Records of Sustainability (ROS)
Records of Sustainability (ROS)
SUPPORTING COMPLIANCE ACROSS SUPPLY CHAINS
Each marketing year, SCE establishes the total volume of sustainable corn produced in the U.S. under the CSAP framework, which is then incorporated into the SCE web-platform to enable the issuance of shipment-specific Records of Sustainability (ROS). Each ROS allows corn exporters and importers to record and track the volumes of sustainable corn traded within their supply chains, using a mass-balance approach.
DO YOU WANT TO VALIDATE YOUR ROS?
SUSTAINABLE CORN VOLUMES
The assurances provided for U.S. corn products through Records of Sustainability have soil health and non-conversion of wetlands as a foundation. These are established, audited, and enforced through USDA’s Conservation Compliance framework.
Corn producers declare to USDA an internal audit of compliance with the Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation provisions via Form AD1026.
The total volume of sustainable corn in the SCE platform is established by multiplying each marketing year’s corn yield (as reported by USDA) and the total acres of U.S. corn reported annually by growers to be in compliance with USDA’s Conservation Compliance provisions (minimum verification threshold established by CSAP).
Records of Sustainability document the volumes of U.S. corn exported to international markets and in compliance with the CSAP definition of ‘Sustainable Corn Volumes’
CARBON FOOTPRINT FOR SHIPMENTS OF U.S. CORN PRODUCTS
In order to further support our supply chain stakeholders with their sustainability compliance requirements and environmental goals, Records of Sustainability for U.S. corn products can include an estimated carbon footprint for each shipment.
U.S. corn growers are at the leading edge of implementing production practices that lead to reduced impacts and improved environmental outcomes from their activities.
Conservation practices used widely by U.S. corn growers include crop rotations that reduce input requirements, cover crops that increase soil organic carbon, or the implementation of conservation tillage and efficient fertilizer practices that reduce GHG emissions from soil disturbance and fuel consumption.
The GHG emissions of U.S. corn products included in the GFLI database showcase carbon outperformance against most other origins
The carbon footprint offered by SCE’s Records of Sustainability will be useful for companies starting to establish their Scope 3 inventory and benchmark opportunities for improvement.
GFLI estimations are derived from aggregate national data sets, which is why they can be higher than the GHG emissions that U.S. corn growers can and often achieve.
If you are advanced in your sustainability journey and are interested in products with the lowest possible carbon footprint, make sure to talk to your supplier of U.S. corn and we can explore integrating more granular data.
TECHNICAL NOTES AND DISCLAIMERS: The carbon footprint estimation for U.S. corn products is calculated using GFLI’s national-level data from the ReCipe (Economic Allocation) LCA methodology’. Please see the GFLI Guidance Document for details on the methodology and boundaries for the different corn products covered by our Records of Sustainability. Emissions associated to transportation are not included in the estimated carbon footprint. The "GFLI Verified" claims on Records of Sustainability designate that the product life cycle data were found to be derived in accordance with the GFLI methodology. Sustainable Corn Exports LLC is responsible for all data associated with deriving the footprint calculated using version (24.10.06) of GFLl's database and methodology. GFLI makes no warranties about the accuracy of its data or claims based on its data, is not responsible for reliance on GFLI Data or methodology, and does not endorse this or any product.