MEO Group Selected By Great Place To Work as One of North Rhine-Westphalia’s Top-rated Employers
We are pleased to announce that Meo Carbon Solutions was named one of the winners in the 2025 Great Place To Work® competition, „Best Workplaces in North Rhine Westphalia 2025“. This achievement highlights how our employees feel respected, valued and connected to the company.
This recognition is for the wider MEO Group, which unites Meo Carbon Solutions and our sister companies—International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), Global Risk Assessment Services (GRAS), 4C Services and ClimatePal—under a shared vision.
„It is impressive how consistently and sustainably the participating companies in the Great Place To Work® initiative regularly gather feedback from their employees in order to further develop their company, and this in a market environment that is sometimes so volatile“, says Andreas Schubert, Managing Director at Great Place To Work® Germany. „The fact that they made it onto the list of the best out of over 1,000 participating companies shows the top quality in terms of the workplace culture they have in place.“
The award recognizes companies that offer employees attractive and conducive working conditions. It is based on employee feedback through an anonymous survey of MEO Group employees—covering topics such as trust in leadership, team spirit, fairness, appreciation, respect and employee engagement. We also completed a culture audit to share information about the programs and initiatives we have in place to support a positive work environment.
This award reflects the culture we have developed over the past decade based on shared goals, trust and dedication. It is important not only for our team but also for our partners, clients and community. It means that we are a place where people enjoy working, which also impacts the overall quality of our work, helps us attract talent and supports our growth. Additionally, we are proud that 97% of new employees feel welcome from their first day. You can find more results and background information on our company profile on the Great Place To Work® website.
„This award as one of the best employers in NRW fills us with great gratitude and pride“, says Lisa Mies, Head of People & Culture at MEO Group. „It is a strong sign of our colleagues‘ trust—precisely what drives us: to create a working culture characterised by openness, appreciation and continuous development. For us, feedback from our teams is not an end in itself, but a guiding principle—because only together can we create a working environment that is sustainable in a dynamic market and in which everyone can contribute with joy and conviction.“
We want to thank our team for participating in the survey and for their ongoing dedication—this award belongs to all of us.
Meo Carbon Solutions Participates in 6th BioReCer Project Consortium Meeting
The Meo Carbon Solutions team—Katia Masias Bröcker, Monica Pandey, and Gabriel Villanueva—recently attended the 6th Horizon Europe BioReCer project consortium meeting, where they discussed shaping the future of the circular bioeconomy.
Over two days, the consortium aligned strategies, reviewed the project’s progress and strengthened ties to accelerate sustainable change.
We would like to thank EGM for welcoming us to Nice, France, and for making this meeting a powerhouse of collaboration and innovation.
For more information and continuous progress updates on the BioReCer project, please visit the project website.
If you want to contribute to the project results, join our BioReCer Stakeholder Platform.
A special thanks to our project partners: Cetaqua (Water Technology Centre), EGM, SPRING (Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster), Unitelma Sapienza, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, UNI Ente Italiano di Normazione, Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), ANFACO-CECOPESCA, Università Politecnica delle Marche, nova-Institut GmbH, Gruppo CAP, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH), Cittadinanzattiva APS, euradia, Brunel University London and European Research Executive Agency (REA).
Meo Carbon Solutions At ISCC’s 15th Annual Sustainability Conference
In February 2025, our senior project managers—Julia Ostrowski, Claudia Bulgheroni and Julia Nevares—attended the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Association’s (ISCC) 15th Annual Sustainability Conference, an event that highlighted years of progress in sustainability certification and industry collaboration. The discussions were both timely and insightful, addressing key regulatory updates and industry advancements.
Throughout the event, experts shared valuable perspectives on regulatory frameworks, market developments and the future of sustainability certification: Bernd Kuepker, an administrator at the European Commission from the Directorate-General for Energy (DG Ener), provided an update on the status and outlook of RED III, emphasizing its impact on shaping the future of renewable energy in Europe. As regulations evolve, understanding their implications for industries remains critical. Additionally, our Managing Director, Andreas Feige, presented updates on the UDB and ISCC integrity programs—reinforcing the importance of transparency, traceability and accountability in certification systems.
The discussions extended beyond regulatory updates, with thought-provoking panel sessions on utilising Sustainable Maritime Fuels (SMF) in global markets and the evolving regulatory landscape for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). These conversations underscored the need for stronger alignment between industry initiatives and policy developments to scale sustainable solutions effectively.
In addition to engaging with key discussions, Julia Nevares took the stage to share insights on RFNBO certification and Meo’s collaboration with ISCC in the CLEVER project. This initiative is driving the transition to renewable fuels by developing a robust greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting framework. A major focus is ensuring that standardised emission factors are established across all transport modes, fuels and production methods.
Another crucial topic at the conference was the Food Security Standard (FSS) and its growing role in sustainability certification. During his welcome address, our Managing Director, Dr. Norbert Schmitz, provided an update on ISCC and the FSS—highlighting how, as sustainability frameworks expand, integrating food security considerations is becoming an essential part of responsible certification systems.
Looking ahead, this conference was a potent reminder of both how far sustainability certification has come and how much work remains ahead.
We would like to extend our gratitude to ISCC for hosting the event and thank all of the speakers, panellists and participants who contributed to these essential discussions. The progress made over the past 15 years is significant, but the challenges ahead make continued collaboration even more critical.
Introducing Our Newest Service Pillar: New Market Certification
Meo Carbon Solutions is proud to announce our latest service pillar: New Market Certification for innovative renewable fuels and chemical technologies.
The sustainability landscape is constantly transforming, and so are we! As the global decarbonization push intensifies, we’re supporting companies in navigating complex certification processes for emerging chemical and fuel markets:
- Certification Support for New Fuels in the RED Market, such as RFNBOs
- ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) Solutions
- Emerging Market Certification System Development
Whether you’re developing cutting-edge sustainable technologies or seeking compliance in evolving regulatory landscapes, our expert team is here to guide you through RED II requirements and certification challenges. Want to accelerate your sustainable innovation? Let’s connect and explore how we can support your certification journey!
Contact Meo Carbon Solutions to learn more today or visit the New Market Certification webpage.
Meo Carbon Solutions Joins 4C Services in Colombia for ISEAL-funded Project
In January 2025, as part of the ISEAL-funded project on enhancing social auditing and risk identification, our Senior Project Manager, Elba Estrada Gutiérrez, joined 4C Services (represented by Pia Lorenz) for a field visit to farms managed by REGIONAL SAS in Santuario, Risaralda, Colombia. The aim was to deepen our understanding of the challenges associated with social auditing in coffee supply chains.
With the invaluable support of National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers (FNC), we had the opportunity to connect directly with local farmers and stakeholders. Furthermore, we hosted several group discussions with producers to explore experiences, risks and best practices in social auditing within coffee production. We had the chance to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders—including women’s associations, social workers, cooperatives and service providers. These interactions provided a deeper understanding of the social and economic landscape in the region. The insights gleaned from these efforts are crucial for better identifying social risks in coffee production and strengthening social auditing methodologies.
Thank you to everyone who shared their perspectives—your voices are essential in shaping more inclusive supply chains.
Meo Carbon Solutions Participates in the 2024 Sustainable Aviation Fuel & Bioethanol Summit in Japan
We’re proud to share that our Senior Project Manager, Dr. Claudia Bulgheroni, recently represented Meo Carbon Solutions at the 2024 Sustainable Aviation Fuel & Bioethanol Summit in Tokyo, Japan. This event was organized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), in collaboration with Japanese partners.
Dr. Bulgheroni was invited by the US Grains Council to present preliminary findings from our ongoing project with USGC. This project is an analysis of default Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) and Core Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) values for US bioethanol within the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) framework.
Her presentation examined comparisons between various models, assumptions and input datasets used to calculate ILUC values for US corn ethanol in CORSIA. Dr. Bulgheroni also contributed to a panel discussion on „Global Policy, Feedstock, and Modeling Impacts on Bioethanol and SAF Markets,“ moderated by Dr. Seth Meyer (Chief Economist with the USDA). She highlighted critical points on potential over/underestimations and uncertainties inherent in ILUC modeling for sustainable aviation fuels under CORSIA.
Meo Carbon Solutions would like to thank the USDA, USGC and the Japanese partners for hosting us. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the other speakers, panelists, moderators and guests who shared their valuable insights to the event.
HORTICERT Issues its First Certificates at the 7th Stakeholder Meeting
Meo Carbon Solutions has achieved a significant milestone in advancing the HORTICERT project: the HORTICERT system has successfully entered its operational phase, with eight certificates issued to date. HORTICERT is an international certification system that ensures ecological, social and economic sustainability across peat substitute and growing media supply chains.
Prominent industry players such as Copertiz, Eifelholz-AG, Gramoflor and Gebr. Mayer (producing for toom Baumarkt) are among the first to achieve certification this year. These companies and their suppliers—operating in Belgium, Germany and India—represent diverse system users, including first collectors, processing units and growing media plants. Collectively, they cover a range of peat substitutes: coir, wood chips and fibers, bark humus, green compost and final substrates.
The certificates were awarded to the companies during HORTICERT’s 7th Stakeholder Workshop in Berlin in October 2025. The event was jointly hosted by Meo and the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR) at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). It brought together industry leaders, partners, NGOs and other stakeholders to discuss the HORTICERT certification process, learn more about recent project developments and market challenges and celebrate its advancements.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all stakeholders, workshop participants and certified companies for their invaluable contributions. To learn more about the HORTICERT system and its certification process, please visit the HORTICERT website.
Meo Carbon Solutions Participates in the BioReCer Project Stakeholder Event in Italy
Our Meo Carbon Solutions team recently joined the Horizon Europe BioReCer project consortium in Milan, Italy, to discuss the roadmap for developing the environment and sustainability framework for biological feedstock.
The first day of the meeting was dedicated to project partners sharing their achievements and discussing the way forward. Our project managers, Monica Pandey and Kyu Hee Do, presented the progress made in the development of the practical guidance document for integrating the framework into current certification schemes. The meeting concluded with defining alignments and synergies for future deliverables.
The second day featured the stakeholder event, „Enhancing the Sustainability of Bio-Based Products: New Tools and Future Standardization Developments.“ Topics related to circularity indicators and the BioReCer ICT tool, which ensures the traceability of biological feedstock along the value chain, were discussed. Stakeholders from various sectors—including members of the standardization technical committee—actively participated in the discussions and provided valuable feedback.
On the third day, Università Politecnica delle Marche and Gruppo CAP organized a field visit to one of the WWTP facilities and explained the processes. We witnessed the production of dry sludge and saw how the sand in wastewater is reclaimed and reused in the construction sector. Not only was it a pleasure to learn about circularity practices in the wastewater sector, but our confidence that the BioReCer framework can be a valuable tool for promoting sustainability and circularity in this sector was strengthened.
For more information and continuous progress updates on the BioReCer project, please visit the project website.
If you want to contribute to the project results, join our BioReCer Stakeholder Platform.
We are very grateful to UNI Ente Italiano di Normazione for their warm hospitality! A special thanks to our project partners: Cetaqua (Water Technology Centre), EGM, SPRING (Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster), Unitelma Sapienza, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, UNI Ente Italiano di Normazione, Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), ANFACO-CECOPESCA, Università Politecnica delle Marche, nova-Institut GmbH, Gruppo CAP, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH), Cittadinanzattiva APS, euradia, Brunel University London and European Research Executive Agency (REA).
Meo Carbon Solutions Presents Final Results for World Bank Project in Colombia
Meo Carbon Solutions—in partnership with our sister company International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC)—was recently invited by the World Bank to present the final results of the Advisory Services and Analytics (ASA) studies on developing sustainable supply chains in Colombia—focusing on palm, cocoa and non-wood forestry products. The event took place in Villavicencio, Colombia.
The Spanish-language event—Desarrollo de Cadenas de Suministro Agrícolas Climáticamente Inteligentes en la Orinoquía Colombiana—brought together key stakeholders to discuss climate-smart agricultural supply chains in the region. Senior Project Manager Dr. Claudia Bulgheroni represented Meo Carbon Solutions and ISCC as the project leader for the consultancy; she presented the final outcomes of our study and participated in a panel discussion on the potential for palm-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in the Orinoquía region. The discussion focused on sustainable and low-carbon practices in the cultivation and extraction phases, as well as the compliance of palm-based SAF with ISCC CORSIA certification requirements.
Additionally, Dr. Bulgheroni was invited by Fedepalma to visit Hacienda La Cabaña, where she had the opportunity to observe sustainable practices in action—both in the field and at the oil mill—alongside representatives from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural supply chains in Colombia and to collaborate with our partners towards a more sustainable future.
Highlights from the Food Security Standard East African Regional Stakeholder Workshop
We’re excited to present the key highlights from our recent Food Security Standard (FSS) Stakeholder Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop, which was centered on human rights due diligence (HRDD) in agricultural production, brought together significant players from the East African private sector, civil society and academia. The primary focus was on how sustainability certification can bolster due diligence efforts.
The workshop kicked off with valuable insights from our project partners at Welthungerhilfe (WHH), including Deputy Head of Policy Department Rafaël Schneider and Country Director of Welthungerhilfe Kenya Christian Schniepper. Our FSS team then provided an overview of the upcoming due diligence legislation from Germany and the EU and discussed the importance of human rights in agriculture, focusing on the right to food and how companies can align their strategies with FSS sustainability certification.
The participants also had the opportunity to engage in two breakout sessions, with the first one exploring the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the other discussing the potential of sustainability certification to support HRDD efforts focused on the right to food.
The stakeholder workshop was highly engaging, with valuable feedback, thoughtful questions and meaningful discussions from all attendees. We’re grateful for everyone’s contributions and look forward to continuing this important work.
We would like to extend our thanks to all of our participants, Janari Farms for sharing its experience with the FSS audit process for the castor farms it supports for ENI, accredited FSS auditor Joshua JK for his presentation on social audits and our FSS team for preparing the event (Theresa Heering, Laura Mack and Lisa Marie Pyka).
Meo Carbon Solutions Participates in the Niedersächsisches Torfersatzforum
Meo Carbon Solutions is happy to have had the chance to be part of the „Niedersächsisches Torfersatzforum“ in Werlte, Germany. The event delved into peatland restoration and the use of the resulting „topsoil“ as a peat substitute and included an excursion to peatland restoration areas in Papenburg—offering valuable insights into putting sustainability into practice.
During the event, our project manager, Katrin Jaeger, presented HORTICERT, an international certification system for peat substitutes, and led through an open discussion on the sustainability aspects of topsoil.
Why does this matter? The removal of topsoil is important in the restoration and rewetting of peatlands, and there’s an ongoing conversation about its potential use in horticultural substrates. HORTICERT is also looking into whether it could be recognized as a viable peat alternative under the scheme.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to 3N Kompetenzzentrum e.V., who hosted the event, and to everyone who participated in the discussions about the sustainability aspects of topsoil. Let’s continue to work together towards a more sustainable future!
Highlights Supply Chain Certification at 9th SCAPET Series in Colombia
We are proud to share that our project manager, Dr. Lea Eggemann, recently attended the 9th SCAPET Series—Circular Plastics Packaging South & Central America in Medellin, Colombia.
Dr. Eggemann presented on „Certification of the Supply Chain Integration of Circular Raw Materials,“ emphasizing the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS system. This international certification scheme certifies bio-based and (bio-) circular feedstocks, enhancing transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain.
Key takeaways from the event include the growing interest in sustainability certification among companies. However, navigating local regulations remains a challenge.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the panelists and participants for their insightful contributions and engaging discussions on plastic certification in South America, current market trends, and the latest plastic recycling technology.
Meo Carbon Solutions Participates in the BioReCer Project Meeting in Sweden
In June 2024, the Meo Carbon Solutions team—senior project manager Katia Masias Bröcker and project managers Kyu Hee Do and Monica Pandey—visited Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, for the Horizon Europe BioReCer project consortium meeting.
The first day of the meeting was dedicated to the project partners sharing their progress. Monica Pandey, on behalf of Meo Carbon Solutions, presented the roadmap for integrating the Environment and Sustainability framework into current certification schemes. The meeting concluded with defining alignments and synergies for future deliverables.
The second day of the meeting was the stakeholder event—“Certifying the Sustainability of Biological Resources in the Forest Industry: A Multistakeholder Perspective“—which was organized in collaboration with the MainstreamBio project. The event’s purpose was to introduce stakeholders to the circularity indicators of the BioReCeR Framework and the BioReCer ICT tool (BIT) for enhancing the tracking and traceability of biological feedstock along the value chain. The event facilitated interactions with stakeholders from the forest industry in Västernorrland, Sweden, and provided valuable first-hand feedback for developing a user-friendly BIT tool.
We are very grateful to the RISE Processum (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden) for organizing this fruitful two-day event and the field visit to the RISE facility. We also appreciated the amazing hospitality and Swedish Fika breaks that kept our energy up.
Please visit the BioReCer website for more information and continuous progress updates.
If you want to contribute to the project results, join our BioReCer Stakeholder Platform.
Mongolian Agri-Food and Beverage Sector Receives Training on EU and German Due Diligence Legislation and Compliance Standards
In June 2024, Meo Carbon Solutions—together with our sister companies International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) and 4C Services—delivered training to the Switching on the Green Economy (SOGE) project, which is currently implemented in the Mongolian agri-food and beverage sector. The training focused on Germany’s Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LkSG) and the EU legislative developments on due diligence (CS3D, EUDR, EUFLR, EU Taxonomy and CSRD). A special emphasis was put on the impacts of the new legislative landscape on economic operators from non-EU countries.
ISCC and 4C also presented how certifications can be used as a tool to assess and mitigate risks and, therefore, support compliance with the regulations. This was followed by a discussion on how to align Mongolian standards with European ones so that the new legislation does not affect Mongolian exports to the EU.
A diverse group of stakeholders attended the training, including representatives from the Mongolian Sustainable Finance Association, companies and retailers from the food and beverage sector, MSMEs, academics and representatives from government institutions. This broad participation underscores the wide-ranging impact of our collective efforts and our commitment to supporting them in adopting green and responsible economic practices.
German Coffee Industry Introduces Ear4U Complaints Mechanism to Enhance Supply Chain Accountability
In response to the German Supply Chain Law (LKsG) requirements, the Deutscher Kaffeeverband e.V. (DKV) and its members have introduced a new complaints mechanism called Ear4U. This system is designed to allow individuals involved in the coffee value chain to report specific grievances, including occupational health and safety deficiencies and instances of forced labor.
Meo Carbon Solutions will support our sister company, Global Risk Assessment Services (GRAS), in developing the Ear4U complaints procedure. Grievance mechanisms are crucial because they empower stakeholders to voice concerns, promote transparency and foster accountability within coffee supply chains. By addressing issues promptly and effectively, we can drive sustainable practices, protect human rights and ensure ethical standards are upheld across all operations.
This collaborative effort aims to establish a transparent and effective process for addressing complaints, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and accountable coffee industry. The Ear4U mechanism represents a significant step forward in ensuring that all stakeholders in the coffee supply chain have a voice and that their concerns are addressed promptly and effectively. By promoting transparency and accountability, this initiative supports the broader goals of the German Supply Chain Law and underscores the coffee industry’s commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.
Together, we are committed to building more resilient and responsible coffee supply chains, ensuring that ethical standards are consistently met and maintained.
Meo Carbon Solutions Announces the Food For Biodiversity Project
Meo Carbon Solutions has joined forces with Global Nature Fund, Bodensee-Stiftung and Universität Gießen as a consortium aimed at transforming biodiversity protection in the EU’s food sector by contributing to more effective implementation and enforcement of compliance with binding EU instruments on nature and biodiversity.
To achieve this goal, the Food for Biodiversity project will:
1. Support food companies in meeting biodiversity legislation through capacity building
2. Develop a comprehensive joint database on biodiversity
Meo’s objective is to assess biodiversity credits as an alternative to financing restoration projects. Our role in the project will focus on capacity building on biodiversity credits, how they can help unlock finance for projects that restore and protect biodiversity and how to incorporate biodiversity into corporate strategies. Additionally, Meo will provide an overview of the biodiversity finance landscape and assess the potential of food companies to develop insetting projects and generate biodiversity credits.
The project is funded by the EU LIFE Programme, which is the European Union’s funding instrument for environment and climate action. Our consortium applied to the sub-programme Nature & Biodiversity, which aims to protect and restore Europe’s nature and reverse biodiversity loss, supporting the objectives under the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030 as part of the EU Green Deal.
EU Carbon Removals Certification Framework: Insights from the 4th Expert Group Meeting
The 4th Meeting of the Expert Group on Carbon Removals recently took place in Brussels to discuss the next steps of the Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF) Regulation and its implementation.
Meo Carbon Solutions‘ managing director, Dr. Norbert Schmitz, was invited to the panel discussion on the first day to share the expertise gained by our sister company International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) under the RED framework, as a reference point for the CRCF certification schemes.
Our senior project manager, Dr. Claudia Bulgheroni, also represented ISCC in the EG discussion on developing methodologies for carbon removals from carbon farming, permanent removals and long-term carbon storage in products.
The European Union approved a provisional agreement for CRCF in February; the regulation will establish the first voluntary EU-level certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage. Once it enters into force, the regulation will be critical to the EU’s goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
The voluntary framework will set clear rules to quantify, monitor and verify different types of carbon removal activities—including permanent storage, temporary storage in products and carbon farming. While these certified carbon removal units can be used towards the EU’s climate targets, they will be subject to rules to prevent double-counting.
The goal is to encourage the development of carbon removal technologies and sustainable carbon farming practices while addressing greenwashing concerns.
Over the next few months, the European Commission will develop detailed certification methodologies and establish an EU-wide registry (by 2028) to track the carbon removals.
This is an important step in integrating carbon removals into the EU’s broader climate policy and in the EU’s journey towards climate neutrality. Meo Carbon Solutions will assist project developers in preparing and certifying carbon removal projects and exploring sustainable finance opportunities. Our team will also support companies in using carbon removal-certified units in their reporting and green claims.
For more detailed information on the outcomes of the 4th EU Carbon Removals Expert Group Meeting, visit the official event page.
BioReCer Announces Results from Italian Case Study on Urban Bio-waste Sector
Meo Carbon Solutions and its BioReCer project consortium partners announced the results of the Italian case study from the urban bio-waste sector.
The Italian case study determined that „“fertilizers and amendments rich in nutrients““ is the most important alternative use for secondary feedstocks from the urban bio-waste sector.
These results are based on a comprehensive survey that considered economic, environmental, social, technological, legislative and traceability criteria. The Italian stakeholders ranked the three competing alternatives as follows:
1. Fertilisers and amendments rich in nutrients
2. Biopolymers
3. VFAs – Volatile Fatty Acids
BioReCer stakeholders can share feedback here.
Results from the other case studies in forestry and pulp industry, agricultural residues and wastewater will be announced soon.
Fundación CoHonducafé Obtains FSS Certification Under 4C Services
The Food Security Standard project has certified Fundación CoHonducafé under the 4C Services Food Security Add-On.
Fundación CoHonducafé is located in San Pedro de Sula, Honduras. It aims to promote the environmental and social sustainability of agricultural activities by supporting producers and communities. Fundación CoHonducafé works together with Co. Honducafé, which is a company dedicated to the commercialization and export of coffee from Honduras.
It holds the certificate for Co.Honducafé.
Fundación CoHonducafé already has established long-term relationships with coffee producers in the region and actively contributes to local communities through initiatives such as renovating schools and supplying educational materials.
While most of its producers already provided healthy conditions for their workers overall, Fundación CoHonducafé undertook various activities to obtain the FSS certification, including:
- Supported producers to improve documentation related to labor hiring
- Developed a training program on food security and providing training to producers
- Evaluated the impacts of coffee production on surrounding communities
Congratulations to Fundación CoHonducafé and its producers for upholding the right to food in their coffee supply chains.
Meo Carbon Solutions Attends ISCC Global Sustainability Conference 2024
Our Meo Carbon Solutions team recently represented MCS at the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Global Sustainability Conference 2024.
After numerous online collaborations, meeting our customers and partners face-to-face was a fantastic experience. We had the opportunity to engage in valuable discussions, exchange ideas and gain insights into the latest developments throughout the conference—including on topics such as REDII, biomethane, RFNBOs, CORSIA and ISCC PLUS.
One of the conference highlights occurred during the ISCC EU stream morning session, where our senior project manager, Julia Nevares, delved into the RFNBOs certification approach developed with ISCC. Additionally, our project manager Gulnaz Sadykova had the opportunity to represent our sister company, ClimatePal.
Alongside creating meaningful connections, we appreciate the wealth of insights gained throughout the conference. Moving forward, we are committed to expanding upon these discussions and making substantial contributions to the ever-evolving landscape of sustainability and certification.
You can read more about the Global Sustainability Conference 2024 here.
Intimex My Phuoc Receives The First FSS Certification Under 4C Services
Intimex My Phuoc has received the first Food Security Standard Certification under the 4C Services Food Security Add-On.
As a key player in Vietnam’s coffee industry, Intimex My Phuoc trades, processes and exports green beans, roasted coffee and instant coffee. The Food Security Add-On showcases the dedication to sustainability and ensuring the right to food for farmers, workers and local communities.
While already demonstrating strong food security measures, Intimex My Phuoc took additional steps to meet FSS requirements, including:
- Providing comprehensive nutrition training for farmers
- Assessing food security status and potential risks in farm regions
Congratulations to Intimex My Phuoc for upholding food rights in their coffee supply chains.
BioReCer Announces Results from Spanish Case Study on Fishing Sector
Meo Carbon Solutions and its BioReCer project consortium partners announced the results of the Spanish case study from the fishing sector.
The Spanish case study determined that „fertilisers/soils recovery“ is the most important alternative use for secondary feedstocks from the fishing sector.
These results are based on a comprehensive survey that considered economic, environmental, social, technological, legislative and traceability criteria. The Spanish stakeholders ranked the four competing alternatives as follows:
- Fertilisers/soils recovery (nutrients like ammonia phosphate & biochar)
- Nutraceutical bio-based industries (Peptides or Omega3)
- Chemical bio-based industries (volatile fatty acids, peptides, Omega3 & collagen)
- Pharmaceutical bio-based industries (bioactive peptides for antihypertensive or anticancer purposes & compounds extracted from macroalgae)
BioReCer stakeholders can share feedback at biorecer.eu/.
Results from the other case studies in forestry and pulp industry, urban bio-waste, agricultural residues and wastewater will be announced soon.
Results from World-Bank-Fundend Project on SAF and RD Produced from Palm Oil in Colombia Shared
In January 2024, Meo Carbon Solutions—in partnership with our sister companies International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) and Global Risk Assessment Services (GRAS)—shared the impactful results of our collaborative effort funded by The World Bank.
We conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD) produced from palm oil and its residues in Colombia. The project’s final goal is to create awareness of the implications of oil palm sector development towards SAF and RD production and to constitute the basis to guide the promotion of green market opportunities in Colombia.
One of the key lessons that emerged from these results is a positive outlook for the Colombian palm sector, with minimal deforestation risks and potential compliance with REDII and CORSIA. Additionally, several critical areas for emission reductions were identified.
Going forward, these results will be used to apply to the International Civil Aviation Organization for Colombia-specific ILUC value, raise awareness for the necessary investments to kick-start SAF production and support plantations in adopting sustainable agricultural practices. The goal is to eventually develop a strategic roadmap for a more sustainable aviation future in Colombia.
A special thanks to the World Bank, ISCC, GRAS, Fedepalma, Cenipalma and all our stakeholders for this remarkable collaboration.
You can read more about the project results here.
HORTICERT Team Exhibits at IPM Essen 2024
Our HORTICERT team recently participated in the International Plant Fair (IPM) Essen 2024 alongside Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR).
The IPM provided a valuable platform for industry leaders to convene, fostering the exchange of insights and experiences. Our team actively engaged in discussions centered around the development of more sustainable and peat-free substrates in the horticulture sector.
Furthermore, we had the honor of presenting HORTICERT at the Innovation Center Horticulture Technology, contributing to the ongoing discourse on advancements in sustainable horticulture practices. Our involvement in IPM Essen 2024 underscores our commitment to promoting environmentally responsible practices within the industry.
Food Security Standard Hosts Panel at Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2024
Alongside our partners, Welthungerhilfe (WHH), our Food Security Standard team recently had the opportunity to host a panel for the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2024, where this year’s theme focused on „Food Systems for Our Future: Joining Forces for a Zero Hunger World.“
Our panel facilitated discussions among stakeholders from science, the private sector and civil society—shedding light on the challenges of implementing human rights in supply chains. What were our key takeaways from it?
Informed by the contributions of our speakers and panelists, it became evident that many people affected by hunger are cultivating agricultural products for the global market: Smallholder farmers and farm workers bear the brunt of hunger’s impact. The FSS steps in as a crucial instrument, empowering businesses to identify and address social risks in the context of food security in agricultural production.
The conversation also included current examples in the Global South, where many private companies are already working toward social sustainability in their supply chains. However, they often still need support navigating the challenges and legal requirements. Sustainability certification schemes play a pivotal role in bridging these gaps and fostering collaborative initiatives to help producer companies achieve their sustainability goals and human rights due diligence obligations.
We extend our gratitude to our speakers and panelists for sharing their expertise and insights during the event—steering conversations towards solutions. Their contributions underscore our commitment to building a future where a Zero Hunger World is not just an aspiration but a reality.
GREMCA Achieves the First Food Security Standard Certification Under ISCC
GREMCA Agricultura y Energía Sostenible S.A. achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Food Security Standard (FSS) certified company. They completed this under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification’s (ISCC) EU and PLUS schemes using the Food Security Add-on.
This FSS certification underscores the Colombian palm oil company’s dedication to addressing food security concerns and ensuring its products are socially and environmentally sustainable.
„GREMCA SA demonstrated their dedication to fulfilling the human right to food for its workforce and safeguarding food security in the neighboring communities,“ said Senior Project Manager Katia Masias Bröcker. „It implemented various compliance measures by providing food security and nutrition training to its workers along with the development of a robust food security policy.“
While GREMCA already displayed a strong commitment to initiatives that facilitated their compliance with numerous FSS requirements—including multiple company vegetable gardens for workers, a canteen, drinking water facilities, sanitary facilities and more—the company was proactive in implementing additional requirements like involving stakeholders to better understand the food security risks in the company’s area of influence.
„The company wants this certification […] because it has been working on social aspects for more than 30 years,“ said Oscar Cifuentes Vagas, GREMCA’s General Manager. „The company makes important contributions in the areas of health, education and infrastructure, and this methodology clearly allows us to strengthen the social work of the organization in the communities and in the areas of influence where the company is present today.“
Certification body Control Union SAS conducted the audit in El Copey, Cesar, Colombia, in May 2023. The official certification was awarded during ISCC’s 15th Regional Stakeholder Meeting – Latin America in August 2023.
The FSS is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and actively managed by the Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and Meo Carbon Solutions.
“HORTICERT” PROJECT: DEVELOPING AN INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR PEAT SUBSTITUTES
Globally, peat is still the most widely used raw material for potting soils and substrates. However, since peat is extracted from degraded peatlands and due to decomposition processes during its use, peat is associated with high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Additionally, peatlands are valuable ecosystems and an important component of biodiversity conservation. Promoting sustainable and climate-friendly peat alternatives is therefore only becoming more crucial in order to achieve a sustainable growing media industry that conserves our ecosystems and reduces GHG emissions.
Meo Carbon Solutions has been working on the development and implementation of an international certification system for sustainable and climate-friendly peat substitutes, HORTICERT, for the past two years. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) based on a decision by the Federal German Parliament. Within the framework of a multi-stakeholder process and under the leadership of the Agency for Renewable Resources (Fachagentur für Nachwachsende Rohstoffe eV, FNR), MCS is now entering the project’s final phase.
After developing, pilot testing and optimizing the certification concept, Meo will transition HORTICERT into regular operation in the last project phase (end of 2023 to end of 2025). The transition into regular operation includes issuing first certificates, implementing a quality management and integrity program and obtaining an official recognition and accreditation of the system. Furthermore, communication strategies and digital solutions for conducting audits will be developed during this phase.
HORTICERT will offer certification of peat substitutes along the entire value chain —from the extraction of raw materials to the production of the final substrate. Companies ranging from independent smallholder farms to processing and mixing plants, as well as traders, can apply for a certification. HORTICERT will ensure that the peat substitutes used in peat-free and peat-reduced growing media have been produced in an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable way.
Under HORTICERT greenhouse gas emissions are calculated according to a uniform methodology, revealing greenhouse gas savings of peat-free and peat-reduced growing media compared to conventional, peat-containing products. Additionally, the integrated HORTI-TRACE system enables digital traceability of international supply chains of peat substitutes.
While HORTICERT will initially offer certifications for peat substitutes such as green waste compost, wood fibers, bark humus and coconut-based products, further criteria will be developed to cover all peat substitutes in the future.
You can learn more about the certification system on HORTICERT’s website: horticert.org/.
HORTICERT Website Launches: An International Certification System for Peat Substitutes
Meo Carbon Solutions is excited to formally announce our latest project, HORTICERT, a certification system for peat substitutes.
HORTICERT is an international certification system ensuring sustainability along the entire supply chain. By certifying sustainable and climate-friendly peat substitutes, HORTICERT supports peat reduction that will contribute to peatland conservation, environmentally friendly horticulture and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
You can explore the HORTICERT website to learn more about why peatland conservation is critical, insights on the benefits of different peat substitutes, a comprehensive guide to our certification process and detailed information on HORTICERT’s sustainability, traceability and GHG requirements.
We will update the website soon so system users can gain access to effortless certification registration directly through our website and convenient document downloads for a seamless process.
Please visit the HORTICERT website here: https://www.horticert.org/.
Together, we can drive positive change for our environment and promote sustainability in the horticultural sector.
Former Moors in Lower Saxony Will be Rewetted
Former moors in Lower Saxony, Germany, are set to undergo a transformative change. They will be rewetted to restore their natural peatland state to help combat climate change.
The moors in this region have been drained for a long time because peat is used in hobby gardening, professional landscaping and agriculture due to its unique properties that enhance soil quality and plant growth.
However, preserving and restoring peatlands around the world is a critical step in the fight against climate change. Why? Because peatlands are nature’s carbon sinks and can hold up to twice as much carbon dioxide as forests. By rewetting these areas, we are not only protecting invaluable biodiversity but also mitigating the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
You can learn more about this story here.
MEO CARBON SOLUTIONS MAKES FIRST PUBLIC APPERANCE UNDER HORTICERT
Meo Carbon Solutions recently joined around 200 other representatives of the growing media industry at the German Torf and Humus Day 2023, hosted by Industrieverband Garten eV (IVG). The event offered presentations and discussions on new research, challenges and opportunities for peat reduction alongside a panel discussion between political parties and industry experts.
During the event, Meo had the opportunity to represent the ongoing project on the development of an international certification system for peat substitutes and to make the first public appearance of the system under the new name HORTICERT. HORTICERT is an international certification system that ensures ecological, social and economic sustainability for peat substitutes and growing media.
But why is Meo Carbon Solutions developing an international certification system for peat substitutes? According to the German National Peat Reduction Strategy, the use of peat in hobby gardening must be ended by 2026 and largely reduced in professional landscaping and horticulture by 2030. This is because peat is one of the most common components of potting soil for both hobby gardening and professional landscaping and horticulture.
However, peatlands are home to rare plants and animals that have adapted to the extreme and unique conditions of bogs around the world, and peat extraction destroys these habitats. Additionally, peatlands store twice as much carbon dioxide as forests, and peat extraction not only eliminates these carbon sinks but also releases high levels of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere.
Stay tuned for more information about HORTICERT as we pave the way for a greener, sustainable future.
Monitoring Bioeconomy Released its New Platform
Germany’s transition towards a bio-based, climate-neutral and circular economy is a significant step toward achieving environmentally and socially sustainable economic growth. However, this transition will only succeed if it is closely monitored and evaluated.
Monitoring Bioeconomy released its new platform for researchers, policymakers and stakeholders interested in Germany’s transition to a bioeconomy. The website provides up-to-date information on the latest developments, trends and opportunities in the field of bioeconomy—including technology, agriculture, forestry and energy. It also features a comprehensive database of relevant publications, reports and events. This information is designed to help stakeholders stay informed and connected—promoting collaboration and exchanging ideas.
Additionally, the website offers tools and resources for monitoring and evaluating the impact of bioeconomy activities. By measuring progress and identifying potential risks, stakeholders can ensure that the transition toward a bio-based economy is socially and environmentally sustainable.
In order to ensure Germany achieves its National Bioeconomy Strategy goals, we need balanced information on the opportunities and risks to help with adopting sustainable practices that benefit both the economy and environment. This new website is a valuable resource for promoting the development of sustainable bioeconomy initiatives that can contribute to a more resilient and environmentally friendly future in Germany and around the world.
Meo Carbon Solutions and our sister company GRAS Global Risk Assessment Services took part in Symobio 1.0 to develop the scientific basis for the systemic monitoring and modeling of the bioeconomy. This website was developed as part of the follow-up project, Symobio 2.0.
You can access the new website and its resources here: www.monitoring-bioeconomy.org.
The IPCC released the Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) on March 20, 2023—delivering the most comprehensive assessment of climate change to date.
The results: Leading climate scientists gave a „final warning“ that time is running out to limit human-caused global warming, as global temperatures are quickly heading toward 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by the 2030s. With severe impacts already being felt around the world—including heat waves, drought, flooding and wildfires—breaking this 1.5C threshold will lead to unprecedented damage to the climate.
However, the assessment highlights how we still have time to reduce emissions and points to already existing solutions for governments, businesses and individuals to take in order to mitigate climate change.
You can read the full report here .
The current status of MCS’s international certification system for peat substitutes project was featured in the Verbraucher Initiative’s Magazine
The use of peat in hobby gardening must be ended by 2026 and largely reduced in professional landscaping and horticulture by 2030, according to the German National Peat Reduction Strategy, which is proposed in the German Federal Government’s Climate Action Plan 2050.
Since November 2021 , MCS is developing an international certification system to promote suitable and sustainable peat alternatives. This certification system will ensure that ecological, social and economic sustainability criteria are met along international supply chains and verify GHG savings of peat substitutes production and use . The project is funded by the BMEL and the FNR and a large stakeholder committee is contributing to the development.
Currently, MCS is conducting pilot certification audits together with partner companies from the growing media industry to test the certification concept. Based on the pilot results, the new certification system will be optimized before it enters into regular implementation by the end of 2023.
We are delighted to have had the opportunity to present the current status of our project in the magazine of the Verbraucher Initiative as a stakeholder of this project (published in German, Verbraucher Konkret , 04/2022)
Aligning certification systems for biological feedstocks to upcoming due diligence regulations
Since September 2022, Meo Carbon Solutions is part of a consortium of 16 renowned European institutions responsible for implementing the HORIZON Europe research project „Biological Resources Certification Scheme (BIORECER)”. The three-year project aims to ensure the environmental performance and traceability of biological feedstock used by bio-based industries and strengthen existing certification schemes. BIORECER project will complement current certification schemes by including new criteria for certifying sustainability, origin, and traceability of biological resources and ensure applicability at EU and global scale.
With valuable inputs from experts from Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, BIORECER will provide tools and methodologies to promote circular economy models in the industrial sector, shifting from a linear value chain based on non-renewable raw materials to circular and traceable value chains.
One of the major outcomes of the project will be the development of an environmental impact and traceability assessment framework for bio-based feedstock that is aligned with existing and upcoming mandatory corporate due diligence regulations like the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the EU Corporate Due Diligence and Corporate Accountability Directive. Given MCS’s longstanding experience in the sustainability certification sector, MCS will be actively engaged in the development of the framework and will be leading the integration of the framework in existing certification schemes like for example ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification)
Addressing food insecurity in global supply chains
The proportion of the world affected by hunger keeps rising. In 2021 as much as 11.7 percent of the global population faced food insecurity at severe levels, an augmentation of 150 million people in 2 years (FAO 2022). The Food Security Standard (FSS) was developed as a private sector response to this situation. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and actively managed by the Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and Meo Carbon Solutions (MCS), FSS aims at supporting the efforts at the production level of global agricultural value chains in fostering zero hunger worldwide.
During the first phase of the project (2017-2022), the FSS criteria were developed through a qualitative collaboration and consultation process between the public and private sectors. Hence, it incorporates Human Rights Principles, as the right to adequate food, and obligations from the private sector on social due diligence. To facilitate its effective implementation, the FSS is designed as an Add-On and can be easily adopted by existing sustainable certification systems and carried out within a combined audit process.
The second phase of the FSS project, which started in July 2022, aims at fostering standard adoption by the public and private sectors as well as civil society. Already adopted by two globally operating sustainable certification schemes (4C & ISCC), the FSS aims to extend its adoption at the global level and for it to be applied to other agricultural commodities (food and non-food sector).
Additionally, to ensure FSS adoption by companies and producers in a more challenging context, a capacity-building program called the Food Security Sensitive Management (FOSSEM) will be developed and implemented.
Development and implementation of an international certification system for peat substitutes
MCS has been commissioned by Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR) to develop and implement an international certification system for peat substitutes. The background of this project is the reduction of the use of peat in horticulture and landscaping, as well as in hobby gardening, which is envisaged in the Climate Action Plan 2050 of the German Federal Government. Promoting suitable and sustainable peat alternatives is critical to achieving the goal of building a substrate industry that conserves peatlands and reduces GHG emissions.
The project includes the development of a certification concept, pilot testing and optimization of the certification system as well as the transition to regular operation and will take place over a period of 48 months under involvement of relevant stakeholders. The certification system will enable the verification of ecological, social, and economic sustainability aspects of peat substitutes, the determination of GHG emissions of the substitutes as well as their emissions savings compared to conventional products, and the traceability of international supply chains. In addition, the certification system will be applicable for all peat substitutes currently on the market as well as for future substitutes.
Guidance on the Protection of Childrens Rights
We are very proud to announce that Meo has supported 4C Services in the development of the 4C Guidance on the Protection of Childrens Rights which is now published! Great news for us but even greater news for the coffee industry to eliminate child labour in coffee supply chains. The elimination of child labour in coffee supply chains is part of 4C’s mission to anchor sustainability across environmental, social and economic dimensions. The development involved different stakeholders including auditors, 4C Managing Entities and experts from the industry.
Human Rights in agricultural value chains include the Right for food
“Companies have to respect all human rights; and the Right to Food, which is embodied in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, is interlinked with all other human rights, for example the right to education, to health or to water“. The sufficiency of EU laws on addressing Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) has been recently discussed at an online conference organized by Welthungerhilfe and Meo Carbon Solutions. Outcomes indicate that sustainability certification represents an important tool to support corporate HRDD, contributing to human rights fulfilment in general and the Right to Food of farmers and farm labourers in particular.
The Food Security Standard (FSS) has been developed to proof whether production on farms in the Global South is compatible with the human right to food of smallholders and farm labourers and the surrounding communities.
Read more about the value of integrating the FSS into certification schemes in an article published by Rural 21 – The International Journal for Rural Development (17/12/2021).
Compensation of greenhouse gas emissions of the new Rephone produced by 4G Systems
At Meo Carbon Solutions we are highly committed to reduce GHG emissions as a priority measure to support the urgency of taking action to reach a carbon-neutral future. We estimated greenhouse gas emissions for the production of Rephone, to ensure carbon-neutrality through appropriate compensation for 4G Systems GmbH & Co KG. By using local components and manufacturing the Rephone locally, 4G Systems reduces the GHG emissions from production and transport. For example, packaging and printed materials are sourced locally and the production in Bocholt is operated with green electricity. However, because the production cannot avoid components from Asia, at least for the time being, 4G Systems compensates the CO2 produced there, via offsetting. Since the Rephone is geared towards sustainability, carbon-neutrality plays a key role. The amount of carbon to be offsetted was determined through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCAs) of comparable smartphone models already on the market. Meo supported 4G Systems in offsetting their emissions by supplying high-quality certified carbon credits from the Lower Zambezi REDD + Project (LZRP) in Zambia. The LZRP is certified by the Verified Carbon Standard and applies a holistic approach that creates links between poverty, environmental degradation, and climate change and addresses these areas together.
MCS presented at the 4C seminar series „Sustainable Coffee Day III”
MCS was invited to present at the 4C seminar series „Sustainable Coffee Day III”
The past months the third round of 4C’s online seminars dealing with sustainability challenges and solutions within the coffee supply chains started with great success. MCS´s senior project managers Julia Ostrowski and Katia Masias Bröcker were invited to present on different sessions. Julia presented about the calculation of GHG emissions and the reduction of coffee’s carbon footprint and 4C Climate Friendly Coffee certification, which is currently under development. Katia gave an introduction to the main components of existing due diligence regulations and explained how certification systems, like 4C, can be used to support companies to comply with due diligence obligations. Furthermore, on a different session, Katia provided guidance to participants on how to establish a child labour due diligence system to identify, prevent, and remediate child labour cases. She also provided guidance to auditors on detecting and reporting child labour cases and/or disrespect of children´s rights in coffee farms.
In 2022, 4C will be holding more exciting online seminars on this important topic. Check out their website to participate.
MCS study „Analysis of the palm oil market in Germany in 2019“ is published!
The study „Analysis of the palm oil market in Germany in 2019 “ conducted by Meo Carbon Solutions on behalf of the German Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (Forum für Nachhaltiges Palmöl, FONAP), identified that 1.26 million tons of palm oil and 120,212 tons of palm kernel oil were consumed in Germany in 2019. Furthermore, an overall share of sustainable palm and kernel oil in total consumption have increased by 5% compared to 2017 and amounted to 83% and 63%, respectively.
Having a closer look to the five sectors, the share of sustainable palm (kernel) oil by sectors in 2019 was as following: energy – 100% sustainable palm oil, food – 90% sustainable palm oil and 88% palm kernel oil, feed – 25% sustainable palm oil, chemicals/pharmaceuticals – 63% sustainable palm oil and 64% palm kernel oil, cleaning products & cosmetics 63% sustainable palm oil and 64% palm kernel oil.
Since 2013, the share of sustainable palm oil and palm kernel oil in Germany is continuously increasing (sustainable palm oil consumption increased from 70% to 83%, palm kernel oil consumption increased from 42% to 63%).
Our latest article on an Integrated Sustainability Risk Analysis for Certification is published
Under the title „Combining Environmental Footprint Models, Remote Sensing Data, and Certification Data towards an Integrated Sustainability Risk Analysis for Certification in the Case of Palm Oil“ Meo Carbon Solutions has published a new article together with co-authors from the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ), Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Global Risk Assessment Services (GRAS).
The article is published in the journal „Sustainability“ as part of the special issue „Sustainability and Standardization“. The outlined conceptual approach is about an integrated sustainability risk analysis of processes and products used within the Bioeconomy by taking into account footprint modelling data, the use of sustainability certification systems, and data and results from remote sensing analyses. Monitoring the potential impacts of the growing Bioeconomy (BE) is a crucial precondition for the development of viable and sustainable strategies. Click here to read the abstract and to get access to the complete version of our paper as PDF download.
MCS welcomes the BMZ’s implication in favour of a more sustainable palm oil sector
MCS welcomes the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in favour of a more sustainable palm oil sector, by joining the Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (FONAP) in July 2020 (press release). Next to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the BMZ is the second Federal Ministry in the Sustainable Palm Oil Forum. Alongside other stakeholders, including the BDSI and MCS, the BMZ therefore takes a proactive stance in supporting higher increased usage of sustainably certified palm oil in various sectors. Every two years, MCS conducts an independent scientific study on the use of palm oil in Germany on behalf of FONAP covering the sectors food, feed, chemicals, biofuels and care and cleaning products. The 4th version of the “Study for a comprehensive analysis of the palm oil sector in Germany” for 2019 is planned for later this year, so stay tuned for more information!
MCS Supports the German Supply Chain Act
Meo Carbon Solutions, as part of a group of 33 stakeholders within the Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chain Initiative, has committed itself to the Supply Chain Act. The Supply Chain Act binds the committing stakeholders, in support of the German Government’s initiative in favour of a stringent national supply chains regulation, to responsibilities in taking action against environmental and human rights violations within their supply chains. The Supply Chain Act will soon be submitted to the German Parliament’s scrutiny approval. Supporting the Supply Chain Act means taking a proactive stance in favour of more sustainable and transparent supply chains. The following companies and organisations have signed the joint statement for a supply chain law: 4C, Beckers Bester, Biodiversity in Good Company, Bodensee-Stiftung, dm Drogeriemarkt, Dr. Bronner’s, Einhorn, Fairtrade Deutschland, Followfood, GEPA, Global Nature Fund, GRAS, ISCC, Jaro Institute, Kafkao Republic, Kahlwax, meo, Naturamus, Naturland, Nestlé, Norevo, Rainforest Alliance, Ritter Sport, Roeper, Solidaridad, Symrise, Tchibo, tegut, travel to nature, WALA, Weleda, Welthungerhilfe, WWF. For further information click here.
MCS project partner Vynova has developed a unique approach on biobased PVC
The chemical company Vynova markets a line of PVC with biological properties that will help customers in all sectors to develop innovations and make their PVC products more sustainable. It is produced on the basis of renewable ethylene, a raw material derived from second-generation biomass, which means that the biomass does not compete with the food chain. Thanks to the introduction of renewable ethylene, significantly less fossil fuels are needed than in the conventional PVC production process. This reduces CO2 emissions by more than 90%. Vynova’s „bio-attributed“ PVC range is suitable for both hard and soft PVC applications in all sectors. Vynova’s Belgian site in Tessenderlo will produce the monomer that forms the basis for the PVC portfolio with bio-attributes. The company has chosen ISCC PLUS for the certification of its developed „bio-attributed“ PVC (see article).
MCS at this years ISCC Global Sustainability Conference in Brussels
On February 12 2020 the 10th ISCC Global Sustainability Conference took place at Residence Palace in Brussels, Belgium. The annual conference offered valuable insights into the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and the implementation in the Member States. Representatives from the European Commission and Member States presented policy updates that are highly valuable for professionals working in the renewable energy industry. Furthermore, the European Commission spoke about the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and forward-thinking companies unveiled their best strategies to implement holistic circular and bio-based approaches in the plastics industry. In addition, expert speakers gave an update on the latest developments in the transport sector, mapping and traceability tools and food security as part of certification schemes.
MCS informed the audience about new Sustainability Criteria for Solid Biomass and successful certification of lignofuels, based on processing residues from the forest industry or wood from agriculture (click here for the presentation). The year 2021 will be crucial for implementing sustainability criteria for solid biomass once RED II will be nationally implemented on June 30 – companies shall start to prepare for the future market. Some EU Member States already have sustainability requirements for solid biomass being eligible under national subsidiary schemes. ISCC is recognized in the Netherlands for its „ISCC Solid Biomass NL“ scheme.
MCS at the 1st International Conference on Cellulose Fibres
The two-day conference on Cellulose Fibres (11-12 February 2020) organized by the NOVA institute, a research institute with a focus on bio-based and CO2-based economy, gave interesting insights in what is moving the sector of cellulose fibres and the market for textiles in general, and where the industry is heading concerning major sustainability issues. The topic was discussed from different angles by amongst others fibre producers, retailers, research institutes and NGOs/NPOs. Cellulose fibres are the fastest growing fibre group in textiles. As a material with still mostly bio-based feedstocks, credible sustainability certification along the complex supply chain is a necessary and effective way to proof credibility towards customers and society.
MCS therefore introduced the ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) scheme as it is a globally established sustainability certification scheme with a strong focus on deforestation-free supply chains and traceability.
Wood is still the most important feedstock for the production of cellulose fibres. At the conference it became clear though, that the sector is developing innovative concepts and technologies to replace wood as feedstock and use waste and residue feedstocks instead. This way, they can contribute to a bio-based and circular economy.
10-Year Anniversary of MCS
This year Meo Carbon Solutions celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since 2009 MCS has continuously grown and expanded its project portfolio considerably to all fields of sustainability. Next to business projects we are also increasingly active in research projects. Started with regional clients in Germany and the EU, we are now cooperating with numerous international partners on shaping a sustainable future. We actively support businesses, NGOs, ministries and other institutions in implementing their sustainable visions. Have a look at our diverse references and project partners.
The success story of MCS is only possible due to the excellent work and dedication of all of our employees. Looking back at 10 years of MCS, we are proud of our achievements and thankful for all the great collaborations we had so far. In the future, we strive to continuously improve our work in cooperation with our clients as an innovative solution provider for sustainable supply chains.
Argus Biofuels Conference October 2019
The two-day Argus Biofuels conference in October 2019 featured many international speakers and experts across the full supply chain of biodiesel and ethanol. The Director of Meo Carbon Solutions, Dr. Jan Henke, presented in his talk „Compliance under Annex 9: How can we ensure RED certification criteria are met and protect against the risk of fraud?“ complexities of standardisation, risks around products with multipliers and around fraudulent biofuels.
UN Climate Action Summit 2019
The United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019 took place on 23rd September in New York. UN Secretary-General António Guterres seeked to raise ambition reaching climate change objectives on a global level and called on all leaders for concrete, realistic plans to enhance their nationally determined contributions by 2020 to reach the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Above all stands the 2°C goal of the Paris Agreement. The summit especially functioned as a platform for governments, businesses and civil society to discuss and implement solutions fighting the climate crisis. The closing press release of the Summit can be found here.
Symobio 2nd Status Conference
The second Symobio status conference „Towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy: Key Elements for Monitoring“ focussed on three areas:
– Resource base and sustainability / production of biomass
– Determination of economic indicators
– Systemic monitoring and modelling of the bioeconomy (SYMOBIO)
The conference was held in September 2019 in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (BMBF) in Berlin.
Since March 2017, Meo Carbon Solutions and seven consortium partners, e.g. The Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research and the Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ, German Biomass Research Centre) work on the development of the scientific basis for a systemic monitoring and modelling of the bioeconomy. Additionally, the improved use of certification and life cycle assessment (LCA) will be explored. The SYMOBIO project is funded by the BMBF and runs until February 2020. Further information are available here.
Smallholder APP will increase traceability
Until today, the majority of the world’s farms are managed by independent smallholders. Altogether, those small farms operate around 80% of the world’s agricultural land. Unfortunately, their low yields and incomes combined with lack of market and financial access can increase the risk of deforestation and biodiversity loss.
Including smallholders into sustainable supply chains provides an opportunity to ensure stable living standards and reduce the risk of deforestation. However, the integration of smallholders into sustainable supply chains is difficult due to the complexity of supply chains and limited information. The location of smallholders is often unknown and traceability a big challenge for downstream supply chain actors. Against this background, Meo Carbon Solution, in a joint project with Global Risk Assessment Services (GRAS) and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), developed a new and user-friendly mobile application which allows mapping, tracking and monitoring of smallholders and enables users to trace back raw material to smallholder field level.
The Smallholder App
The Smallholder App is a new and user-friendly mobile application which allows the collection of basic farmer data, pictures and polygons of farmer fields. All data can be securely uploaded into an cloud-based database. The app is customizable according to the specific needs of user.
The Tracking App
The Tracking app allows to trace back crops to smallholder fields. Using QR codes for identification, the data collector can identify the amount of delivered crops per smallholder, register entire delivery tours and data at the recipient (e.g. palm oil mill). Through the tracking app, fully traceable supply chains can be achieved.
The GRAS MIS
The GRAS MIS allows the visualization of all collected data, which have been uploaded into the cloud. The system includes an integrated sustainability assessments function, which can automatically analyze farmer field polygons against protected areas, deforestation, peatlands, fires and more. Further, the systems allows the user to identify gaps (e.g. low yields) and plan specific trainings. The continuous data collection through the apps allows the monitoring (e.g. performance improvements) of the smallholders. Data can be entered in the system either via the apps or through specific upload functions. All data (e.g. field outlines as geojson) can be easily downloaded for further needs.
Wildfires in the Amazon rainforest – Our Call for Deforestation-Free Supply Chains
Since the beginning of 2019, wildfires in the Amazon rainforest have been disproportionally devastating in comparison to previous years. The Brazilian Institute of Space Research (INPE) reported nearly 94,000 fires in 2019. Considered the lungs of the planet, rainforests are critical as carbon sinks and help stabilising the Earth’s climate. As highly biodiverse biospheres, the rainforest is home to many endemic and endangered species. Although fires have become common this year due to drier conditions, which are exacerbated by prior deforestation, the disproportional increase in fires does not match with the weather conditions. Instead, many fires are set by ranchers and farmers seeking to clear land for illegal cattle ranching, soy and other agricultural feedstocks. According to the latest annual report of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), agriculture, food production and deforestation are among the major drivers of climate change. In collaboration with our partners, MCS promotes and supports deforestation free supply chains that protect forests from illegal activities that may result in wildfires.
Research and demonstration project on renewable jet fuel
Meo Carbon Solutions participated in the DEMO-SPK project, that was implemented within the German Mobility and Fuels Strategy by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). The overall objective of the project was to investigate and verify the behaviour of mixtures of several renewable jet fuels with conventional JET A-1 kerosene under realistic conditions of a major airport (Leipzig/Halle, Germany). The project, as the first of its kind in this set-up, successfully demonstrated the use of renewable jet fuel in the general fuel supply infrastructure.
Meo Carbon Solutions contributed with its expertise to set up a sustainability documentation for renewable aviation fuels and multi-blends. Such a documentation involves sustainability requirements for various feedstocks (e.g. no deforestation, protection of highly biodiverse and high carbon stock areas worldwide) and the traceability and transparency along the entire supply chain. The summary of the results can be viewed here.
Team Event Maastricht 2019 – We love bees!
At MCS, we support the conservation of biodiversity and understand the importance of honey bees and other pollinators for the ecosystems and agricultural crops. At this years team event we learned more about beekeeping and our little helpers at the Byeboere Social & Urban Beekeepers Project in Maastricht. For more information click here.
Earth Overshoot Day 2019
The 29th of July 2019 marks this year’s Earth Overshoot Day. By this date, we have consumed all the resources that the earth can provide sustainably for one whole year. In order not to deplete resources and drain our planet, we would have to stop consuming anything completely from now on until the 31st of December. Of course, we do nothing of the sort and hence we overtax our forests, soils, waterways and oceans – just like every year.
Meo Carbon Solutions together with its clients and worldwide projects works on solutions to reduce GHG emissions in cultivation, production and entire supply chains in various fields to reduce resource consumption, increase efficiency and fight climate change.
Traceability in the Palm Oil Sector
Asian Agri is one of the biggest palm oil producers in Indonesia and committed to traceable and sustainable supply chains with the help of ISCC, RSPO and ISPO certification. In 2018 the company commissioned Meo Carbon Solutions in a joint project with SNV to verify their claims on traceability. The traceability system is crucial in order to ensure deforestation-free palm oil production that is sustainable for farmers, the environment and Asian Agri itself. Further information on Asian Agri’s sustainability performance can be found in their current Sustainability Report 2017-2018.
Sustainable Foods Summit Amsterdam 2019
The Sustainable Foods Summit is a platform to discuss trends, developments and standards in the food industry – all in the context of sustainability. The importance of eco-labels and certification, sustainability metrics and sustainable ingredients are examples of many topics that are relevant to the Summit. The four sessions of the 2019 Summit in Amsterdam specifically focussed on general sustainability issues for the food industry, on food ingredients, new technologies and green packaging solutions. Meo Carbon Solutions supports companies producing agricultural goods entering the food market to calculate and manage their GHG emissions and paving the way to receive a sustainability certification. Further information and details of upcoming summits are presented here.
German Sustainable Action Days 2019
From the 30th of May to the 5th of June 2019 Meo Carbon Solutions participated in the German Sustainable Action Days (Deutsche Aktionstage Nachhaltigkeit). They are part of Europe’s Sustainable Development Week and aim to promote exemplary engagement and to raise public awareness of the topic. During the week, the employees of Meo Carbon Solutions organized various activities for their own team and for all employees and visitors to the office building in Cologne. For more information click here.
2017 Palm Oil Market Study
The study „The palm oil market in Germany in 2017“ conducted by Meo Carbon Solutions assessed that 1.124.860 tons of palm oil and 119 300 tons of palm kernel oil were consumed in Germany in 2017. As the study on behalf of the German Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (Forum für Nachhaltiges Palmöl, FONAP) is the third of its kind, Meo was able to identify a rise in the consumption of sustainable palm oil by 6% in comparison to 2015 (5% rise of sustainable palm kernel oil consumption). The consumption by sectors in 2017 breaks downs as following: energy 52%, food 22%, feed 13%, chemicals/pharmaceuticals 11%, cleaning products & cosmetics 3%.
Since 2013, overall palm oil consumption has been declining and the certified amounts of palm oil in non-energy quantities are increasing.
Systemic Monitoring and Modelling of the Bioeconomy (SYMOBIO)
Since March 2017, Meo Carbon Solutions and seven consortium partners, e.g. The Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research and the Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ, German Biomass Research Centre) work on the development of the scientific basis for a systemic monitoring of the bioeconomy. The SYMOBIO project (support code: 617 40003 031B0281F) is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The consortium is led by the Center for Environmental Systems Research, University Kassel. If you are interested in further information please do not hesitate to contact us. A more detailed project description can be found here.
2015 palm oil market study
On September 27th 2016, Meo Carbon Solutions presented the results of the palm oil market study in Berlin. The study was conducted on behalf of the German Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (Forum für Nachhaltiges Palmöl, FONAP).
Expansion of the EU-ETS
Meo Carbon Solutions has started a scientific project in cooperation with the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and the University of Göttingen. The aim of the two year project is to develop options for an expansion of the EU-ETS guaranteeing equal conditions for competition for all types of renewable energies. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture through its Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR).
Article: Sustainable cosmetics and detergents
Meo Carbon Solutions presents ISCC PLUS, GRAS and the advantages of its adoption in the cosmetics and detergents sector in the article „Deforestation-free and traceable supply chains for the production of sustainable surfactants“ in the July/ August issue of the International Peer Reviewed Journal Household and Personal Care Today.
Meo presentation on Fachkongress Holzenergie
On October 7th Meo Carbon Solutions gave a presentation on „Analysis of sustainability risks for solid biomass using GRAS“ at the 16th Fachkongress Holzenergie in Augsburg, Germany
Meo presentation on Oleofuels conference
On June 21st 2016 Meo Carbon Solutions presented the „Impact of latest developments in GHG requirements on biofuel markets” at the Oleofuels 2016 conference in Liverpool, UK.
Meo presentation on the 63. SEPAWA conference
On October 13th 2016, Meo Carbon Solutions presented results from the palm oil market study of the German Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (Forum für Nachhaltiges Palmöl, FONAP) on the SEPAWA conference in Fulda.
Malaysian palm oil producers
After recent allegations of deforestation, peatland conversion and rights abuses in its supply chain, more and more companies are cutting back supplies from one of Malaysians biggest palm oil producing company.
Sustainability risk assessment tool GRAS developed by Meo
The Global Risk Assessment Services tool GRAS developed by Meo with support of German FNR and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been launched successfully and is available at gras-system.org.
