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Certification schemes and chain of custody models

En bref

Chain of custody defines how a certified characteristic travels with material through the supply chain, and the model used — identity preserved, segregated, mass balance or book-and-claim — determines what a buyer can truthfully claim.

Points clés

  • The chain of custody model determines the permissible claim.
  • Mass balance does not mean the physical material is certified.
  • Claim wording is governed by the scheme's own rules.

The four common models

Identity preserved keeps material from a single certified source separate throughout. Segregated keeps certified material separate but may mix certified sources. Mass balance allows administrative matching of certified volumes. Book-and-claim decouples the certificate from the physical flow entirely.

Matching model to claim

Only identity preserved and segregated support a claim that the physical material is certified. Mass balance and book-and-claim support volume-level claims and must be described accordingly, in the wording the scheme prescribes.

À vérifier

  • Chain of custody model stated on the transaction documents
  • Claim wording matching the scheme's rules for that model
  • Certified volumes reconcilable against purchases

Risques à maîtriser

  • Physical-product claims made on mass-balance purchases
  • Certificate scope not covering the traded product
  • Volume claims exceeding certified purchases

Erreurs fréquentes

  • Treating all certified purchases as equivalent
  • Communicating a claim in wording the scheme does not permit
  • Not retaining transaction certificates for reconciliation

Questions fréquentes

Is mass balance a weaker option?

It is a different instrument. It supports market development for certified production where physical segregation is impractical, but it does not support a claim about the specific material delivered.

What evidence should be retained?

Transaction certificates, supplier certification details and volume reconciliations for the retention period the scheme requires.

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