NantBioRenewables, the company behind the Wave Ware™ line of high-performance renewable foodservice products, today announced that BioCal-ICS has earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s USDA Certified Biobased Product Label.

BioCal-ICS is a line of compostable straws and tableware made with Ocean Calcium Sand, a renewable mineral formed naturally in the ocean. Products in the line may now display the USDA label verifying that they contain 69% biobased content.

The certification is administered through the USDA BioPreferred® Program, which promotes the development, purchase and use of biobased products. Biobased content refers to the portion of a product derived from renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry feedstocks. By incorporating renewable materials, certified products can reduce reliance on nonrenewable, petroleum-based inputs.

“Earning this certification reinforces our commitment to developing high-performing products with measurable environmental benefits,” said Kenn Budlong, chief operating officer of NantBioRenewables. “The USDA label provides our customers and partners with independent verification of BioCal-ICS’s biobased content, giving them confidence that they are choosing a credible, more sustainable alternative to conventional plastic products.”

“We applaud NantBioRenewables for earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label,” said Vernell Thompson, USDA BioPreferred Program. “The label is intended to help spur economic development, create new jobs, and provide new markets for farm commodities. But the label also makes it easier for consumers and federal buyers to locate biobased products and consider planet-friendlier options during purchase decisions. By having their products become USDA Certified Biobased, NantBioRenewables joins an expanding list of businesses combatting inaccurate marketing claims and the practice of greenwashing, while also contributing to a thriving bioeconomy that decreases our reliance on petroleum.”

In the latest Economic Impact Report released by USDA, the biobased products industry supported 4.6 million American jobs; contributed $470 billion to the U.S. economy and generated 2.79 jobs in other sectors of the economy for every biobased job. Biobased products also have a substantial environmental impact, displacing about 9.4 million barrels of oil a year, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year.

About NantBioRenewables

NantBioRenewables, the company behind the Wave Ware™ line of high-performance renewable foodservice products, develops eco-friendly thermoformed products made from Ocean Calcium Sand, a renewable, biobased, carbon-negative mineral that naturally forms in the ocean. BioCal-ICS compostable straws and tableware reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics while composting into nutrient-rich material for plant growth. The company is committed to building a circular bioeconomy through sustainable product life cycles from extraction to composting. For more information, visit www.nantbiorenewables.com.

About the USDA BioPreferred Program

With the goal of increasing the development, purchase, and use of biobased products, USDA’s BioPreferred® Program was first introduced in the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized in 2018. It requires federal agencies and contractors to give purchasing preference to biobased products. The USDA BioPreferred Program also includes a voluntary certification and labeling initiative for biobased products. This is referred to as the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label. More than 1,800 companies across the U.S. and in 47 countries participate in the Program. From farm and field all the way through the manufacturing process, the expanding market for biobased products creates jobs, supports rural economic growth in America, and has a positive impact on our planet.

Have questions? Please contact: Vernell Thompson, USDA BioPreferred Program at Vernell.Thompson@usda.gov.

Media gallery

About The Author
Business Wire