Manufacturers of biobased blankets, bedspreads, comforters, quilts, bed linens and towels can join the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) BioPreferred® Program to make their products stand out from competition. Products that carry the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label can entice consumers looking for eco-friendly products. The label displays the percentage of the product made from renewable sources.
Woven cloth products like beddings and towels can be listed in the USDA BioPreferred Catalog without third-party biobased content testing, making them eligible for preferred purchase of federal agencies. If manufacturers want to use the USDA Certified Biobased label on their packaging and marketing materials, the products have to undergo biobased content testing by a USDA-approved lab.
For beddings, bed linens and towels to be certified and carry the label, they must be at least 12% biobased as measured by ASTM D6866 testing.
The textile industry is one of the most water- and energy-consuming industries in the world. The production process of fabrics used in most bedding, bed linen, and towel products can cause ecological deterioration. Synthetic dyes and other additives tend to contain chemicals that may trigger allergic reactions; some chemicals may also be carcinogenic.
Biobased bedding, bed linen, and towel products are generally regarded as better alternatives because they contain materials from renewable resources. One way to assure customers that the product is indeed biobased is to use ecolabels like the USDA Certified Biobased label. Although the label is not an immediate guarantee of safety, incorporating it on the packaging and marketing materials assures customers that the biobased content displayed has been validated. The USDA BioPreferred Program only allows products that have undergone third-party ASTM D6866 biobased content testing to use the label.
The USDA BioPreferred Program provides millions of jobs to Americans across the country. As of 2014, the program’s economic impact to the U.S. economy is estimated at $393 billion.
There are 97 product categories as of December 2017, spanning a wide variety of uses and industries. There are also certified biobased products in the BioPreferred Catalog that are not yet qualified for mandatory federal purchasing.
References:
ISO 17025-accredited Beta Analytic is not affiliated with ASTM, USDA or the BioPreferred Program. The lab provides fast ASTM D6866 testing and welcomes inquiries from interested parties, including USDA BioPreferred Program applicants. For inquiries on rates and lab turnaround time, please call 305-662-7760 or use this contact form.
Related Topics:
USDA BioPreferred Program – Construction Products
USDA Certified Biobased Label for Deodorants
Personal Care Products in the USDA BioPreferred Program
This entry was posted on Friday, December 22nd, 2017 and is filed under Biobased Products, USDA Biopreferred Program .
