Gothenburg, Sweden – Swedish biofuel company SEKAB has announced that it is the first company in the world to supply verified sustainable ethanol. The fuel, derived from Brazilian sugarcane, is quality assured from environmental, climate and social perspectives.

Along with its Brazilian producers, SEKAB has developed criteria that cover the entire lifecycle of the ethanol, from the sugarcane fields to its use in flexible-fuel cars. The criteria are in line with demands highlighted in the ongoing processes being led by organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union.

The requirements have zero tolerance for child labour, non-organized working conditions such as slave labour, and the destruction of rain forests. There are requirements concerning working conditions, labour laws and wages, and harvesting is to be at least 30 per cent mechanized today, increasing to 100 per cent by 2014. An independent international verification company will audit all production units twice a year to ensure the established criteria are met.

SEKAB delivers about 90 per cent of all ethanol in Sweden, used in E85 and ED95 (ethanol for heavy vehicles) blends.

“This initiative is the first of its kind in the world and a major step for speeding up the replacement of gasoline and diesel,” said Anders Fredriksson of SEKAB. “The criteria will gradually be developed over the coming years and synchronized with international regulations when these are in place. The first harvest of sugarcane for verified sustainable ethanol has just begun. Over 100,000 Swedish owners of E85 cars can begin filling up with verified sustainable ethanol in August.”