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The USDA BioPreferred® Program is one of the most important economic and environmental initiatives currently supported by the U.S. government.
Staying ahead of the competition is a critical element of any successful business. In the competitive marketplace that exists today, even superior product offerings can be difficult to market. A unique point of differentiation is often required to secure the largest possible segment of a target market. Many producers are finding that a widely recognized branding and labeling program, such as the USDA BioPreferred® Program, is an effective way to compete and can be incredibly persuasive when it comes to marketing.
At Beta Analytic, we test a variety of industrial and end-consumer products for certification under the USDA BioPreferred® Program. As both innovators in the laboratory testing field and supporters of biobased products, we’ve had plenty of exciting opportunities to see new products entering the market.
The USDA BioPreferred® Program is a relatively recent initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is intended to promote and assist in the growth of bio-based products and markets. Whatever industry your company is in, there are benefits to using biomass to produce your products, however, you will be missing out on some significant advantages if you are not taking part in the BioPreferred Program.
Material producers are showing increased interest in the USDA BioPreferred® Program, and taking a look at the widespread examples of biobased materials in construction should be enough to convince even the staunchest supporters of fossil fuel-derived products and materials.
Businesses that show a commitment to the environment will gain public support and potentially even federal support when it comes to intermediate material and retail product procurement. With the introduction of the USDA BioPreferred® Program in 2011, businesses can now leverage off of their biobased materials with certification and official labeling on products.
Biobased materials are becoming more readily available and in many cases can be more economically viable than non-renewable alternatives. There are also benefits to be gained from joining the USDA BioPreferred Program, thanks to the increased public awareness of new product labeling. If your business is to be truly biobased, you need to do more than just reduce your reliance on non-renewable materials.
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 411 has published CEN/TS 16640:2014: Biobased Products – Determination of the biobased carbon content of products using the radiocarbon method. CEN had previously published technical specifications also based on the radiocarbon content of biobased materials.