United States Department of Agriculture
Information

Certification

Certification Criteria

After products have gone through an initial screening by the USDA, the Voluntary Labeling Initiative uses ASTM D6866 to verify the percent biobased content of biobased products seeking certification. ASTM D6866 is an analytical method that quantifies a product's percent biobased content. ASTM D6866 does not consider inorganic carbon or other non-carbon containing substances.

For certified products, or packaging, that contain inorganic carbon or other non-carbon containing substances, it is recommended that the certification holder qualify the percentage of these excluded compounds on the product's packaging. Please refer to page 5 of the Brand Guidelines and Graphic Standards for the USDA BioPreferred® Program.

Biobased products that may be identified within a USDA established product category must meet or exceed the minimum biobased content requirement for that particular product category. Products that do not fall within a USDA established product category must contain at least 25% biobased content; however, label applicants may propose to the USDA an alternative minimum percent biobased content. Please note that the 25% minimum biobased content will be reviewed by USDA at some future date.