USDA Certified Biobased Product Label

Independent laboratory testing to ASTM D6866 (radiocarbon analysis) verified the percentage of the product's carbon that comes from recent biological sources, and USDA certified the product to display that percentage, which must meet the minimum for its product category.

• Biodegradability or compostability — biobased carbon content says nothing about how the product breaks down.
• A lower carbon footprint — biobased origin does not by itself prove lower lifecycle emissions.
• That the product is 100% biobased — the label states a specific verified percentage, which can be as low as the category minimum.
• Anything about how the biomass was grown or sourced (no farming, forestry, or land-use criteria).

• Claims Bio-Based Content →

  medium risk

Minimum authority

Third-party verified

Should state

Certification Number · Biobased Content Percentage · Product Category · Certification Date

Date sensitivity

Expiry is not the primary issue; check scope and method instead.

Certification has no fixed expiry, but reformulation invalidates the tested percentage and USDA conducts periodic audits — confirm the certified formulation matches the shipping product.

Minimum required biobased content varies by product category; always read the actual percentage on the label, not just the mark.

Distinguish the certified label from mere BioPreferred catalog listing for federal procurement.