The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred® Program assures consumers that the testing and certification process is accurate, reliable and unbiased. According to a study conducted by marketing firm Shelton Group, the USDA Certified Biobased Product label is one of four certifications that influence buying decisions of consumers in the US.
In the study called “Under the Lens: Claiming Green. The Influence of Green Product Claims on Purchase Intent and Brand Perception,” about 56% of the respondents believed that certifications make products more reputable. About 58% of the respondents claimed that they would pay up to 10% more for a product with third-party certifications.
Brands that live up to their biobased content claims are rewarded with strong sales and brand loyalty by savvy consumers who read product labels not only to look for their preferred ingredients but also to search for chemicals to avoid.
For more details, please read Natural Advocate: USDA BioPreferred Label Quantifies Bio-based Claims published in the Cosmetics & Toiletries July/August 2020 edition.
Video courtesy of the USDA • Disclaimer: This video is hosted in a third-party site and may contain advertising.
To date, the USDA BioPreferred Program has certified more than 4,000 products as eligible to display the USDA Certified Biobased Product label. The Program certifies products that meet the minimum biobased content percentage required for their product category.
To become eligible to display the USDA Certified Biobased Product label, manufacturers must have an ISO 17025-accredited third-party lab quantify and validate a product’s biobased ingredients through ASTM D6866 analysis, meet the minimum set standards, and complete the application process. The ASTM D6866 analytical standard was developed to determine the biobased content of solid, liquid, and gaseous samples through carbon-14 analysis.
The USDA BioPreferred Program aims to increase domestic demand for many agricultural commodities that can serve as feedstocks for production of biobased products. According to the USDA, the Program’s economic impact has reached $393 billion as of 2014.
Examples of biobased products accepted in the BioPreferred Program: pest control products, bathroom and spa cleaners, bath products, bed linen and towels, deodorants, and other personal care products.
Beta Analytic is not affiliated with ASTM or the USDA BioPreferred Program. The ISO 17025-accredited lab welcomes inquiries on ASTM D6866 biobased content testing. Please use this contact form to inquire on fees and turnaround time.
Choosing a Qualified Lab for Biobased Content Testing
Biobased Product Certification & Ecolabels
This entry was posted on Monday, August 3rd, 2020 and is filed under Biobased Products, USDA Biopreferred Program .