In February 2008 the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) established the Sustainability Task Force to guide its membership in ongoing efforts to assess and improve environmentally, economically, and socially responsible biodiesel production.

The Sustainability Task Force established the following definition for sustainability: "Meeting today's needs for environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and quality of life without compromising future generations' ability to meet these needs for themselves."

Sustainable biodiesel demonstrates environmental stewardship across its lifecycle by maximizing net energy balance and minimizing negative impacts on natural ecosystems, globally and locally; Adds value, creates wealth, and enhances quality of life for the entire community of stakeholders.

The NBB is the trade association representing the U.S. biodiesel industry as the coordinating body for research and development. As such, we work with users, producers, and manufacturers to maximize current and future opportunities to utilize biodiesel as a renewable and sustainable fuel in all aspects of operation.
The National Biodiesel Board is committed to safeguarding our planet's valuable resources. The biodiesel industry is built on sustainable practices in the production of a fuel that is proven to lower greenhouse gas emissions and provide energy from a renewable resource.

Founded to offer a healthier, homegrown fuel, invigorate economies throughout the U.S. and increase energy independence, the U.S. biodiesel industry has consistently sought to provide a sustainable solution to America's energy needs. Biodiesel offers significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions compared to its petroleum counterpart and has one of the greatest energy balances of any fuel available. U.S. regulations ensure that domestic biodiesel meets rigorous standards relating to environmental stewardship, stakeholder input, fair labor practices, and safe working conditions.

Biodiesel creates meaningful jobs, strengthens our economies and increases energy and homeland security. By stimulating investment in agriculture, improving the economics of crop and animal agriculture (especially in developing counties) and augmenting supplies of protein critical to combating malnutrition, biodiesel strengthens food security.

Biodiesel is already one of the most sustainable fuels available today. And still one of its most compelling attributes is that it is a young industry with the opportunity to play an even greater role in a sustainable energy future. The US biodiesel industry is not only generating a product with documented health and environmental benefits, it has aggressively committed to continually increase its sustainability. As the science to measure the sustainability of renewable fuels develops and as our industry matures, NBB seeks to ensure a more sustainable future for our country and our industry by establishing the following sustainability principles:

1. Biodiesel production shall follow all applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which it is produced.