. For airlines navigating increasingly complex decarbonisation expectations, such depth of verification is becoming essential.

Why Certification Quality Matters for Airlines

International aviation is moving toward a new normal where compliance with CORSIA and emerging SAF mandates is no longer optional. Airlines are expected to demonstrate that emissions reductions are real, measurable, and defensible across the full lifecycle of fuel use.

In this context, independently certified SAF provides more than environmental benefits. It offers regulatory confidence and reputational assurance. Fuels that meet high bar standards help airlines reduce risk as regulators, investors, and customers look more closely at sustainability claims.

A Strong Signal in a Growing SAF Market

The RSB framework is supported by leading civil society organisations, adding further legitimacy in a sector often challenged by concerns over greenwashing. EcoCeres certification places it among a smaller group of producers able to meet these demanding criteria, at a moment when SAF supply is expanding but trust remains uneven.

This milestone also aligns with strong investor interest. Since 2021, EcoCeres has raised around 800 million dollars, reflecting confidence in waste based fuel pathways that avoid land use conflicts and support circular economy principles.

Implications for Aviation Decarbonisation

Sustainable aviation fuel remains the most viable near term solution for reducing emissions from long haul flight. However, its long term role depends on transparency and governance as much as scale.

Certifications like RSB ICAO CORSIA point to where the market is heading. As aviation moves closer to net zero pathways, independently verified SAF will increasingly define credible progress rather than serve as a differentiator.

Conclusion

EcoCeres achievement highlights a broader shift in aviation decarbonisation. The future of SAF will be shaped by trust, traceability, and alignment with global standards. For airlines and fuel producers alike, engaging early with robust sustainability frameworks is becoming a strategic necessity rather than a compliance exercise.

Source

Project overview

Al Mana Holding has committed two hundred million dollars to build a sustainable aviation fuel facility within the Suez Canal Economic Zone in Egypt. Operated by the newly formed Saf Fly Limited, the plant will convert refined used cooking oil into two hundred thousand tonnes each year of SAF, BioPropane, and Bio Naphtha starting in 2027.

Commercial foundations

Shell has signed an offtake contract covering one hundred percent of production, giving the project predictable revenue and strengthening credit terms with lenders. Long horizon purchase agreements

like this are emerging as essential accelerators that translate policy ambition into bankable infrastructure across the aviation sector.

A non-obvious insight

Because the fuel will load directly onto ships at Sokhna Port, the project effectively integrates manufacturing with export logistics. This close coupling can reduce transport costs for finished fuel by double digit percentages, an advantage often overlooked when analysing SAF project economics.

Strategic implications

• Egypt positions itself as a bridge linking Gulf capital with European decarbonisation demand.
• The economic zone incentives and ready access to renewable electricity make future capacity expansions straightforward.
• Regional airlines gain a nearby certified supply option that supports compliance with forthcoming international mandates.

Broader market signals

Investors are increasingly drawn toward assets that combine clear climate benefits with traditional industrial strengths such as port access, feedstock availability, and supportive regulation. The Sokhna development ticks each box, suggesting a template other emerging economies can replicate.

Conclusion

The Al Mana Egypt partnership demonstrates that strategic siting, long term offtake, and public policy alignment can turn sustainable aviation fuel from niche concept into scalable reality, advancing both economic growth and global climate goals.

Source – ESG News