How to Get ISCC Certified: A Step-by-Step Guide for Sustainable Brands

A few months ago, a packaging supplier in Southeast Asia received a surprising request from one of their European customers:

“Can you share your ISCC certificate?”

They weren’t losing the deal yet—but it was a signal. Sustainability expectations were shifting. More customers were asking for traceability, supplier declarations, and mass balance documentation. That casual request sparked a company-wide conversation: Should we get certified? How long would it take? And who else will ask next?

Their story isn’t unique. As sustainability becomes a shared responsibility across value chains, more businesses are getting ahead of the curve by exploring ISCC certification, not because it’s mandated, but because it positions them for long-term relevance, trust, and opportunity.

If you’re considering ISCC certification for your business, this guide walks you through everything you need to know, step by step. From understanding the requirements to preparing for audits, we’ll also show how softwares like Carboledger can make the process smoother and faster.

What Does ISCC Certification Actually Mean?

ISCC stands for International Sustainability and Carbon Certification. It’s a globally recognized system that certifies sustainability, traceability, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across supply chains.

Originally designed for biofuels, it now applies to a wide range of industries including packaging, chemicals, agriculture, and food production. At its core, ISCC helps companies prove that their products are sustainably sourced, ethically produced, and tracked with transparency.

ISCC offers three certification systems:

• ISCC EU – For compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)
  
• ISCC PLUS – For non-energy sectors like food, chemicals, and circular materials
  
• ISCC CORSIA – For aviation fuels under the ICAO CORSIA framework
  

Being ISCC certified signals that your business is serious about sustainability and can back it up with data and documentation.

Why Consider ISCC Certification?

More and more companies are choosing to get ISCC certified, not because they have to, but because it positions them to lead on sustainability, not just follow.

In a business landscape where environmental responsibility is increasingly tied to reputation, risk, and growth, certification offers structure, credibility, and future readiness.

Here’s what it helps you achieve:

• Prepare for future regulations: As ESG and carbon disclosures become more common, being certified now builds readiness.
  
• Build customer trust: Certification strengthens your sustainability story with third-party validation.
  
• Stay relevant in supply chains: Some customers are starting to prefer or prioritize certified suppliers.
  
• Align with internal sustainability goals: Especially if you are tracking emissions or sourcing bio-based materials.
  
• Avoid ad-hoc firefighting: Certification gives you a structured approach to traceability, rather than scrambling to respond to audits or partner requests.
  

Step-by-Step: How to Get ISCC Certified

Step 1: Define Your Scope

Before you start, clarify:

• What sites or products do you want to certify?
  
• Which ISCC system applies? (EU, PLUS, or CORSIA)
  
• What is your role? (e.g., supplier, trader, processor)
  

This step helps you understand what’s in scope and what’s not—and sets the direction for everything else.

Step 2: Understand the Requirements

ISCC has clear criteria across environmental, social, and legal dimensions. You’ll need to:

• Avoid sourcing from protected or high-biodiversity areas
  
• Track and report GHG emissions using lifecycle analysis
  
• Set up traceability systems (e.g., mass balance or segregation)
  
• Respect labor rights and legal compliance
  
• Keep detailed records of material flow and supplier documentation
  

ISCC’s documentation is comprehensive and can be overwhelming. Many companies choose to work with advisors or softwares like Carboledger to translate those requirements into action.

Step 3: Choose a Certification Body

ISCC works with independent certifiers around the world. These bodies will:

• Review your documentation
  
• Conduct an audit (on-site or remote)
  
• Issue your certificate if you pass
  

You will want to choose a certification body based on your region, language needs, and industry experience. Some offer pre-audit consultations, which can be helpful for identifying gaps early.

Step 4: Conduct a Gap Analysis

This is like your dress rehearsal. You (or a consultant) will:

• Check for missing documentation
  
• Map out your material flow
  
• Validate supplier declarations
  
• Prepare your team for the audit

At this stage, Carboledger can help centralize documents, automate checks, and highlight where your current systems fall short. Many companies discover that manual tracking is their biggest vulnerability.

Step 5: Implement Systems

To meet ISCC requirements, you will need to establish processes for:

• Mass balance or physical segregation
  
• Supplier verification and declarations
  
• GHG data tracking and calculation
  
• Internal training and documentation management

Doing this manually is possible but often time-consuming and almost always prone to errors. Digital platforms like Carboledger can streamline these workflows, reduce your audit prep time, and make compliance repeatable across multiple sites.

Step 6: Schedule and Complete the Audit

Once your systems are ready:

• Apply to your certification body
  
• Submit required documentation
  
• Undergo the audit

If successful, your certificate is valid for 12 months. Annual surveillance audits are required to maintain it, but the second time around is much easier, especially if your systems are digitized.

Step 7: Maintain and Improve Compliance

After certification, you will want to:

• Keep material flow and GHG data up to date
  
• Train new staff as needed
  
• Monitor regulatory changes from ISCC
  
• Maintain records in an organized, accessible format
  

softwares like Carboledger help you stay audit-ready all year long, not just in the weeks before a recertification.

Documentation Checklist

To prepare for the audit, you will need:

• Supplier list and raw material details
  
• Sustainability declarations from suppliers
  
• GHG calculation spreadsheets or software exports
  
• Mass balance records
  
• Site layouts and process maps
  
• Employee training logs
  
• Any relevant contracts or licenses

How Long Does It Take?

For first-time certification, the average timeline is

• Preparation: 8–12 weeks
  
• Audit Scheduling + Execution: 3-4 months
  
• Certificate Issuance: 3-4 weeks

With a software like Carboledger, preparation time can drop significantly, especially if you already have digital records of supply chain data.

Common Roadblocks (and How to Avoid Them)

• Siloed teams: Procurement, sustainability, and operations aren’t aligned
  
• Spreadsheet overload: Too much manual data handling, not enough systems
  
• Unclear traceability: Mass balance systems aren’t standardized
  
• Untrained staff: Certification becomes one person’s responsibility
  

Carboledger helps bridge these gaps with automation, centralized data, and guided workflows turning a complex process into a manageable one.

How Carboledger Helps You Get ISCC Certified Faster

Our platform supports you at every step of the certification journey:

• Readiness assessments to identify gaps
  
• Real-time GHG and mass balance tracking
  
• Supplier data collection and verification
  
• Audit preparation softwares and export-ready reports
  
• Onboarding and expert support tailored to your team
  

Whether you’re certifying one site or preparing to scale across multiple regions, Carboledger helps reduce risk and increase speed without adding headcount.

Final Thoughts

ISCC certification isn’t yet a universal requirement, but it’s fast becoming a mark of trust, especially in sectors focused on transparency and decarbonization. For businesses that want to stay ahead without burning out their teams, digitizing the process is the smartest move. Carboledger helps make that possible, so you can focus on what matters: delivering products that are good for your business and better for the planet.

Disclaimer:
Carboledger Inc. is an independent software provider. References to ISCC or any other certification schemes in this article are made solely for informational and educational purposes. Carboledger is not affiliated with, certified by, or endorsed by ISCC System GmbH or any certification body. The content does not constitute certification advice or official guidance.