Traceability and compliance are the key requirements for the renewable energy industry, and strict new rules and voluntary schemes such as ISCC require careful tracking of the material flows of products in the value chain. 

Brocklesby, a subsidiary of St1 Nordic and a leading player in the UK waste and residues sector, supplies feedstocks used to create renewable fuels, such as renewable diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuels. 

Challenges 

Brocklesby faced challenges in navigating complex regulations and meeting the increasing demand for transparency in this sector. Managing a diverse and complex stream of waste and residues across multiple locations made it difficult to track materials accurately. At the same time strict traceability requirements within the Renewable Energy Directives became a hurdle, where effectively collecting, managing, and analysing data from various sources across the value chain presented significant challenges. Lastly, accurately calculating and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the supply chain presented a complex challenge. 

To overcome these challenges, Brocklesby successfully implemented SAMBA, a purpose- built traceability software developed by St1. This innovative solution has substantially improved Brocklesby’s ability to track its materials and show transparency, effectively meeting the stringent requirements of various schemes. Brocklesby also customised the platform to meet their specific needs, resulting in a tailored solution. 

Benefits 

The implementation of SAMBA at Brocklesby Ltd. has delivered numerous benefits. Enhanced traceability across the supply chain ensures compliance with the stringent requirements of voluntary schemes and regulatory requirements to trade. This increased transparency for stakeholders demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. 

SAMBA has streamlined operations through automation and data integration, reducing manual data entry and significantly improving data accuracy. This has not only increased efficiency but also reduced the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties. 

By enabling accurate greenhouse gases (GHG) accounting and identifying areas for improvement in sustainability performance, SAMBA supports the development and implementation of future strategies. 

“The implementation of SAMBA at Brocklesby has proven to be a significant success. This platform has empowered us to effectively navigate the complex requirements for renewable energy, while enhancing traceability and transparency performance, and achieve our business goals. SAMBA, with its planned integration into the Union Database, will play a crucial role in ensuring future compliance and strengthening the company’s position within the competitive biofuel market”, states Shaun Stefanovic, Sustainability manager at Brocklesby. 

SAMBA effortlessly merges with the current software of Brocklesby and the applications utilised by its suppliers. This unified system enables the exchange of data in real-time and ensures precise and comprehensive data collection across the entire supply chain. 

“Developing and implementing SAMBA throughout St1’s value chain was critical,” states Joni Saarikivi Head of Sustainability Compliance. “The traceability it provides, from the point of origin to the final delivered biofuel, is essential. Furthermore, SAMBA allows us to equip our commercial team with a comprehensive overview of available feedstocks and final biofuel products for trade. This is integral to our business, as different European markets have varying mandates and acceptable products. SAMBA provides the necessary transparency to effectively navigate these market complexities”, Saarikivi explains. 

This success would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions and expertise of our external partners, Nortal, Selectgroup, and BioMOC, who played a crucial role in the smooth and successful development and implementation of the SAMBA software. 

SAMBA Solution 

To address the critical challenges of traceability, ensuring data integrity, maintaining comprehensive audit trails, and improving greenhouse gas tracking across various sectors, St1 has developed SAMBA, a comprehensive traceability software package. SAMBA provides a robust platform for businesses to effectively monitor and manage their entire supply chain, from feedstock sourcing to final product delivery, enhancing transparency, accountability, and environmental sustainability. 

Key Features of SAMBA Implementation: 

• Integration: Incorporates with existing software and supplier applications, enabling real-time data exchange and accurate data capture across the supply chain. 

• Multi-site capability: Provides real-time visibility of inventory and material movement across multiple locations, streamlining communication and coordination. 

• Enhanced collaboration: Streamlines data sharing and allocation processes with suppliers, improving mass balance calculations and waste tracking from its origins. 

• External user integration: Facilitates collaboration with external stakeholders (suppliers, auditors), streamlining data exchange and reducing manual entry. 

• Compliance with sustainability standards: Designed to meet requirements of voluntary schemes (e.g., ISCC, REDcert) and regulatory frameworks. 

• Traceability for complex processes: Improves traceability for complex operations, enhancing data accuracy and reducing non-compliance risks.