USDA renews "Biobased product" certification and label for Bio-On PHA

The USDA BioPreferred program works to increase the purchase and use of designated biobased products through a preferred procurement initiative for federal agencies. The USDA Certified Biobased Product label is designed to promote the broad-scale marketing of biobased products to consumers. It certifies that the quantity of ingredients from biological sources used to make the products being certified meets the levels set by the Department. Biobased products are the finished or intermediate materials made up entirely or to a significant extent of agricultural, forest or marine ingredients. All requests for certification are verified by integrated and independent laboratories and monitored by the USDA. Consumers can thus have full confidence and be able to make better-informed buying decisions.

"We are proud that Bio-on has earned the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label," says Ron Buckhalt, USDA BioPreferred Program Manager, "Products from biological sources add value to renewable agricultural raw materials, create jobs in rural communities and help our society reduce its dependence on non-renewable raw materials such as oil".

According to a study recently published by the USDA, in the United States alone the use of biobased products saves 300 million gallons of oil every year. This is equivalent to 200 thousand fewer cars on the roads. The contribution to employment is also noteworthy: each job in the biobased industry is responsible for generating 1.64 jobs in other sectors of the economy.

"We are extremely pleased to have obtained the renewal of this important recognition," says Marco Astorri, Chairman and co-founder of Bio-on, "Our mission is to develop and produce eco-friendly, natural biopolymers. This certification makes us very proud and confirms our commitment to the growth of the bio-economy".(KL)

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