A practical evidence map for the USDA BioPreferred biobased product label. Start by separating the voluntary labeling initiative from the federal preferred purchasing initiative, then match the specific product, application record, program testing and public wording. This page does not mean that any particular product is certified.

Key distinction: “Biobased” is a defined measurement of renewable-source organic carbon. It is not a synonym for natural, organic, non-toxic or biodegradable. Only a specific product approved under the USDA program may use the corresponding USDA Certified Biobased Product label statement.

1. Separate the program pathways

BioPreferred has two related but distinct pathways: the Federal Purchasing Program and the voluntary product-labeling initiative. Whether a product belongs to a USDA-designated purchasing category cannot be decided merely because it contains plant material. Purchasing qualification, product certification and permission to use the label are separate records.

The program covers commercial or industrial biobased products; the official program information excludes food, animal feed and biofuels. Fix the product name, model, formulation or material composition, manufacturer or distributor identity, and whether the application concerns the product or its packaging. Supplier raw-material information should not be treated as finished-product label evidence without a product-level match.

2. What biobased content measures

Under the program definition, biobased content is the ratio of new organic carbon to total organic carbon. New organic carbon comes from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine or forestry resources; total organic carbon also includes old organic carbon from petroleum. A percentage on a label must not be rewritten as the percentage of the whole product that is “natural,” nor does it automatically establish safety, environmental performance or recyclability.

The voluntary labeling process uses ASTM D6866 to measure biobased content. Applicants should not arrange an independent test before USDA has instructed them to proceed and then treat that result as the program certification result. The official process follows an application, initial review, sample-selection and designated-testing sequence. If a product contains water, inorganic carbonates or other excluded substances, packaging and advertising should explain the percentage carefully so readers do not infer that it represents every component of the product.

3. Build one evidence record per product

Create one record for each product or package and retain at least:

  • Identity: product name, model, product or package scope, manufacturer or distributor, account and responsible role.
  • Composition: formulation, material list, additives that may affect the organic-carbon assessment, and how the sample matches the marketed product.
  • Program classification: intended BioPreferred pathway, relevant product category, applicable minimum-content requirement and the basis for classification.
  • Application: company and product registration in Company Tools, the Participant Agreement where applicable, application ID and USDA correspondence.
  • Testing: USDA sample-selection documentation, designated laboratory, ASTM D6866 result and USDA’s formal notice. Do not substitute an older self-commissioned report for program records.
  • Claims: the approved label-to-product match, approved biobased-content percentage, packaging or page wording, version date and change history.

4. Category thresholds and label use

USDA sets minimum biobased-content requirements for some product categories. For products outside an established category, the official page generally states a 25% minimum, while eligibility remains subject to the program rules and USDA review. Do not present 25% as a universal certification line or insert a percentage without a matching approval record.

After certification, the label must correspond to the approved product or package and be used under the USDA BioPreferred brand and marketing guidelines. “USDA Certified Biobased Product” is a program-controlled label statement. Broader phrases such as “contains plant ingredients,” “uses renewable feedstocks” or “more sustainable” do not replace the certification record. The label is not a guarantee of product safety, performance or every environmental attribute.

5. Pre-publication checklist

  • Do the product name, model, formulation and sample match the application record?
  • Is the scope a product or a package, and do the image and wording describe only that object?
  • Are the category threshold, test method, sample selection and formal notice sourced from program records?
  • Does the displayed percentage come from the approved label without being expanded into safety, non-toxicity, biodegradability or overall environmental claims?
  • If the product or formulation changed, has continued use of the old label been checked against program requirements?
  • Does the Chinese version preserve the defined concept of “biobased content” instead of translating it as natural or organic content?

Boundary note: This is an evidence-checking framework, not a substitute for a USDA BioPreferred application, classification or certification decision. Before use, return to the BioPreferred official pages, Company Tools records and the product’s formal notice. No certification result, market-access outcome or processing time is promised here.