Issued by U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA BioPreferred

USDA Certified Biobased Product

Radiocarbon testing measures where the carbon came from and nothing else: bio-based is not biodegradable, not compostable and not low-carbon. A sheet certified at 70% bio-based still leaves 30% unaccounted for, so ask what that fraction is.

Editorial illustration of abstract documents and two unlabelled material swatches. — AI-generated illustration. It does not show a specific supplied grade or test result.

What it covers

Bio-based content as a percentage of total organic carbon, measured by ASTM D6866 radiocarbon testing. The certified percentage is printed on the label, which makes this one of the few marks that carries a number.

What it does not cover

Bio-based is not biodegradable, not compostable and not low-carbon. The test measures carbon origin only. A 70% bio-based sheet whose remaining 30% is virgin polyurethane is still 30% virgin polyurethane.

Scope and exclusions are recorded from the issuing body’s own published documentation. A certificate covers what its scope statement says and nothing beyond it.