How would you like your bio-based products?
And infographic of the week
When you see a “bio-based” product label or a tag, what do think?
The chances are that in many cases, you may want to click on all three options or have something else completely in mind. In a world where cosmetics, detergents, and even chemicals are advertised as bio-based, they can mean a few different things, based on where you live.
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United States
In the United States, bio-based products are defined and promoted through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred Program. The program defines a bio-based product as a commercial or industrial product, other than food or feed, that is composed wholly or significantly of biological ingredients such as renewable domestic agricultural materials, forestry materials, or marine materials.
Key Features of the U.S. Definition:
Quantifiable Content: Bio-based content is measured as the ratio of renewable carbon to total carbon in a product, expressed as a percentage. For example, baby wipes need to have a minimum of 80% bio-based content whereas personal hygiene products like soaps and shampoos need to have a minimum of only 61%.
Certification and Labeling: The USDA provides a “Certified Biobased Product” label to products that meet specific bio-based content thresholds and these thresholds vary based on the category of products. If you don’t see this label, just know that it is not a certified product with the manufacturer making baseless claims.
Focus on Domestic Agriculture: The program emphasizes renewable domestic resources to support local economies and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Canada
In Canada, bio-based products are generally categorized under the umbrella of bioeconomy initiatives rather than through a singular, comprehensive definition. The Canadian government defines bio-based products as those derived from biological resources, including agricultural, forestry, and marine materials. However, definitions and standards vary across provinces and industry sectors.
Key Features of the Canadian definitions:
Federal level: Bioproducts (as they are called) are defined as products produced from biomass, including biofuels, biogas, and other bio-based materials.
Province-level: Every province customizes the definition, every so slightly, to focus on supporting innovation and the local economy while broadly aligning with the federal definitions.
European Union
The EU adopts a more comprehensive and standardized approach to bio-based products, driven by its commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles. Bio-based products are defined by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) as "products wholly or partly derived from biomass," where biomass refers to materials from biological origins excluding fossilized materials.
Key Features of the EU Definition:
Harmonized Standards: The EU has established standards such as EN 16575 to define and measure bio-based content.
Lifecycle Perspective: EU policies emphasize sustainability, including greenhouse gas emissions, resource efficiency, and end-of-life considerations.
Integration with Circular Economy Goals: Bio-based products are positioned as integral to reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency.
Bioeconomy Strategy: The EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy promotes the use of bio-based products as part of broader sustainability goals, supported by significant funding and research initiatives.
Within just the three regions, there are clearly distinct differences, making it much harder for small and mid-sized companies to meet the minimum threshold criteria.
Distinct Differences
Focus of Definitions:
The U.S. definition is product-centric and tied closely to promoting domestic agricultural resources.
Canada’s approach is decentralized, prioritizing innovation and regional strengths.
The EU’s definition integrates bio-based products into sustainability and circular economy frameworks.
Measurement and Certification:
The U.S. uses renewable carbon content as a primary metric, with the USDA providing certification.
Canada lacks a unified certification system, relying instead on industry-led or provincial initiatives.
The EU employs harmonized standards and lifecycle assessments to measure bio-based content and sustainability.
Policy Drivers:
U.S. policies are motivated by market development and economic benefits for domestic agriculture.
Canadian policies focus on innovation and regional resource utilization.
EU policies prioritize environmental sustainability and alignment with climate targets.
Say we sync our definitions; would that be the end of the problem? Not so fast. There has been little research to assess the potential impact on species and ecosystems tied to these bio-based component alternatives and substitutions. Beyond converging on common definitions, it would be good to see these federal agencies deploy research funding to investigate the true impact of these alternative materials, to avoid “bio-washing”.
What are your thoughts on the topic? Share them below.
Infographic of the week - USDA’s economic impact analysis of the US biobased industry
Source: USDA report titled ““An Economic Impact Analysis of the U.S. Biobased Products Industry: 2023 Update"
Bio-based products, a segment of the bio-economy, contributed $489 billion to the U.S. economy in 2021, up from $464 billion in 2020. This is an increase of $25 billion or a 5.1% increase.
Employment decreased slightly from 4.05 million jobs in 2020 to 3.94 million jobs in 2021, with each job supporting an estimated 1.4 more jobs in other sectors of the U.S. economy. This decrease is likely due in part to challenges in the labor market upon restarting the economy in 2021.
The bio-based products sector and the jobs it supports are shown to impact every state in the nation and are not confined to states where agriculture is the main industry.
The use of bio-based products reduces the consumption of petroleum equivalents. In 2017, oil displacement was estimated to be as much as 9.4 million barrels of oil equivalents. In 2021, the displacement grew to 10.7 million barrels of oil equivalents using an 80% petroleum reduction value for bio-based products.
Wonderful article. Branding and diversity of approach is everything. Eventually this will all lead to harmonization.