Are Biobased Products Better for the Environment?
For years, the USDA BioPreferred® Program has promoted the benefits of using renewable biobased materials in manufactured products, chemical intermediates, finished goods and packaging. Due to the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration, more attention is being placed on quantifying evidence.
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Consumers, manufacturers, and stakeholders alike are asking hard questions: How can we prove that biobased products are better for the environment? How do we measure the impact on climate change?
Over the coming months, we are committed to furthering these discussions and fostering a collective understanding of these issues by sharing and developing a variety of thought leadership articles.
No single factor can determine the environmental benefits of biobased materials and products. Instead, as the Plant-Based Products Council (PBPC) notes in a recent blogpost, it is critical to take a wide view across a broad range of factors. The following is an edited excerpt from the post which explores the complex equation involved:
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Carbon dioxide: Biobased plastic alternatives are made from plants, which remove existing carbon from the atmosphere and decrease the overall levels of carbon in the atmosphere. Plastics derived from fossil fuels are made from carbon that has been buried deep in the ground for millennia, and the eventual release of which contributes to an increase in the overall level of carbon in the atmosphere.
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Energy: The production of biobased feedstocks requires only the sun’s energy. And once harvested, manufacturers of biobased alternatives can sometimes generate their own power using carbon-neutral biofuels. Fossil fuel extraction and petrochemical production often utilize fossil fuels to power their operations. Of course, bioplastic production itself is not carbon-neutral, but can be far less harmful to the environment than petrochemical production.
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Water: Producers of biobased products are also constantly working to reduce water use. Manufacturers can recycle the same water multiple times before returning it safely to the environment. For instance, the typical pulp and paper mill in the U.S. reuses the water involved in production 10 times and about 88 percent of the water used is discharged back to its source after meeting the most stringent water quality and treatment standards. Meanwhile, many fossil fuel-based plastics are made from natural gas, which is extracted through fracking, a controversial and water-intensive process.
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End-of-life: About 79 percent of all plastic ever produced is currently in a landfill or the environment. Compare that to most biobased plastics and packaging, which more often than not are either biodegradable or compostable. Biodegradable biobased products can be broken down over time by natural forces. Composting means they can be broken down using a controlled balance of heat, moisture, nutrients, and oxygen in an appropriate composting facility by the same microorganisms that break down other plant and food stuff.
Read the full article here.
Need Help Getting Cozy
This Winter?
Look for biobased products as you plan to relax fireside or at an outdoor firepit, or to roast marshmallows on a wood-burning stove this winter.
Many products are featured in our BioPreferred Program Catalog, from such manufacturers as Duraflame, Fire & Flavor Grilling, Sterno, Royal Oak, Heatman Charcoal, Brickenmore Renewables, Ace Hardware, Green Biologics and others. Here’s what you’ll find:
- Firestarter cubes, lighters and fluids
- Charcoal lighters and starters
- Charcoal briquettes
- Firelogs and campfire logs
- Pellets and bricks
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Trends We’re Watching
Each month, the BioPreferred Program Team analyzes certification inquiries, applications and approvals to spot trends and market demand. Often, when we see spikes and activity in one category, we can loosely predict sector trends. Here are a few items of note:
- In the last 6 months, we’ve seen the largest growth in the intermediate categories of rubber materials (>300%), textile processing materials (38%), fibers and fabrics (36%) and chemicals (31%).
- Growth in our Laboratory Chemicals and Intermediate-Chemicals categories specifically, by manufacturers such as MilliporeSigma and Green Biologics, show that more companies and federal agencies are seeking to use green chemicals in their labs.
- There’s been a rise in inquiries about Tencel®, made by Lenzing AG. Tencel is a USDA Certified Biobased Product from renewable raw material wood. This intermediate fabric and others like it can be used to manufacture a variety of apparel items—products which may also apply for certification.
Were You at the AFCC Conference?
Recently, the BioPreferred Program sponsored the first Alternative Fuels and Chemicals Coalition (AFCC) Conference and Expo held at National Harbor, MD, just outside of Washington DC. Members of the USDA Rural Development and BioPreferred Program teams spoke at several conference sessions, in addition to welcoming attendees to the conference during the kick-off event.
One session, titled Modernizing USDA’s BioPreferred® Program, outlined our plans to strengthen outreach to two distinct audiences.
- Procurement officers from government agencies who need to meet federal acquisition requirements and who want to learn more about the wide array of biobased products available to support their service and construction contracts.
- Businesses interested in selling biobased products to the federal government that want to learn more about the procurement process and how to qualify for contracting opportunities.
Watch this space for more information.
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Creative Ways to Promote Your Label!
We are always on the lookout for fun, creative (and compliant!) ways to promote the USDA Certified Biobased Product label. Collective promotional efforts help to raise consumer awareness of biobased products, contribute to a thriving bioeconomy, and better the environment and our planet.
BioPreferred Program participant, Waxie Sanitary Supply, excels at promoting their USDA Certified Biobased Products, which include foam and touch free handwash systems and dilution control dispensers. For 2022, Waxie will distribute a monthly calendar to promote its many products and certifications, including its USDA Certified Biobased Products.
A 2022 calendar by Waxie promotes its USDA Certified Biobased Products.
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