USDA Biobased (BioPreferred®) measures renewable biogenic carbon content. It is not USDA Organic.

What it means

USDA BioPreferred® / Biobased is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program for biobased products: commercial or industrial products (other than food, feed, or fuel) composed in whole or significant part of biological products including renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. The voluntary certification label communicates a product’s percent biobased content as measured by ASTM D6866 (ratio of new/biogenic organic carbon to total organic carbon).

Biobased answers: how much of the organic carbon comes from renewable biomass versus fossil sources? It does not answer: was it grown under organic regulations?

Who backs it

• USDA BioPreferred Program (biopreferred.gov): federal preferred procurement plus voluntary labeling.
• Governing regulations in 7 CFR Part 4270 (Biobased Markets Program).
• Third-party ASTM D6866 testing laboratories are used in the certification pathway after USDA screening.

How it’s tested / verified

1. USDA initial screening / application for the voluntary label.
2. Biobased content verified with ASTM D6866 (radiocarbon-based method). Inorganic carbon and non-carbon substances are excluded from the organic-carbon ratio; USDA recommends qualifying such excluded content on packaging when relevant.
3. Products in a USDA-established product category must meet that category’s minimum biobased content. Products outside established categories must meet the program minimum (BioPreferred certification criteria page states at least 25% biobased content for non-category products, with possible alternative minimum proposals; confirm current CFR thresholds when citing legal minima).
4. USDA issues a certification notice before label use; certification duration and retest rules apply per program regulations.

What it doesn’t mean

• Not USDA Organic / “USDA Certified Organic.”
• Not a toxicity, fragrance-free, or cruelty-free certification.
• Not “100% natural” or plastic-free (biobased plastics can still be polymers).
• Food, feed, and fuel are outside the BioPreferred product definition for this program.
• High biobased percent does not automatically mean compostable or biodegradable.

Pros

• Third-party quantified renewable-content metric (ASTM D6866).
• Government program with public catalog and criteria.
• Useful for cleaners, lubricants, packaging materials, and similar goods.

Cons / limitations

• Shoppers confuse Biobased with Organic. Education must lead with the distinction.
• Minimum percent varies by category; “USDA Biobased” without the percent can under-inform.
• Does not assess pesticide use, GMO status, or social criteria.

How to shop for it

Look for the BioPreferred / USDA Biobased label and the stated biobased content percent. Do not treat it as an organic seal.

Bottom line

USDA Biobased quantifies renewable carbon content for many non-food industrial products. USDA Organic is a different program with different rules.

Sources

• https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/CertificationCriteria.xhtml
• https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/AboutBioPreferred.xhtml
• https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XLII/part-4270/section-4270.7
• https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title7-vol15/pdf/CFR-2025-title7-vol15-part4270.pdf

Writing notes

• CMS synonyms: USDA BioPreferred / Biobased; 100% biobased, etc.
• Always pair with USDA Certified (Organic) distinction.
• CleenBeez does not stock or sell products; editorial explanation only.