USDA Certified Biobased Product
What is BioPreferred?
The USDA BioPreferred Program was established by the 2002 Farm Bill (and recently reauthorized by the 2018 Farm Bill) in hopes of increasing the use of renewable agricultural resources by businesses and federal agencies while also creating new jobs and economic growth by supporting new industries.
The USDA Certified Biobased Product label displays a product’s biobased content, which is the portion of a product that comes from a renewable source, such as plant, animal, marine, or forestry feedstocks. Utilizing renewable, biobased materials displaces the need for non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals. This label helps consumers identify biobased products and increase the demand for renewable commodities.
Haven’t heard of biobased products before?
You’re not alone. Biobased products refer to products that consist of substances derived from living (or once-living) matter and are carbon-containing substances. Biobased products are often perceived as potentially greener alternatives than their petroleum-based counterparts and can result in safer and healthier workplaces. Since biobased products are derived from renewable raw materials such as plants, they can help reduce CO2 and offer other advantages such as lower toxicity.