In today’s interconnected and sustainability-focused economy, traceability and transparency across supply chains are no longer optional — they are essential. Two key ISO standards currently under development aim to strengthen these capabilities by establishing internationally recognized frameworks for managing chain of custody information: ISO/DIS 13662, Mass Balance, and ISO/DIS 13659, Book and Claim.
Both standards are being developed under ISO/TC 308/WG 2 and have recently reached the Draft International Standard (DIS) stage, bringing them one step closer to publication.
ISO/DIS 13662, Chain of Custody – Mass Balance
The mass balance approach is widely used in sectors such as bio-based materials, energy, and chemicals. It enables companies to blend sustainable and conventional materials while maintaining transparency regarding the input and output of certified materials within their production system.
ISO/DIS 13662 will formalize global requirements and guidelines for implementing a mass balance system within the chain of custody. Organizations using mass balance models will need to establish robust procedures to:
- Track the quantity and characteristics of input and output materials.
- Maintain transparency on how certified material flows through the supply chain.
- Ensure that claims about certified content are accurate, verifiable, and comparable.
By providing clear, harmonized guidelines, ISO/DIS 13662 will help businesses navigate complex material flows without sacrificing traceability or integrity, supporting corporate sustainability goals and enabling compliance with emerging regulatory demands.
ISO/DIS 13659, Chain of Custody – Book and Claim
The book and claim model is another critical mechanism for supporting sustainable production, especially when direct physical tracking of materials is impractical (e.g., in global commodity markets like palm oil, coffee, or renewable energy certificates).
ISO/DIS 13659 sets out standardized requirements and guidelines for implementing book and claim systems. Under this model:
- Sustainable attributes are decoupled from physical products and traded separately through certificates or credits.
- Organizations can purchase certificates to support their sustainability goals without requiring the physical segregation of certified materials.
- Transparency and credibility depend on robust registry systems and transparent chain-of-custody rules.
This standard will provide the necessary framework to ensure that book and claim transactions are reliable, transparent, and aligned with broader traceability efforts, reinforcing trust among producers, businesses, regulators, and consumers.
Why these standards matter
Together, ISO/DIS 13662 and ISO/DIS 13659 represent a significant step forward in establishing a globally consistent and trusted framework for chain of custody systems across various industries. By addressing both mass balance and book and claim models, ISO is recognizing the diversity of real-world supply chain challenges and offering practical, credible solutions for responsible sourcing, carbon accounting, and sustainability reporting.
Organizations adopting these standards will be better positioned to:
- Demonstrate credible sustainability claims.
- Align with corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) commitments.
- Meet growing regulatory and market expectations for traceable, verified supply chains.
At StandardsHero, we’ll continue monitoring the progress of these critical standards as they move toward final publication. Stay tuned for further updates and insights on how these frameworks can be integrated into your operational and sustainability strategies.