Ohio Enacts Law for Biobased Products

Ohio became the first state in the U.S. to establish a law requiring state agencies and state-supported colleges and universities to buy biobased products. Senate Bill 131, introduced in June 2009 by Ohio Senator Karen Gillmor (R-Tiffin), became effective May 31, 2010. Under Ohio’s biobased product preference program, state agencies and institutions of higher learning [...]

Vincotte’s OK Biobased Program Awards First Four-Star Rating

Vincotte has awarded its first OK Biobased four-star rating to a product with 99% biobased content. NatureWorks received the rating for all 40 grades of its Ingeo biopolymer resins, which are used in the plastics and fiber industries. According to Vincotte, the four-star rating is in recognition of Ingeo’s renewable carbon content. Measuring the Renewable [...]

USDA Proposes to Add 9 More Product Categories to BioPreferred Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing to add another nine product categories that can be afforded federal procurement preference under its BioPreferred Program. The nine items are disposable tableware, expanded polystyrene foam recycling products, heat transfer fluids, ink removers and cleaners, mulch and compost materials, multipurpose lubricants, office paper, topical pain relief products, and [...]

Vincotte Names ASTM D6866 as Method, Announces 3 OK Biobased Licensees

Vinçotte has identified ASTM D6866 as part of the methodology for its OK Biobased certification program, which applies to all products made from renewable sources. A product’s biobased content percentage is determined through ASTM D6866, and this is indicated on the OK Biobased logo through a star system. Novamont (Italy), NatureWorks LLC (US), and Wuhan [...]

Sustainable Packaging Metrics Framework Include ASTM D6866 for Bioplastics

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) has released a comprehensive guide that aims to standardize the way companies measure progress in their packaging sustainability efforts. There are eight performance categories identified in the document; one of which is Material Use, which looks into factors like usage of renewable or recycled source materials. The guide, called Sustainable [...]

Vinçotte Requires Carbon 14 Analysis for OK Biobased Certification

Belgian inspection, testing, and certification body Vinçotte has launched the OK Biobased eco-label to help manufacturers of biobased products inform consumers that their goods are from biologically renewable sources. Products eligible for the OK biobased eco-label include those made, wholly or in part, from materials of natural origin. Applicants are required to submit carbon 14 [...]

What Makes the USDA BioPreferred Label Different from Other Ecolabels?

Several Ecolabels are used in different parts of the world. The European Union has a simple yet artistic Flower Ecolabel, Germany has its own Blue Angel, and the Scandinavian countries have their Nordic Swan. Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Japan also have their Ecolabeling systems in place. The U.S. Department of [...]

Beta Analytic Offers ISO 17025-Accredited ASTM D6866 Bioplastics Analysis

Beta Analytic, a leading provider of radiocarbon dating services, now provides ISO 17025-accredited ASTM D6866 measurements for bioplastics. The laboratory was recently awarded the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation by Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc. Beta Analytic is the first radiocarbon dating lab in the world that meets the high-quality standards established by the International Organization for [...]