Dive Brief:

The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance has certified Pacific Biodiesel and its Big Island Biodiesel plant for sustainable practices in both its production and distribution businesses.

The facility is the first of its kind to be certified in the United States, and The New York Times reports the certification process is helping to answer persistent questions about just how green the biofuels industry really is.

The Big Island Biodiesel plant produces 5.5 million gallons annually from a variety of local waste sources including cooking oil and macadamia nuts. Hawaiian Electric plans

Dive Insight:

Biodiesel can be made from a wide range of feedstocks, making it versatile but also complicating the question how just how clean the fuel really is.

“There are lots of different ways of making biodiesel — lots of different feedstocks — and some have been more sustainable than others,” Jeff Plowman, chairman of SBA's certification committee, told the The New York Times. “Much like the organic labeling or non-G.M.O. labeling, it gives consumers some information to make a choice."

Pacific Biodiesel uses local waste, including cooking oil, rather than feedstocks grown specifically for the process. SBA's certification contains two parts: Big Island Biodiesel earned “Gold Certified” status as a producer, scoring of 78 of 100; and Pacific Biodiesel/Big Island Biodiesel earned “Platinum Certified” status as a distributor, with a score of 92 of 100.