REDcert GmbH

What REDcert GmbH does

REDcert GmbH is a German certification scheme operator founded in 2010 and headquartered in Bonn, originally established to administer mandatory sustainability certification for biofuels under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The company develops and maintains three certification systems: REDcert-EU (covering biomass, renewable fuels, RFNBO and recycled carbon fuels), REDcert² Chemie (voluntary scheme for sustainable material flows in the chemical industry, launched 2018), and REDcert² Food/Feed (sustainable agricultural raw materials, launched 2015, with SAI Platform 'Gold' recognition in multiple European countries). REDcert-EU has been extended to cover E-Fuels as of 2024.

The underlying technology comprises scheme documentation (principles, checklists, self-declarations, mass balance and attribution methodologies) and supporting tools including a participant registration portal, a land registry archive (Flächenverzeichnis), a FLIK-Suche for cultivation area status, and a NUTS2 calculation tool. Certification work is not performed internally but is executed by a network of 35+ independent, accredited certification bodies (including SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV Rheinland, DEKRA, Control Union, and DQS) recognised by national authorities such as BLE, UBA, KOWR, and DANAK.

REDcert monetises through three streams: (i) annual system participation fees paid by companies registering under REDcert-EU and/or REDcert² schemes (publicly disclosed fee schedules, latest version effective 01.01.2026), (ii) approval and licensing fees from certified audit bodies operating under framework agreements, and (iii) training revenue from the REDcert Academy serving scheme participants and auditors. The company operates with a lean team of 8 employees, relying on its certification body network for indirect distribution across Germany, Poland, Denmark, Greece, and additional European geographies. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and no funding rounds, M&A, or institutional investors are identified; the company appears to be independently held, with shareholder representation spanning the agricultural, energy, and bioeconomy sectors.

Name

REDcert GmbH

Legal name

REDcert Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung nachhaltig erzeugter Biomasse mbH

Website

https://redcert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

REDcert GmbH is a Bonn-based German certification scheme operator that administers sustainability certification systems (REDcert-EU, REDcert² Chemie, REDcert² Food/Feed) for biofuels, chemicals, and food/feed companies under EU regulatory frameworks, delivered via a network of 35+ accredited third-party certification bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Certification Services

akta.pro primary industry

Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biomass Fuel Quality Testing, Certification & Sustainability Compliance (ENplus, SBP, FSC/PEFC) (EUAAAJAI), Sustainability & Environmental Certifications (Carbon, Water, Regenerative) (AFALAMAC), Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs) (AFALAMAI), Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

Keywords

• Sustainability certification schemes
• Renewable fuels certification
• Biomass traceability systems
• Mass balance certification
• Sustainable supply chains

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. System Participation Fees: Companies participating in REDcert-EU and/or REDcert² schemes pay registration and annual system participation fees. Fee schedules are published and differentiated by scheme and participant type.
2. Certification Body Licensing: Approved certification bodies enter into framework agreements with REDcert and conduct audits on behalf of REDcert. Certification bodies pay fees for their approval and ongoing participation in the scheme.
3. Training and Academy Services: REDcert Academy provides training programs for scheme participants and certification bodies, including auditor training and qualification courses conducted by REDcert experts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

REDcert GmbH develops and administers third-party certification schemes for sustainable biomass, biofuels, renewable fuels, recycled carbon fuels, and sustainable material flows in the chemical and food/feed industries. The company operates the REDcert-EU scheme under the EU Renewable Energy Directive, the REDcert² Chemistry scheme for the chemical industry, and the REDcert² Food/Feed scheme recognized by the SAI Platform, supported by a registration database, audit tools, and training via the REDcert Academy.

Product overview

REDcert GmbH is a certification body offering three main certification schemes: REDcert-EU (for renewable fuels and biomass), REDcert²Chemie (for the chemical industry), and REDcert² Food/Feed (for food and feed agricultural raw materials). Founded in 2010, the company provides sustainability certification services across multiple industries with associated tools including a participant database, the REDcert Academy for training, and specialized tools for land registry management (Flächenverzeichnis), area status verification (FLIK-Suche), and NUTS2 value calculation (NUTS-Tool). The REDcert-EU system addresses the biofuel sector, while REDcert²Chemie and REDcert² Food/Feed extend certification to the chemical industry and food/feed supply chains respectively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REDcert-EU: Certification system for sustainable biomass, renewable fuels, and recycled carbon fuels (RCF) in the energy sector, established under the Renewable Energy Directive.
• REDcert² Chemistry
• REDcert² Food/Feed

Products and services

• REDcert-EU
• REDcert² Chemistry
• REDcert² Food/Feed
• REDcert Academy
• REDcert Database and Registration Portal Central online platform where operators of biogas and biomethane plants, biofuel production plants, and participants in sustainable biomass value chains register for the certification system, sign scheme participation agreements, and manage their certification data.

Quantifiable outcome

• SAI Platform 'Gold' recognition achieved in multiple European countries for REDcert² Food/Feed scheme
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• AGRIZERT Zertifizierungs GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body for REDcert schemes. Located in Bonn, Germany (Beueler Bahnhofsplatz 18, 53225 Bonn). Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-106. Recognized by BLE-Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung. Conducts audits for scheme participants.
• ASG Cert GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body for REDcert-EU scheme. Located in Munich, Germany. Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-119. Recognized by BLE. Contact: Pedro Pitzinger.
• Baltic Control Certification A/ScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body. Located in Albertslund, Denmark. Registration No. DK-7032-557. Recognized by DANAK-DEN DANSKE AKKREDITERINGSFOND.
• Business Quality Verification Testing Inspection and Certification Services P.C. (BQV)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body for REDcert-EU. Located in Marousi, Greece. Registration No. EL997000397. Recognized by Hellenic Accreditation System (E.SY.D.). Contact: Christidis Savvas.
• Bureau Veritas Polska Sp. z o. o.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body. Located in Warsaw, Poland. Registration No. PL-BIO-JC-002-2014. Recognized by KOWR-KRAJOWY OSRODEK WSPARCIA ROLNICTWA.
• Control Union Certifications Germany GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body for REDcert schemes. Located in Berlin, Germany. Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-105. Recognized by BLE.
• Control Union Poland Sp. z o.o.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body. Located in Zielona Góra, Poland. Registration No. PL-BIO-JC-010-2015. Recognized by KOWR.
• DEKRA Certification GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body for REDcert-EU. Located in Stuttgart, Germany. Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-110. Recognized by BLE. Contact: Dr. Heiko Zeller.
• DQS CFS GmbH Deutsche Gesellschaft für NachhaltigkeitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body for REDcert schemes. Located in Frankfurt a.M., Germany. Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-101. Recognized by BLE.
• Evocert Sp. z o.o.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body for REDcert-EU (newly admitted December 2025). Located in Pila, Poland. Registration No. BIO-JC-018-2025. Recognized by KOWR.
• GUT Certifizierungsgesellschaft für Managementsysteme mbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body with UBA-RFNBO recognition for renewable fuels of non-biological origin. Located in Berlin, Germany. BLE Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-104. UBA Registration No. DE-UBA-RFNBO-ZSt-104.
• Score GmbH UmweltgutachtercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body with UBA-RFNBO recognition. Located in Coesfeld, Germany. BLE Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-151. UBA Registration No. DE-UBA-RFNBO-ZSt-151.
• SGS Germany GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body with UBA-RFNBO recognition. Located in Emstek, Germany. BLE Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-100. UBA Registration No. DE-UBA-RFNBO-ZSt-100.
• TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved certification body with UBA-RFNBO recognition. Located in Munich, Germany. BLE Registration No. DE-B-BLE-BM-ZSt-102. UBA Registration No. DE-UBA-RFNBO-ZSt-102.
• Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Office for Agriculture and Food serves as competent authority recognizing certification bodies and managing the Nabisy web application for Proof of Sustainability management. Publishes biomass codes list, NUTS2 values, and official guidelines for sustainable biomass production.
• Fuels of the Future ConferencemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerREDcert participates as Gold Partner at the annual 'Fuels of the Future' international conference for renewable mobility and fuels. Conference held in Berlin, Germany in January 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification): ISCC is the leading competing sustainability certification system for biomass, biofuels, and circular economy materials across EU and global markets. It directly competes with REDcert-EU for the same biofuel/trader participants under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and offers overlapping schemes for food, feed, and chemicals.
• Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB): RSB is a global sustainability certification and standards body for biomaterials, biofuels, and circular economy products. It competes with REDcert-EU for biofuel and bioeconomy certification participants and has its own RFNBO and aviation fuel scheme offerings.
• SURE Sustainability Council (SURE-EU): SURE is a German certification system for sustainable biomass used in electricity and heat production, and is referenced in REDcert's own news (October 2025 NUTS2 clarification). It directly competes with REDcert-EU for the same biomass producers and traders operating in the German/European market.
• GLOBALG.A.P. GLOBALG.A.P. is a leading farm assurance program covering good agricultural practices, including sustainability modules. REDcert² Food/Feed competes with GLOBALG.A.P. for sustainable agricultural supply chain certification in the food and feed industry.
• Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP): SBP is a certification system for woody biomass used in industrial, heat, and power generation. It is a direct competitor to REDcert-EU in the biomass/bioenergy certification space and is recognized by similar regulatory bodies for sustainability compliance.
• ENplus: ENplus is the leading quality certification scheme for wood pellets used in residential and commercial heating. It operates in the same biomass certification category as REDcert with similar scheme-owner/governance model and is often required alongside REDcert for biomass supply chain compliance.

Broad incumbents

• PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification): PEFC is a global umbrella organization for national forest certification systems. Like FSC, it operates in adjacent sustainability certification, with mutual recognition arrangements common in biomass chains where REDcert also operates.
• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council): FSC is a global, broad-scope sustainability certification system for forestry products and forest-based materials. It is recognized alongside REDcert in biomass sustainability chains and offers broader scope (forestry, paper, packaging) while REDcert focuses on biofuel/circular economy certification.

Regional players

• QS Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH: QS is a German certification scheme for food safety and quality across the entire food value chain. REDcert² Food/Feed includes QS Sojaplus compatibility, and QS is a regionally focused peer in food/feed certification, primarily in Germany and select EU markets.

Emerging players

• SAI Platform (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative): SAI Platform operates the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) standard, which REDcert² Food/Feed is benchmarked against for SAI Gold recognition. SAI is a meta-organization rather than direct certifier, but FSA Gold-level benchmarking creates partial overlap in the food/feed sustainability certification market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/redcert

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about REDcert GmbH