Biobased Products: An Evolution in the Food Packaging Industry

Once samples are received by the laboratory, they are prepped and pretreated as needed, and, once ready for analysis, they are inserted onto a wheel of an accelerator mass spectrometer instrument. This instrument is used to count the amount of carbon-14 present in the sample, yielding a result that represents the percentage of biobased content. Results may range from 0% biobased to 100% biobased. A sample that is 0% biobased is completely petrochemical-derived, while 100% biobased indicates it is fully composed of biomass-based sources. Lastly, a result anywhere between 0% and 100% biobased means the sample is a mixture of fossil fuel and renewable sources. This result allows manufacturers and product formulators to make adjustments, depending on the percentage of biobased content they are aiming for, and redevelop product formulas as they continue to test ingredients with carbon-14 analysis to achieve their goals of optimizing biobased ingredients and moving away from fossil fuel ingredients.

Certified Biobased

Once a biobased packaging formulation is finalized, manufacturers and product distributors opt to certify the packaging material so that the use of biobased ingredients is easily visible on the packaging. Within the bioproducts industry, the USDA BioPreferred Program includes a certification program to promote biobased products. This program allows consumers to distinguish sustainable options in the marketplace.

The USDA BioPreferred program includes a voluntary labeling initiative that enables companies with biobased products that have been tested by a third-party carbon-14 laboratory to apply for certification. In order to qualify for the certification, products must meet the standards and requirements of minimum biobased content, which vary based on the type of category the product falls under. The program includes a packaging category, which is broken down into more specific subcategories such as disposable containers, product packaging, non-durable films, semi-durable films, and shopping and trash bags. Each subcategory has a different requirement for minimum biobased content: 72%, 25%, 85%, 45%, and 22%, respectively. In addition, there is a category specifically for intermediates—plastic resins—which has a requirement of 22% biobased content for product eligibility.

If a product meets the requirements and certification is received, packaging products are sealed with a USDA Certified Biobased Product eco-label, which indicates the percentage of biobased content in a product. Biobased certifications and eco-labels act as verification that packaging material is derived from renewable biological material.

The preference for renewable and sustainable food packaging material is increasing over time among manufacturers, distributors, and consumers. To keep up with global demands for biobased food packaging material, manufacturers are working with carbon-14 laboratories to receive third-party verification of biobased content. This allows manufacturers to switch material formulations as needed in order to optimize the use of biobased material and limit dependence on fossil fuels, decreasing plastic waste and reducing the impact that the food packaging sector has on greenhouse gas levels. Once a product formulation is finalized, sustainability initiatives are demonstrated by applying for biobased certification schemes, allowing for greater transparency of product ingredients.

Gershon is marketing manager for Beta Analytic. Reach her at [email protected].