According to the USDA, the seminar is designed for personnel in Federal Agencies and Federal contractor organizations, state and local governments, colleges and universities, and all those who want to learn more about biobased products and the Federal procurement preference for biobased products. Experts who will discuss success stories and best practices include Ed Murtagh of the Office of Operations (USDA), Bill Balek of ISSA (The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association), and USDA BioPreferred Program Manager Ron Buckhalt. To register to this webinar, visit this BioPreferred Seminar Page.

The USDA previously held a webinar on November 1, 2011, to provide an overview on the BioPreferred Federal Procurement Preference Program. Speakers of the seminar entitled “From Awareness to Action: The BioPreferred Federal Procurement Preference Program” were Mr. Buckhalt and Linda Mesaros, the president of Mesaros Associates, Inc., which provides environmental and energy procurement consulting services. The archived webcast is found in this page.

Round 8 – USDA Proposes 13 New Product Categories

The USDA BioPreferred Program is proposing 13 new product categories for federal procurement with the following minimum biobased content as measure via ASTM D6866:

(1) Air Fresheners and Deodorizers – 97%

(2) Asphalt and Tar Removers – 80%

(3) Asphalt Restorers – 68%

(4) Blast Media – 94%

(5) Candles and Wax Melts – 88%

(6) Electronic Components Cleaners – 91%

(7) Floor Coverings (Non-Carpet) – 91%

(8) Foot Care Products – 83%

(9) Furniture Cleaners and Protectors – 77%

(10) Inks

* Inks – News (used primarily to print newspapers) – 32%

* Inks – Printer Toner (powdered chemical for printers with advanced fusing mechanisms and print speeds of 25 pages per minute or greater) – 20%

* Inks – Printer Toner (powdered chemical for printers with standard fusing mechanisms and print speeds of less than 25 pages per minute) – 34%

* Inks – Sheetfed (Black) – 49%

* Inks – Sheetfed (Color) – 67%

* Inks – Specialty (inks used to add extra characteristics to their prints for special effects or functions, e.g. CD printing, erasable, FDA compliant, invisible, magnetic, scratch and sniff, thermochromic, and tree marking inks) – 66%

(11) Packaging and Insulating Materials – 82%

(12) Pneumatic Equipment Lubricants – 67%

(13) Wood and Concrete Stains – 39%

The USDA published the proposed rule in the US Federal Register on September 14, 2011. Public comments were accepted until November 14, 2011.

ASTM D6866 Biobased Content Testing

ISO 17025-accredited Beta Analytic Inc. provides high-quality ASTM D6866 testing services to the biobased industry with a turnaround time of three to five days. The lab has provided biobased content analysis since the ASTM standard was first published in 2004. The method was developed by ASTM International at the request of the USDA for its BioPreferred Program.

Beta Analytic is not affiliated with ASTM International, the USDA, or the BioPreferred Program.

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“Biobased products are not only good for the environment, they’re creating jobs here in Michigan and across the country,” said Secretary Vilsack. “In Michigan alone, dozens of companies are producing a wide range of new items. Nationwide, this rapidly-growing initiative is already responsible for an estimated 100,000 jobs.”

Secretary Vilsack noted that MBI is focused on developing ways to produce chemicals and materials from biobased feedstocks. In January, USDA announced the USDA Certified Biobased Product voluntary labeling program so customers know when they are buying a biobased product. To date, 500 products nationwide have been certified under the program including 19 in Michigan.

Additionally, the USDA is working with other agencies to increase federal purchases of biobased products designated by the Biopreferred program. To date, USDA has designated over 8,900 individual products that qualify for preferred Federal purchase, including 540 products made by 90 Michigan companies. Both the label and the Federal preference program identify biobased products composed wholly or significantly of agricultural ingredients – renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials. The new label indicates the product has been independently certified to meet USDA standards for biobased content.

Secretary Vilsack’s trip to Michigan is part of the Administration’s continued efforts to highlight coordinated efforts to spark job creation and sustainable economic development. Last week the Secretary announced an agreement among USDA, the Department of Energy, and the Navy to promote the development and manufacture of next-generation “drop-in” biofuels for military and civilian use.

The Secretary also chairs the White House Rural Council, which is working to improve economic conditions and create jobs. Late last week he announced the signing of an agreement with the Council on Foundations to better coordinate public and private development efforts to bring new capital and investment to rural communities.

USDA BioPreferred Program

USDA’s BioPreferred program was created by the 2002 Farm Bill to increase the purchase and use of biobased products within the Federal government and the commercial market. Congress reauthorized and strengthened the program in the 2008 Farm Bill to further promote the sale of biobased products. With the launch of this new biobased product label, USDA’s BioPreferred program is now comprised of two parts: a biobased product procurement preference program for Federal agencies, and a voluntary labeling initiative for the broad-scale marketing of biobased products.

Biobased products help add value to commodities, create jobs in rural communities, increase U.S. energy independence by reducing the use of petroleum in manufactured products and may also reduce the introduction of fossil carbon into the atmosphere, thus mitigating potential climate change impacts. To learn more, please visit www.biopreferred.gov.

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“This is an important milestone as increasing bioproduct demand and use helps create jobs in rural communities and adds value to agricultural commodities,” said Mr. Vilsack. “According to a recent Iowa State University study, survey respondents from the biobased product industry reported more than 100,000 jobs—largely domestic—associated with their biobased product lines.”

The final rule, published in the Federal Register on July 22, 2011, is part of a series of rules to designate biobased items.

New Biobased Product Categories

The new product categories designated under Round 7 include:

(1) animal repellent;
(2) bath products;
(3) bioremediation materials;
(4) compost activators and accelerators;
(5) concrete and asphalt cleaners;
(6) cuts, burns and abrasions ointments;
(7) dishwashing products;
(8) erosion control materials;
(9) floor cleaners and protectors;
(10) hair care products such as conditioners and shampoos;
(11) interior paints and coatings such as latex and waterborne alkyd and oil-based and solvent-born alkyd;
(12) oven and grill cleaners;
(13) slide way lubricants; and
(14) thermal shipping containers – durable and non-durable

Biobased products are composed wholly or significantly of biological ingredients – renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials. A BioPreferred designated item is one that meets or exceeds USDA established minimum biobased content requirements.

The BioPreferred program was created by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill) as a preferred procurement program for federal agencies and a voluntary labeling program for broad scale marketing of biobased products.

Please visit http://www.biopreferred.gov for more information on Round 7 and a complete list and description of each BioPreferred designated item.

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The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established the annual renewable fuel volume targets, which steadily increase to an overall level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, EPA calculates a percentage-based standard for the following year. Based on the standard, each refiner, importer, and non-oxygenate blender of gasoline or diesel determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its transportation fuel.

The proposed 2012 overall volumes and standards are:

Biomass-based diesel (1.0 billion gallons; 0.91 percent)
Advanced biofuels (2.0 billion gallons; 1.21 percent)
Cellulosic biofuels (3.45 – 12.9 million gallons; 0.002 – 0.010 percent)
Total renewable fuels (15.2 billion gallons; 9.21 percent)

Based on analysis of market availability, EPA is proposing a 2012 cellulosic volume that is lower than the EISA target for 2012 of 500 million gallons. EPA will continue to evaluate the market as it works to finalize the cellulosic standard in the coming months. The agency remains optimistic that the commercial availability of cellulosic biofuel will continue to grow in the years ahead.

In addition, EPA is proposing a volume requirement of 1.28 billion gallons for biomass-based diesel for 2013. EISA specifies a one billion gallon minimum volume requirement for that category for 2013 and beyond, but enables EPA to increase the volume requirement after consideration of a variety of environmental, market, and energy-related factors

Overall, the EPA’s RFS2 program encourages greater use of renewable fuels, including advanced biofuels. For 2012, the program is proposing to implement EISA’s requirement to blend more than 1.25 billion gallons of renewable fuels over the amount mandated for 2011.

Comments are due on or before August 11, 2011.

CONTACT:
EPA Press Office
Cathy Milbourn
Milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
202-420-8648
202-564-4355

Beta Analytic is not affiliated with the US EPA or the Renewable Fuel Standards Program.

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Other panel members include USDA BioPreferred Program Director at Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service Steven L. Devlin, Nexant Inc.’s Director of Strategy William L. Tittle, CMAI Group Vice President Don Bari, Lux Research Associate Andrew Soare, Mason Wells Managing Director Gregory J. Myers, Rafferty Capital Markets Senior Equity Analyst Ian Horowitz, and Maverick Biofuels Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer David Bradin. “The Future of Bioplastics: Making It Happen” discussion will take place on June 29 at 10 am. It will be moderated by Dr. Ronald S. Schotland, the president of conference organizer Schotland Business Research, Inc.

“Companies seeking advice on USDA BioPreferred Program application are welcome to visit Beta Analytic’s booth at the exhibit hall. I would be glad to discuss the significance of ASTM D6866 testing to a company’s marketing and advertising efforts,” Mr. Hood says.

Beta Analytic is not affiliated with the BioPreferred Program or the USDA.

Measuring Biobased Content via ASTM D6866

The exact biobased content percentage of a product is determined via ASTM D6866, a standard method based on radiocarbon analysis. Products wholly sourced from renewable sources have known radiocarbon levels whereas products from fossil sources have zero radiocarbon content. This major difference makes it easy to correlate a product’s radiocarbon level to its biobased content.

An ASTM D6866 result is expressed as “percent biobased” defined as the amount of organic carbon relative to the total carbon content in a material. The source of confusion in interpreting the results lies in this definition. It is often overlooked that ASTM D6866 only takes into account the organic carbon in the formulation and excludes inorganic carbon (e.g. carbon in carbonates).

Another source of misconception is in the definition of the term “biobased.” As per 2002 Farm Bill definition, a biobased product is a commercial or industrial product other than food or feed that is composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products including renewable domestic agricultural materials, forestry materials, and marine and animal materials. The 2008 Farm Bill has extended the definition of biobased products to include biobased intermediate ingredients or feedstocks. This biobased definition is included in the ASTM D6866 standard and the USDA BioPreferred Program.

It must be noted that the terms “biobased” or “non-biobased” are associated with carbon-containing materials. Glass, for example, may technically be “non-biobased” but is not generally referred to be such because it does not contain carbon.

ASTM D6866 was developed by ASTM International at the request of the USDA for the BioPreferred Program. ASTM D6866 was first published in 2004 and was further optimized over the years through revisions. The latest version of the ASTM D6866 method was released in April 2011.

ASTM D6866 Expert Beta Analytic

ISO 17025-accredited Beta Analytic supports the biobased industry by providing accurate and precise biobased content results. The company has provided commercial ASTM D6866 analysis since 2004. Beta Analytic has participated in the development of ASTM D6866; the company is a member of the ASTM International subcommittee responsible for the development of the method. Beta Analytic served as the expert on radiocarbon analysis.

The company accepts biobased products for analysis through its lab in Miami, Florida, and sample forwarding offices located in London, UK; Sydney, Australia; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Beijing, China; New Delhi, India; and Nagoya, Japan.

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Biobased Content Analysis: Measurement and Interpretation

A series of U.S. government “greening” initiatives beginning in 1998 led to the stipulation that Federal Agencies must give preferred purchase to competing products containing the highest biobased content. Today this is known as the USDA BioPreferred Program.

With manufacturers making claims of biobased content, the USDA needed a verification method in order to effectively implement the BioPreferred Program. With this, ASTM D6866 (Standard Test Method for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples using Radiocarbon Analysis) was born.

Radiocarbon dating is a proven methodology used by archaeologists for decades to tell us about the past. But because radiocarbon dating is unique to each laboratory, its applicability as a standardized verification method to quantify the biobased content of petroleum-based chemical alternatives remained in doubt. The U.S. government turned to ASTM (the American Society for Testing and Materials) to address this quandary. Through stakeholder participation and with the help of Mr. Hood, ASTM D6866 emerged as a standard approved method.

Although today ASTM D6866 measurements have been applied to a large number of biobased materials, the meaning of the term “percent biobased” is a source of confusion. “Percent biobased” is a measure of the amount of biobased carbon in the product as compared to the sum of biobased and petroleum-based carbon in the product. The value represents a measure of how much biobased material a company is using to manufacture its products relative to the more readily available and less expensive petroleum-based alternatives. It must be noted though that a product’s biobased content is based ONLY on the organic (carbon-containing) fraction of the formulation.

With the BioPreferred Program included as one of the topics in the session on “The Future of Bioplastics” at the upcoming BioPlastek 2011 Forum, Mr. Hood will be a panelist to clarify interpretation and measurement of percent biobased content.

The Forum will take place on June 27-29, 2011 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

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More than 1,000 participants from the biofuel, biobased products, and renewable chemicals industries are expected to attend the congress. “I am excited to be a part of such a big event. I will take advantage of the unique networking opportunities at the congress. There aren’t that many conferences that foster discussions on topics related to climate change, sustainability, new sources of fuel, financing, and policy,” Mr. Tesini says.

This year’s breakout program is divided into six tracks: (1) Advanced Biofuel Technologies, (2) Algae and Feedstock Crops, (3) Renewable Chemical Platforms and Biobased Materials, (4) Specialty Chemicals, Pharmaceutical Intermediates, Food Ingredients, (4) Public Policy, Infrastructure and Business Development, and (5) Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering. The poster session features dozens of researches on the latest developments in industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing. The congress also includes workshops and an investor session, under which 16 emerging industrial biotechnology companies will present to investors and analysts new technologies and business models covering advanced biofuels and renewable chemical platforms.

This is the first time that Beta Analytic will be joining the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. The company has participated as speaker or exhibitor at other industrial biotechnology conferences held in North America, Europe, and Asia. Beta Analytic is committed to promote ASTM D6866 testing to various industries that need an accurate tool in quantifying the biobased content or renewable carbon content of solid, liquid, or gaseous products.

Beta Analytic: The Leader in ASTM D6866 Testing

Based in Miami, Florida, Beta Analytic has the fastest turnaround time in the industry. ASTM D6866 results are routinely reported between three to five business days. The company accepts samples through its offices and representatives in London, UK; Sydney, Australia; São Paulo, Brazil; Beijing, China; New Delhi, India; and Nagoya, Japan. All samples sent to these facilities are forwarded to the Miami lab via overnight courier services at Beta Analytic’s expense.

Contact:
Martin Tesini
Beta Analytic Inc.
4985 SW 74 Court
Miami, Florida 33155 USA
Direct Tel. US: (1) (305) 515-8066
Brazil: (55) 11 3958-8586
UK: (44) 207 193 5705
Email: info@betalabservices.com

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The EPA has proposed to defer for three years the application of the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) and Title V permitting requirements to biogenic CO2 emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic stationary sources. PSD requirements involve installation of the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for the sources, among others. Title V permitting, aka “part 70 permits,” relates to Title V of the Clean Air Act.

Facilities affected by the proposed rule include electric utilities burning biomass fuel; manufacturers of wood products, wood pellet fuel, and pulp and paper; solid waste combustors and incinerators; sewage treatment facilities, solid waste landfills; ethanol manufacturers; and food/beverage processors burning agricultural biomass residues using fermentation processes or producing biogas from anaerobic digestion of waste materials.

The proposed rule was published in the US Federal Register on March 21, 2011. The 45-day public comment period closes on May 5.

Beta Analytic Public Comment

The EPA has requested comments whether the deferral should specify that stationary sources use a specific method for determining their biogenic CO2 emissions. The EPA has also sought comments on ways to ensure there is an accurate estimate of how much biogenic CO2 is subject to the deferral for a specific facility, particularly when combusting mixed fuels (Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0083, Paragraph Citation 76 FR 15252).

Beta Analytic’s public comment:

Dear Sir/Madam:

We are recommending that stationary sources combusting mixed fuels use ASTM D6866 testing to accurately measure their biogenic CO2 emissions. This standard method is used to determine the exact percentage of biogenic CO2 emissions produced from combusting fuels that are partly fossil and partly biomass, e.g. municipal solid waste, used tires, and sewage sludge. ASTM D6866 has already been incorporated in the EPA’s Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule (40 CFR Part 98) and Western Climate Initiative’s Mandatory Reporting Requirements, among others.

We would also like to point out an oversight in the EPA GHG Reporting Rule concerning the biogenic CO2 emissions of stationary sources that combust sewage sludge as fuel. Based on our internal lab tests using ASTM D6866, sewage sludge/biosolids are only about 80% biogenic. Numerous researches have demonstrated that sewage sludge contains a significant amount of fossil carbon due to detergents, shampoos, and other petroleum-based consumer products that enter the waste stream. Two of these researches are:

J. McEvoy and W. Giger, Accumulation of linear alkylbenzenesulphonate surfactants in sewage sludges, Naturwissenschaften, Volume 72, Number 8 / August, 1985, 429-431

W Giger, PH Brunner, and C Schaffner, 4-Nonylphenol in sewage sludge: accumulation of toxic metabolites from nonionic surfactants, Science 10 August 1984, Vol. 225. no. 4662, pp. 623 – 625

We hope the EPA will take into account the fossil inputs in materials assumed to be 100% biomass or renewable, e.g. sewage sludge and demolition wood (with petroleum-based paint or adhesives).

Sincerely,
Thierry Tamers
Director
Beta Analytic Inc.
4985 SW 74 Court
Miami, FL 33155
Tel: (1) 305-662-7760
Email: info@betalabservices.com

Source: Beta Analytic comment filed in www.regulations.gov

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The USDA BioPreferred Labeling Program for biobased products began accepting applicants on February 21, 2011.

USDA BioPreferred Label Application Process

Application for a USDA BioPreferred Label involves two steps – enrollment to the program and product certification.

Step 1 – Screening of Qualified Participants by the USDA

Participants must first fill out all necessary USDA forms found in the BioPreferred Labeling Program website. The USDA will check if the products listed in the application are qualified. Participants accepted by the USDA will be directed to undergo certification, which includes ASTM D6866 biobased content testing of products or packaging materials.

Step 2 – Certification by ASTM International

The certification program requirements are outlined in the Operations Manual for Biobased Products and the General Operations Manual for ASTM Certification Programs found on ASTM International’s website. Participants are required to fill out the Biobased Participant Agreement and submit it to ASTM for approval. They will also choose a third-party laboratory approved to conduct biobased content testing for the USDA BioPreferred Program.

ASTM D6866 Biobased Content Testing – ASTM International will notify participants when to send representative samples to the selected lab per the certification program requirements. Testing fees are shouldered by the participants. The lab will submit the test results to the participants and ASTM International.

ASTM D6866 Results Review – ASTM International will review the biobased content test results and notify the participants and the USDA whether certification has been approved or denied. The names of manufacturers and their products that have been certified will be listed in the ASTM Directory of Certified Products.

Approved ASTM D6866 Laboratories

ASTM International maintains a list of approved third-party laboratories on its website. All approved laboratories must be accredited to ISO 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories, have demonstrated capability to perform ASTM D6866 testing, and have complied with the ASTM Practice for Documentation and Reporting of Laboratory Results for Biobased Products in accord with the ASTM D6866 method.

Beta Analytic – ISO 17025 Accredited ASTM D6866 Lab

Beta Analytic in Miami, Florida, is one of the laboratories approved by ASTM International to conduct biobased content testing via the ASTM D6866 method. The company routinely submits results within three to seven days after sample submission.

Beta Analytic is not affiliated with the USDA, ASTM International, or the BioPreferred Program.

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3. Understanding the USDA BioPreferred Program – Federal Procurement vs Voluntary Labeling

Fast Facts:

For details, contact the USDA BioPreferred Program.

Note: ISO 17025-accredited Beta Analytic offers ASTM D6866 testing. The company is not affiliated with the USDA or the BioPreferred Program.

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The Voluntary Labeling Program only applies to commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed), intermediates, and feedstock that are partially or wholly composed of biological ingredients including renewable plant, animal, marine, or forestry materials. Motor vehicle fuels, heating oil, electricity produced from biomass, and mature market products are excluded. Mature market products, according the USDA, are goods that had a significant market share since 1972.

The USDA launched this voluntary labeling program in an effort to increase commercial demand for biobased products. “Today’s consumers are increasingly interested in making educated purchasing choices for their families. This label will make those decisions easier by identifying products as biobased. These products have enormous potential to create green jobs in rural communities, add value to agricultural commodities, decrease environmental impacts, and reduce our dependence on imported oil,” USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan said.

The USDA BioPreferred Program consists of two separate schemes – a preferred procurement program that requires federal agencies and their contractors to buy products with high biobased content, and a voluntary labeling program for manufacturers and distributors who want their biobased products certified by the USDA.

Eligible Biobased Products

To receive USDA product certification, the biobased content of the product must meet the minimum biobased content requirements of its corresponding product category under the federal procurement preference program. Those that do not belong to any of the existing product categories under the federal procurement program must be 25 percent biobased unless the applicant applies for and receives an alternative minimum biobased content allowance.

Products imported for sale in the U.S. must adhere to the same guidelines as U.S.-sourced biobased products to be certified. Distributors and manufacturers of biobased products certified in other countries still need to apply for USDA product certification.

The USDA certification remains valid as long as the product is manufactured and marketed in accordance with the approved application and it continues to meet the minimum biobased content requirement. If a product is reformulated, its biobased content must meet the minimum biobased content required for the certification to remain valid. In the event that the USDA revises the minimum biobased content requirement for a product category, the approved product must meet the new minimum requirement to keep the certification valid.

ASTM D6866 Testing Required

Applicants under the Voluntary Labeling Program are required to provide supporting documentation of their biobased claims. ASTM D6866 test results from an ISO 9001 or ISO 17025 accredited lab are required. According to the USDA, ASTM D6866 biobased testing must be performed by ISO 9001 conformant testing facilities to ensure that the products using the label meet the high standards of the program.

Companies with goods already part of the BioPreferred Catalog for federal procurement need to have their products re-tested for biobased content via ASTM D6866 if they want to apply for this voluntary label. Products tested between February 20, 2010, and February 20, 2011, by an approved third-party laboratory are not required to be re-tested. The applicant, however, should notify the USDA in the “Legacy Tests” section of the online application and submit an additional form provided by the USDA via email. The USDA will obtain test results directly from the lab and continue evaluating the application.

The USDA will conduct occasional random ASTM D6866 testing of certified products to ensure compliance of the minimum biobased content reported in the approved application.

USDA Certified Biobased Product Label

The USDA label consists of an artwork, the biobased content percentage, and one of these text variations: USDA Certified Biobased Product, USDA Certified Biobased Product: Package, or USDA Certified Biobased Product and Package. Labels for biobased products that have been designated for preferred federal procurement will include the letters “FP” as part of the label’s artwork.

Sample images of the USDA label are found in the USDA BioPreferred website.

Source: BioPreferred Voluntary Labeling Program for Biobased Products Final Rule

Beta Analytic ASTM D6866 Lab

ISO 17025-accredited Beta Analytic serves the biobased industry by providing high-quality ASTM D6866 testing with turnaround times between three to five business days. The company recommends two analyses per material for better credibility and averaging when results are to be used for certification. For research and development purposes, one measurement is sufficient.

Beta Analytic is not affiliated with the USDA BioPreferred Program.

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Senator Gillmor will present a brief overview of Senate Bill (SB) 131, which was passed in February. Commissioner Wozniak will talk about the green purchasing efforts of her county. Mr. Larenas will provide a brief background on ASTM D6866 and discuss how the test can be of benefit to a company.

The workshop, which aims to promote green product development and sale in Ohio, will be held at the Center’s office in Toledo from 9:00 am to 11:30 a.m. Seating space is limited but participants can still join by signing up for a webinar. The workshop was organized by the Center in collaboration with the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission.

The state of Ohio established a law requiring state agencies and state-supported colleges and universities to give purchasing preference to biobased products through SB 131. The concept of this program is similar to the BioPreferred Program administered in federal level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ASTM D6866 Biobased Content Testing

ASTM D6866 is a standard method used to measure the biobased content of solid, liquid, or gaseous samples through radiocarbon analysis. ASTM International developed the method at the request of the USDA for the BioPreferred Program. Due to its flexibility, ASTM D6866 has been incorporated in several eco-labeling programs including Vincotte’s OK Biobased Program, EcoLogo’s CCD-170 Standard for hand sanitizers, and Japan BioPlastics Association’s BiomassPla certification and labeling system, among others.

According to Beta Analytic, an ISO 17025-accredited ASTM D6866 services provider, one measurement is sufficient if ASTM D6866 testing is done for R&D purposes. If test results will be submitted to certification bodies, the company recommends two analyses per material for better credibility and averaging. For product market protection or any purpose that entails commercial or legal repercussions, three to four analyses per material are recommended.

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