SIST-TP CEN/TR 17341:2019

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST-TP CEN/TR 17341:2019
01-maj-2019
%LRL]GHONL3ULPHULSRURþDQMDRPHULOLKWUDMQRVWQRVWL
Bio-based products - Examples of reporting on sustainability criteria
Biobasierte Produkte - Beispiele für die Berichterstattung zu Nachhaltigkeitskriterien
Produits biosourcés - Exemples de rapports relatifs aux critères de durabilité
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 17341:2019
ICS:
13.020.55 Biološki izdelki Biobased products
SIST-TP CEN/TR 17341:2019 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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CEN/TR 17341
TECHNICAL REPORT

RAPPORT TECHNIQUE

February 2019
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
ICS 13.020.55
English Version

Bio-based products - Examples of reporting on
sustainability criteria
Produits biosourcés - Exemples de rapports relatifs aux Biobasierte Produkte - Beispiele für die
critères de durabilité Berichterstattung zu Nachhaltigkeitskriterien


This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 8 February 2019. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 411.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.





EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2019 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 17341:2019 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General guidance . 5
5 Examples of reporting . 6
5.1 General . 6
5.2 Example 1 – Agricultural-based supply chain in Europe . 7
5.3 Example 2 – Sawn timber from Swedish forests . 17
5.4 Example 3 – Cellulose pulp produced in Sweden . 27
Bibliography . 39

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European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 17341:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 411 “Bio-
based products”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association.
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Introduction
Bio-based products from forestry and agriculture have a long history of application, such as paper, board
and various chemicals and materials. The last decades have seen the emergence of new bio-based
products in the market. Some of the reasons for the increased interest lie in the bio-based products’
benefits in relation to the depletion of fossil resources and climate change. Bio-based products may also
provide additional product functionalities. This has triggered a wave of innovation with the development
of knowledge and technologies allowing new transformation processes and product development.
Acknowledging the need for common standards for bio-based products, the European Commission issued
mandate M/4921, resulting in a series of standards developed by CEN/TC 411, with a focus on bio-based
products other than food, feed and biomass for energy applications.
The standards of CEN/TC 411 “Bio-based products” provide a common basis on the following aspects:
— Common terminology;
— Bio-based content determination;
— Life Cycle Assessment (LCA);
— Sustainability aspects;
— Declaration tools.
It is important to understand what the term bio-based product covers and how it is being used. The term
‘biobased’ means 'derived from biomass'. Bio-based products (bottles, insulation materials, wood and
wood products, paper, solvents, chemical intermediates, composite materials, et cetera) are products
which are wholly or partly derived from biomass. It is essential to characterize the amount of biomass
contained in the product by for instance its bio-based content or bio-based carbon content.
The bio-based content of a product does not provide information on its environmental impact or
sustainability, which may be assessed through LCA and sustainability criteria. In addition, transparent
and unambiguous communication within bio-based value chains is facilitated by a harmonized
framework for certification and declaration.
The aim of this Technical Report is to give some examples on how to apply EN 16751 Bio-based products
– Sustainability criteria. These examples give guidance and ideas on how to respond to the indicators in
that European Standard.
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1 Scope
This document provides examples of business to business (B2B) reporting in accordance with EN 16751
Bio-based products – Sustainability criteria. This Technical Report also offers some additional guidance
to the user of EN 16751.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 16751, Bio-based products — Sustainability criteria
EN 16575, Bio-based products — Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 16575 and EN 16751 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
4 General guidance
The examples in Clause 5 give additional information and guidance to the economic operator and other
users of EN 16751 to better understand and respond to the indicators in that standard. According to
EN 16751, it is required to report on the sustainability of the biomass production, and it is encouraged to
apply the standard to the entire supply chain (including the biomass production).
In this TR, one of the examples is only regarding the biomass production while two are for the entire
supply chain until leaving the mill/factory of the economic operator applying the standard. The examples
provided in this Technical Report are not a comprehensive list.
These examples are informative and intended as help for an economic operator applying EN 16751. In
practice, it is the business-to-business and/or the business-to-consumer relationship that determines the
level of ambition, which can thus be both higher and lower than in these examples.
The level of detail in the responses in these examples differ. Since usually economic and administrative
burdens are connected with acquiring the necessary information, in practice, the level of risk for
significant negative sustainability impacts should be a guiding principle. In case the level of risk is deemed
low or very low, the justification should be transparently documented.
Some indicators in EN 16751 may be wholly or partly covered by relevant legal requirements, national
regulations or recognized best practice. One example is proven implementation of sustainable
agricultural cultivation/good farming practice, including crop rotation on all agriculturally used areas
according to Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 Cross Compliance, or according to national legislation.
If the organization is certified under a voluntary certification system that covers one or more indicators
required by EN 16751, this may be referenced in the response(s). If the organization is applying a
management system such as EN ISO 14001, EMAS or EN ISO 50001, this may also be referenced in the
responses.
As stated in 4.1 of EN 16751, in some cases the response to an indicator may be “not relevant” or “not
applicable” together with a justification.
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In some cases, this is obvious and the justification can be just a couple of explanatory sentences.
EXAMPLE
Examples of such situations:
— A farmer has no employees. Therefore, the indicators regarding labour rights, working conditions
and living conditions are not relevant/applicable.
— A forest owner does not use any irrigation (only water is precipitation). Therefore, the indicators
regarding water quantity are not relevant/applicable.
— A processing plant is operating in an area where there are sufficient water resources available, both
intra-annually (i.e. considering different seasons within a year) and inter-annually (i.e. considering
several years). Therefore, the indicators regarding areas with water scarcity (aiming to secure water
availability for human consumption and food production) are not relevant/applicable.
See also the following examples for more details on water availability in more complex cases, such
as areas where the water availability varies over the year.
— In aquaculture (especially in sea water) impact on soil can be diminutive/not existent. Therefore, the
indicators regarding soil are not relevant/applicable.
In other cases, however, “not relevant” or “not applicable” can only be the conclusion of a detailed
procedure.
EXAMPLE
Examples of such situations:
— The statement if an economic operator acts in an area with water scarcity or water-rich area follows
from the execution of the suitable “water criteria” or “water indicators” of EN 16751, respectively.
These are 3.34 water availability, 3.35 water scarcity, 5.3. Water and 6.3. Water Use Rights. In doing
so it needs to be emphasized that also seasonal fluctuations and/or deferrals in the water supply due
to climate change, that are already discernible, have to be sufficiently taken into account. Moreover
it needs to be explained how the distinction of an area with water scarcity or water-rich area was
carried out. For the scope it should, where applicable, be taken into account if the admixture of
irrigation water and/or production water can cause problems in the regions of origin of that water.
The issue of conflicts between upstream and downstream riparians alongside irrigation channels
should be addressed where necessary. If feasible, key figures for the efficiency of the water usage and
for the access to water should be specified. For example:
— Cubic meter of irrigation water per kilogram of biomass (dry matter)
— Liter of drinking water per inhabitant and day
Key figures allow comparison of efficiency of productions in the same region.
5 Examples of reporting
5.1 General
The following three examples are detailed below:
— Bio-based supply chain – agricultural-based supply chain in Europe (5.2);
— Biomass production – sawn timber from Swedish forests (5.3); and
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— Bio-based supply chain – cellulose pulp produced in Sweden (5.4).
5.2 Example 1 – Agricultural-based supply chain in Europe
This example covers an entire agricultural-based supply chain in Europe. It includes sustainability
aspects from the agriculture (biomass production) and the following stages up to the final production of
a bio-based product.
Verification:
— The compliance with this standard has been verified by: [NAME]
— First/ Second/ Third Party verification (choose option) according to ISO/EN xxx.
Table 1 — Agricultural-based supply chain in Europe
SUSTAINABILITY CORRESPONDING RESPONSE JUSTIFICATION/ REMARKS / GUIDANCE /
PRINCIPLES and INDICATORS LIST OF CLARIFICATION
CRITERIA AVAILABLE
DOCUMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
Climate protection and air quality
Principle: Promote good air quality and reduce GHG emissions.
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) Life Cycle 1) LCA study on 1) GHG accounting and
economic procedures taken Assessment (LCA) is GHG accounting, management can be
operator provides to identify GHG used for identifying report, executed with tools free of
information on emissions and and quantifying the calculations tools charge like:
how greenhouse removals related main sources of etc.
http://www.biograce.net/
gas (GHG) to their operations. GHG emissions.
or by external consultants,
emissions and List the identified
or by internal functions of
removals related
emission sources
the company.
to their and removals and
operations are quantify them if
managed. possible.
Indicator: Describe 1) Changes in 1) and 2) Internal 1) and 2) Measures to
the measures agricultural documents, reduce GHG emissions can
taken to reduce practices have been evidences about be identified after a GHG
GHG emissions introduced. In the accounting execution
listed under particular, the implementation through LCA or other
5.2.2.2.1. company has of the action guidelines (e.g. Greenhouse
introduced the Soil described in the Gas Reporting Program).
Organic Matter response column. The economic operator
(SOM) management decides the best
3) Certification
which means that compromise among GHG
that attests that
SOM is not depleted reduction and economic
the overall
in the medium/long costs of the action.
electricity
run. This has direct
consumption of Regarding point 3) see, for
consequences on
the company example, the following
GHG emissions
comes from initiative:
management as
renewable http://there100.org/re100
well.
sources.
2) A green
procurement has
been introduced
with the aim to buy
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only the raw
materials
characterized by a
low carbon
footprint
3) Increase up to
100 % of the
company demand of
renewable
electricity
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) According to the 1) Documents 1) In addition to the
economic the procedures national law any and report analysis requested by the
operator provides taken to identify point of emission is analysis law the economic operator
information on air pollutant subject to a periodic regarding the may perform additional
how emissions to sources and (generally annual) pollutants that analysis and/or to develop
air are managed emissions. List the verification by an are periodically a series of internal
with the objective relevant air external laboratory verified and their indicators to measure the
to promote good pollutant sources or by the national management (e.g. efficiency of the process
air quality. and emissions organism. Each environmental (e.g. kg NOx/kg of product).
identified. industry sector is management Based on this indicator it is

subjected to a systems like possible to monitor the

specific list of ISO 14001 or efficiency of the process
pollutants that must EMAS). and to plan possible
be verified. interventions.
Indicator: Describe 1) The economic 1) Documents
the measures operator has and evidence of
taken to reduce decided to the action
the air pollutant introduce a further
emissions listed exhaust emission
under 5.2.2.3.1. treatment for
particulate matter

since it is the most
relevant pollutant
Water
Principle: Conserve and protect water resources
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) A scientific study 1) Documents
economic procedures taken along with and evidence of
operator provides to identify University “X”, has the action
information on potential impacts been undertaken so
how quality and on water quality as to better identify
quantity of water and quantity. the impacts of the
withdrawn and Impacts to water economic operator
released are quantity and on water bodies
addressed. quality should
consider impacts

to water sources
and receiving
bodies.
 Indicator: Describe 1) The number ofs 1), 2) and 3) 1), 2) and 3) The evidence
measures taken to recycling cycles has Documents and related to this point may be
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CRITERIA AVAILABLE
DOCUMENTS
address the been increased so evidence of the derived from other
impacts on water as to reduce water action management system
quality and withdrawals applied by the company
quantity identified (e.g. environmental
2) Research
under 5.3.2.2.1. management systems).
activities are being
Therefore, the reporting
carried out so as to
can be generated also by
utilize specific
other systems.
crops able to grow
with reduced or
zero irrigation
water
3) A specific project
for monitoring
water withdrawals
and quality of
effluents has been
implemented. The
outcomes will be
used for improving
the wastewater
treatment thus the
quality of the
effluent
Soil
Principle: Protect soil quality and productivity
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) Soil organic 1) Documents 1) SOM management can be
economic procedures taken matter (SOM) is one and evidence of handled based on simple
operator provides to identify of the most the undertaken models that can be derived
information on potential impacts important action (e.g. used from literature (e.g. Henin
how soil quality on soil quality, indicators of soil model and Depuis model). Based on
(e.g. organic productivity and quality. The documents that the outcomes of the model
matter and soil erosion forces. economic operator attest the the economic operator can
nutrients content List the relevant has decided to application of set the appropriate SOM
in soil), identified soil maintain the level of compost) management
productivity and impacts. SOM constant in the
erosion are long run thanks to

addressed. specific rotations
and compost

applications
 Indicator: Describe 1) Changes in 1) Documents 1) Planting vegetation is
measures taken to agricultural and evidences the simplest and natural
address those practices have been that attest the way to prevent soil erosion
impacts on soil introduced like soil implemented and it can be applied
quality, protection from changes in without any interference
productivity and erosion. This has agricultural with the industrial crop
soil erosion forces. been achieved cultivation
through planting

vegetation in
winter.

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LIST OF
PRINCIPLES and INDICATORS CLARIFICATION
CRITERIA AVAILABLE
DOCUMENTS
Biodiversity
Principle: Promote the positive and reduce the negative impacts on biodiversity
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) This criterion is 2) Evidence,
economic procedures to not relevant since documents etc.
operator provides identify potential the economic attesting the
information on impacts on operator is already research project,
how biodiversity biodiversity. List operating in a very timing and
values are the identified anthropized area. outcomes
addressed within impacts on
2) The economic
the area of biodiversity.
operator has
operation and the
supported a
environment
research activity
directly
related to the study
influenced by the
of lichen diffusion to
economic
be used as bio-
operator.
indicators.

 Indicator: Describe 1) The economic 1) Evidence,
measures taken to operator has documents etc.
promote positive decided to adhere attesting the
and reduce to the principles of research project,
negative impact on “green chemistry” timing and
the biodiversity. by replacing organic outcomes
solvent with water
for the extraction of
the biomass.
Criterion: The Indicator: List and 1) Not relevant. 1) No biomass 1) This criterion is relevant
economic document from protected only for those specific cases
operator provides necessary permits areas has been where biomass has to be
information on obtained from the used. removed from protected
biomass removal management areas e.g. in order to
from those areas authorities for maintain biodiversity
designated as operations in the
biodiversity protected areas,
protected areas including a map
under applicable showing:
national laws and
a) the location of
regulations.
the designated
biodiversity-
protected area
where biomass
removal is
allowed; and
b) the area
where the
economic operator
removes biomass.

 Indicator: Describe 1) Not relevant. 1) No biomass 1) This criterion is relevant
measures taken to from protected only for those specific cases
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respect the areas has been where biomass has to be
biodiversity goals used. removed from protected
of the protected areas e.g. in order to
area, as described maintain biodiversity
by the
management
authority.

Energy and material resources
Principle: Promote efficient use of energy and material resources and the prevention of resource
depletion.
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) An energy audit 1) Evidence, 1) The definition of energy
economic measures taken to has been performed documents efficiency indicators and
operator provides address energy and energy related to the their monitoring can be
information on efficiency. efficiency indicators energy audit and easily implemented in
how energy and have been small and medium
the monitoring of
material introduced (e.g. energy enterprises. The outcomes
efficiency related kWh/kg of indicators. provide valuable
to their product). indications for planning
operations are any action towards energy
addressed. reductions.

 Indicator: Describe 1) Material flow 1) and 2) 1) MFA is a powerful
measures taken to analysis (MFA) has Evidence, accounting and analysis
address material been performed for documents tool whose outputs
efficiency. tracking nutrient related to the represent a solid
flow through a material flow foundation for any material

waste water analysis and efficiency intervention.
treatment plant. management.
The outcomes of the
.
analysis will be
used for assessing
the possibility to
introduce a nutrient
recovery.
2) A valuable by-
product (e.g. bio-
based THF)
contained in the
liquid waste will be
recovered and sold
in the market
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) An energy audit 1), 2) and 3)
economic measures taken to has been performed Evidence,
operator provides promote use of and two documents
information on renewable energy interventions were related to the
use of renewable and material identified: project and its
and non- resources. implementation.
• Control of
renewable
energy
resources.
consumption of
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PRINCIPLES and INDICATORS CLARIFICATION
CRITERIA AVAILABLE
DOCUMENTS
refrigeration
system; and
• Introduction of
inverters in the
ventilation
system.
2) A project
addressing energy
use of residual
biomass is being
undertaken with
the aim to reduce
fossil energy
resources (i.e.
natural gas)
dependence.
3) A photovoltaic
power station will
be installed in year
xx. It will meet the
30 % of the energy
needs.
Waste
Principle: Promote responsible waste management.
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) Waste is 1) Evidence of
economic procedures related disposed of the
operator provides to waste according to the implementation
information on management, national law and of the
how waste is including studies are being improvement
managed, consideration of undertaken to plan and figures
quantity and handling, storing, increase the share about the
characterization reuse, recycling, of recovered waste increased share
of waste including recovery and up to 40 % by year of recovered
waste classes disposal. xx. waste.
(hazardous and
non-hazardous).

 Indicator: Describe 1) An analysis to 1) Evidence of
procedures taken identify the waste the actual change
to identify management in waste
potential impacts companies nearest management.
on the to the production

environment facility has been
generated by performed in order
handling, storing to reduce the
and on-site impacts and
disposal of wastes, potential risks
if not already linked to waste
covered by other transports.
criteria and

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indicators. List the
identified impacts.

 Indicator: Describe 1) A hazardous 1) Evidence,
measures taken to waste is currently documents of the
avoid or reduce incinerated in situ actual change in
and manage waste and the energy the process.
(in particular coming from its
hazardous waste). combustion
recovered. This has

reduced fugitive
emissions linked to
transfer operations
by 10 % and
reduced to a zero
the risk of a possible
soil contamination
due to leakage
during the
transport.
SOCIAL CRITERIA
Labour rights
Principle: Respect labour rights
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) Periodic 1) Minutes from
economic measures taken to meetings between these meetings.
operator provides safeguard rights the company and
2) CSR report.
information on related to trade the trade unions are
how labour rights unions and organized to discuss
are addressed. collective employee needs
bargaining, forced and/or specific
and compulsory issues.
labour, child
2) Welfare issues
labour and
are managed within
discrimination.
the CSR practices of
the company.
Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) Several 1) Evidence, 1) These aspects are, or at
economic policies, practices initiatives were, and documents least should be, well
operator provides and measures are still, attesting, for covered by management
information on taken related to implemented: example, the systems like ISO 9001 and
how working working performed OSHAS 18001
• Periodic
conditions are conditions, training on safety
training on
addressed. including aspects.
safety
consideration of

• Training to
knowledge
increase the
required, training,
knowledge of
health, safety and
employees
hygiene.
about their

respective
area
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Criterion: The Indicator: Describe 1) This indicator is 1) The whole
economic measures taken to not relevant. supply chain is
operator provides address living completely
information about conditions and located in Europe
the living satisfaction of (i.e. France and
conditions of basic needs of the Italy) where the
e
...