BIOBASED PRODUCTS & BIOPLASTICS

Biodegradable: Can be degraded by naturally occurring microorganisms in a defined environmental and timescale.

Bioplastic: Type of plastic that is partially or fully biobased and/or biodegradable.

USDA BioPreferred Program: Managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the goal of the BioPreferred Program is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. The BioPreferred Program was created by the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized and expanded as part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). The Program's purpose is to spur economic development, create new jobs and provide new markets for farm commodities. The increased development, purchase, and use of biobased products reduces our nation's reliance on petroleum, increases the use of renewable agricultural resources, and contributes to reducing adverse environmental and health impacts.