USDA to Hold Webinar on Biobased Products in Operations, Maintenance, and Cleaning

Following the success of its webinar on the BioPreferred Federal Procurement Preference Program in November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide another technical seminar on December 6, 2011, 1:30 – 2:30 PM EST via live streaming. The webinar will focus on biobased products in operations, maintenance, and cleaning.

ASTM International Releases Latest Version of D6866 Method

The latest version of the ASTM D6866 standard method is now available for download at the ASTM International website. Details on the changes are found in the redline version of the standard. Redline versions allow readers to easily spot additions, deletions, and other changes when comparing the active and previous versions. The revised standard was [...]

ASTM International Provides Details on USDA BioPreferred Label Application Process

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a contract to ASTM International to take charge of biobased product certification for its BioPreferred Labeling Program. On its website, ASTM International has provided details for interested parties who want to apply to the program. ASTM International is also in charge of evaluating and granting approval to third-party [...]

Understanding the USDA BioPreferred Program – Federal Procurement vs Voluntary Labeling

The United States Department of Agriculture administers the BioPreferred Program, which was created by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA or 2002 Farm Bill) and extended through provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA or 2008 Farm Bill). The BioPreferred Program consists of two initiatives – the [...]

USDA Adds Eight New Product Categories to BioPreferred Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has further expanded its BioPreferred Program to include eight new product categories or more than 600 biobased products. Including previously designated items, there are now more than 5,100 biobased products that qualify for preferred purchasing by all federal agencies and their contractors.

OK Biobased Program: Four Stars for Telles, Wuhan Huali, Arjowiggins

Telles (USA), Wuhan Huali (China), and Arjowiggins Healthcare (France) have received four-star ratings for their products under Vincotte’s OK Biobased Program. A four-star rating means the product has been certified to have biobased carbon content of more than 80% as measured via ASTM D6866. Vincotte’s OK Biobased Program uses a star rating system to indicate [...]

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 [...]