Crown Oil’s & Zemo’s Response to Claims of HVO Containing Virgin Palm Oil

Crown Oil

In response to recent articles and publications in the press and on the BBC concerning the production of HVO from palm oil mill effluent (incorrectly characterised by the BBC as palm sludge).

Crown Oil has always been at the forefront of ensuring that the HVO it procures and sells to the UK market is both of the highest quality, and carries with it, the most robust sustainability credentials possible according to the current rules of assurance in both the UK and in Europe. As such, we decided from the outset not to purchase HVO produced from sources that include palm oil, palm oil mill effluent (POME) or spent bleached earth mill effluent (SBME). Crown Oil only supplies HVO produced from used cooking oil (UCO) and works with its partners to ensure traceability through the supply chain via the ISCC third party verification route. Furthermore, Crown Oil was a very early adopter of the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) (operated by Zemo).

This scheme further enhances the sustainability of the supply chain by extending traceability to the end use customer. This ensures via a combination of RFAS and ISCC that HVO can be traced to accredited production and collection of feedstocks.
Crown Oil remains committed to supplying our customers with low carbon alternative fuels which are able to present the most robust sustainability credentials with the information we are able to acquire, from what is a global trade in energy products.

Zemo

Zemo has full confidence in the sustainability of HVO verified through the Renewable Fuel Assurance Scheme (RFAS). All HVO in the UK is produced from voluntary scheme certified biomass waste and residues, the vast majority of which is used cooking oil.
The RFAS is the recognised gold standard for verifying the chain of custody of renewable fuels in the downstream supply chain. It was developed to provide renewable fuel suppliers with a means to meet customer demand for independent assurance that renewable fuels are sustainable. This includes the biomass feedstock type and life cycle GHG emissions performance.

All renewable fuels produced or imported into the UK are verified by the Department for Transport (DfT) to ensure compliance with regulations governing biomass feedstock sustainability, renewable fuel traceability, and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. These are covered by the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).

Zemo has the utmost confidence in the DfT’s process for verifying renewable fuels under the RTFO and the veracity of their statements concerning the origin of biomass feedstocks. We are certain that the department will continue to maintain the highest standards of verification.

Zemo supports international voluntary schemes, such as the reputable International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), which is recognised for its stringent certification measures in the biofuel industry. To the best of our knowledge, audits related to biomass wastes and residues are conducted throughout the supply chain, including in China and other Asian countries.
Zemo takes seriously the veracity of the RFAS and works tirelessly to maintain the highest standards. We also have complete confidence that claims of fraud in the biofuels industry will be thoroughly investigated by the UK Government and relevant international bodies. Any such allegations must be supported by robust, fact-based evidence.

If you would like to speak to a member of our team regarding the recent discussion surrounding HVO, call 0330 123 1444 to speak to an expert.