The transition toward a more sustainable economy is changing how companies source, process, manufacture, and market raw materials.
For industries such as chemicals, plastics, packaging, textiles, personal care, and consumer goods, companies are increasingly adopting bio-based, recycled, circular, and other alternative feedstocks. At the same time, they need to maintain traceability and support credible sustainability claims.
ISCC PLUS provides a certification framework that supports this transition.
What Is ISCC PLUS?
ISCC PLUS is a voluntary sustainability certification system that validates the sustainability characteristics of alternative feedstocks and products across global supply chains.
According to the ISCC System, the scheme supports the transition toward a circular economy and bioeconomy. It also serves multiple markets and industries worldwide.
The scheme covers four main categories of alternative feedstocks: circular materials, bio-circular materials, bio-based materials, and renewable-energy-derived materials.
Unlike ISCC EU, which primarily addresses specific European regulatory requirements for renewable fuels, ISCC PLUS serves global markets and supports a broader range of applications.
What Materials Can Be Covered?
ISCC PLUS can apply to a wide range of alternative feedstocks. The following table outlines the main material categories and their examples.
| Material Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Circular Materials | Mixed plastic waste, waste textiles, and end-of-life tires |
| Bio-Circular Materials | Used cooking oil, food waste, agricultural residues, forestry residues, and tall oil |
| Bio-Based Materials | Sustainably sourced agricultural feedstocks and sustainable forest biomass |
| Renewable-Energy-Derived Materials | Materials that use renewable energy as an integral part of the production process |
Traceability: The Foundation of ISCC PLUS
Traceability is a fundamental element of ISCC PLUS. It helps organizations track alternative materials throughout the relevant supply chain.
The system also helps companies control and transfer the sustainability characteristics associated with certified materials.
To support different production and supply chain requirements, ISCC PLUS provides several chain-of-custody options. These include physical segregation, controlled blending, and mass balance.
The appropriate approach depends on the material flow, production system, and applicable certification requirements.
Understanding the Mass Balance Approach
Mass balance is particularly relevant to industries that process sustainable and conventional raw materials within the same existing infrastructure.
Under this approach, companies may physically mix certified and non-certified materials during storage, transportation, or processing. However, they must use appropriate bookkeeping to control certified quantities and their associated sustainability characteristics.
Importantly, companies cannot claim more certified output than the corresponding certified input allows.
As a result, mass balance can make the transition toward circular and bio-based materials more practical. Companies can use existing production infrastructure while maintaining controlled accounting of sustainable material flows.
Why Is ISCC PLUS Important for Chemical and Plastics Industries?
ISCC PLUS can provide significant value to the chemical and plastics industries.
Many production facilities operate through integrated and complex manufacturing systems. Therefore, building separate infrastructure for every type of sustainable feedstock may not always be technically or economically practical.
In this context, the mass balance approach provides a mechanism for introducing certified renewable or recycled feedstocks into existing systems. At the same time, companies can maintain controlled sustainability accounting.
This approach can support the development of products associated with recycled content, bio-based content, circular feedstocks, renewable feedstocks, and sustainable raw materials.
ISCC PLUS and Sustainability Claims
Certification alone does not mean that companies can automatically market every product as “sustainable.”
Instead, companies must properly document, control, and transfer the sustainability characteristics associated with certified materials. They must also follow the applicable ISCC requirements.
ISCC PLUS provides a framework for third-party verified sustainability claims. Companies may use applicable ISCC claims and logos when they meet the relevant conditions.
Therefore, credible sustainability communication requires clear evidence to support each claim.
Who Should Consider ISCC PLUS?
ISCC PLUS can benefit companies across a broad range of industries. The following table highlights potential applications.
| Industry or Business | Examples |
|---|---|
| Chemicals | Chemical and petrochemical companies |
| Plastics | Plastic and polymer manufacturers |
| Packaging | Packaging manufacturers |
| Consumer Goods | Consumer goods companies |
| Personal Care | Personal care and cosmetics companies |
| Textiles | Textile and fiber industries |
| Recycling | Recycled material processors |
| Bio-Based Materials | Bio-based material producers |
| Circular Feedstocks | Waste and circular feedstock suppliers |
| Manufacturing and Branding | Manufacturers and brand owners |
The certification can be particularly relevant when customers request evidence of recycled, circular, bio-based, or otherwise sustainable raw material sourcing.
What Are the Benefits of ISCC PLUS?
ISCC PLUS can support organizations in several ways.
1. Demonstrating Sustainable Sourcing
Companies can demonstrate that they source and handle eligible alternative feedstocks according to applicable ISCC sustainability requirements.
2. Supporting Circular Economy Initiatives
The scheme can support supply chains that use recycled and circular feedstocks. It can also help connect different stakeholders across the value chain.
3. Improving Supply Chain Transparency
Certification provides a structured approach to tracking certified material flows and their associated sustainability characteristics.
4. Supporting Customer Requirements
Global brands and manufacturers increasingly expect suppliers to provide credible evidence for sustainability-related product claims. ISCC PLUS can help suppliers address these expectations.
5. Enabling Existing Production Infrastructure
Through approaches such as mass balance, companies may incorporate certified alternative feedstocks into existing production systems. This approach can reduce the need for complete physical segregation of all materials, subject to applicable requirements.
ISCC PLUS: More Than a Certificate
Companies should not view ISCC PLUS simply as a certificate. Instead, they need appropriate systems to manage certified materials and maintain reliable records.
These systems cover several connected activities:
Supplier control → Material traceability → Sustainability characteristics → Chain of custody → Mass balance/accounting → Documentation → Audit → Verified claims
Consequently, successful certification requires cooperation across multiple functions. These include procurement, operations, production, sustainability, logistics, sales, and management.
Ultimately, the certificate reflects an operating system that demonstrates control over certified material flows.
Related article : ISCC CORSIA: Understanding Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certification for International Aviation
Looking Ahead
ISCC PLUS continues to evolve as global industries move toward circular and bio-based production models.
In 2025, the ISCC System introduced standalone ISCC PLUS System Documents. This development established an independent certification framework rather than relying on the previous structure based on ISCC EU documents.
The system requirements largely remained unchanged, while the framework refined traceability and chain-of-custody requirements.
ISCC also continues to update requirements related to mass balance and chain of custody. Therefore, companies preparing for certification should consult the latest applicable ISCC System Documents rather than rely solely on older guidance.
Conclusion
The transition toward a circular and bio-based economy requires more than sourcing alternative raw materials. Companies also need credible mechanisms to demonstrate where materials originate, how they are handled, and how their sustainability characteristics move through the supply chain.
ISCC PLUS provides a globally applicable certification framework that supports these objectives through sustainability requirements, traceability, chain-of-custody controls, and third-party verification.
For companies in the chemical, plastics, packaging, consumer goods, textile, personal care, and other industries, ISCC PLUS can help turn sustainable sourcing commitments into verifiable and market-recognized sustainability claims.
Source: ISCC System – ISCC PLUS, ISCC PLUS System Documents, ISCC Mass Balance Guidance, and ISCC Support Centre.
Strengthen Your Sustainable Supply Chain with CBQA Global
As sustainability expectations continue to grow, companies need to demonstrate material traceability and support credible sustainability claims. ISCC PLUS can help organizations strengthen supply chain transparency and support the use of circular and bio-based materials.
CBQA Global supports organizations in navigating sustainability certification requirements and strengthening their sustainability practices. Contact our team to discuss your ISCC PLUS certification needs and identify the appropriate next steps for your organization.
Get in touch with CBQA Global:
Email: info@cbqaglobal.com
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