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 [...]

EcoLogo Standard for Instant Hand Antiseptic Products Requires ASTM D6866 Testing

Manufacturers and distributors who want their instant hand antiseptic products to be certified by Canada’s EcoLogo need to comply with the program’s environmental standard CCD-170, which requires the products to be at least 73% biobased. The biobased content of the products is determined through ASTM D6866 testing. Products that comply with the U.S. Department of [...]

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 [...]

SBC’s BioSpecs Uses ASTM D6866 for Organic Carbon Content Measurement

The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative has released purchasing specifications for consumers who want to buy environment-friendly, biobased food service ware. The specifications entitled “BioSpecs for Food Service Ware: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Specifications for Compostable Biobased Food Service Ware” require ASTM D6866 testing to determine the organic carbon content of products. Through BioSpecs, the SBC aims to [...]

Hand Sanitizers Need Biobased Testing to Get an EcoLogo

Canada’s EcoLogo Program requires makers of hand sanitizers applying for its eco-label to comply with CCD-170, the program’s environmental standard for instant hand antiseptic products. Under the standard, instant hand antiseptic products must be at least 73% biobased excluding the packaging. The 73% value is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s BioPreferred Program, which [...]

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 [...]