Ohio manufacturers to gain from broader ‘biopreferred’ labels
Dayton Business Journal – Many Ohio manufacturers should benefit as 14 bio-based product categories are now eligible for federal procurement preference. The move expands business opportunities for Ohio-manufactured products made with agricultural products.
Biobased products are composed wholly or significantly of biological ingredients — renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials. A BioPreferred designated item is one that meets or exceeds USDA established minimum biobased content requirements.
Already, more than 70 Ohio companies manufacturing biobased products are eligible for preferred federal procurement under the USDA’s biopreferred program.
“Our state’s economic recovery will be led by two of our strongest industries: agriculture and manufacturing,” said U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown, D-OH. “And the biobased industry links these sectors to make new products, ranging from biobased paint, to soy ink and toner.”
The BioPreferred program has two major components: product labeling and federal procurement preference. The labeling component involves USDA certification and award of labels to qualifying products to increase consumer recognition of biobased products.
