RFAS Fleet is a chain of custody initiative, designed and managed by Zemo Partnership, for fleet operators. The scheme dovetails with the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) and enables fleet operators providing services (e.g. in logistics or construction) to evidence the reduction of Scope 3 GHG transport and distribution emissions from using sustainable low carbon fuels. Approved fleet operators issue their customers with ‘Fleet GHG Emissions Declarations’ demonstrating renewable fuel supply chain traceability and providing GHG emissions data associated with their vehicle fleet.
The scheme is underpinned by a chain of custody methodology that enables fleet operators to allocate volumes of renewable fuel used within their customer base. The allocation can be direct, where the fuel is used for a customer’s journey, or ‘virtual’, where access to low carbon fuels is challenging (e.g. due to limited availability of renewable fuel at public refuelling sites). For virtual allocation, the vehicle operating the customer’s journey uses conventional fuel, while the equivalent volume of renewable fuel is physically used in vehicles within the operator’s fleet which do not require low carbon fuels. Although the boundary of the mass balance allocation is per company operations within one country, rather than per site, the sustainability credentials are always linked to physical transactions, unlike ‘book and claim’ schemes.
Example renewable fuel types that can be approved include biodiesel and associated blends, renewable diesel including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biomethane, and renewable hydrogen. Zemo Partnership plans to expand the scheme to also include renewable electricity used in electric vehicles.
For further information about the RFAS please email rfas@zemo.org.uk
What are the scheme’s environmental performance criteria?
RFAS Fleet Operators are required to meet the scheme’s key Performance Standards for approval:
- Renewable fuel used in the fleet shall meet the GHG emissions, feedstock sustainability and traceability standards associated with the RFAS. Please refer to the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme webpage for further details.
- Renewable fuel volumes, and associated GHG emission and sustainability information, used in the fleet must be accurately allocated to each customer’s journeys, accounting for the direct and/or virtual use of renewable fuel.
- The fleet operator shall disclose to those customers who have been allocated renewable fuel:
- The GHG emissions associated with the renewable fuel allocated to the customers’ journeys;
- The accompanying renewable fuel supply chain traceability information;
- The quantity of, and/or GHG emissions associated with, any non-RFAS approved fuel (including electricity used in electric vehicles) accurately allocated for that customer.
How to become an approved RFAS Fleet Operator?
Companies are required to apply to Zemo Partnership to become approved and recognised as an RFAS Fleet Operator. This entails completing an application form, and participating in an independent audit to demonstrate compliance with the scheme performance criteria. Once approved, RFAS Fleet Operators are requested to undergo continuous compliance monitoring including an annual audit.
Companies wishing to apply should contact Zemo Partnership to request further information on the relevant fees.
Fleet Greenhouse Gas Emission Declarations
Once RFAS Fleet Operators are approved by Zemo Partnership, they can issue their customers with a Fleet GHG Emission Declaration for renewable fuel used for the customers’ journeys. The Declaration identifies the types and volumes of renewable fuel used, the GHG emissions and savings, as well as details of the raw material feedstocks.
The Fleet GHG Emission Declarations are non-transferable. Fleet operators must be approved under the RFAS Fleet to issue Declarations to their customers.