What is the 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.
The two major parts of the Program are:
• mandatory purchasing requirements for federal agencies and their contractors
• voluntary labeling initiative for biobased products
What are BioPreferred products?
- Biobased Products are derived from raw materials such as plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, forestry and waste materials. Biobased products generally provide an alternative to conventional petroleum derived products and include a diverse range of offerings such as lubricants, detergents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics. For the purposes of the BioPreferred Program, biobased products do not include food, animal feed, or fuel.
- A few years ago the USDA BioPreferred Program extended the product categories to include intermediates, or components, that can be used to make finished products.
- Products participating in the voluntary labelling initiative have their biobased content measured at approved test labs using ASTM D6866 as part of the certification process.
BASF lubricant base stocks are now certified as BioPreferred by the USDA!
The USDA BioPreferred category that these BASF products are listed under is:
Intermediates – Lubricant Components
Description: Ingredients that are used specifically to formulate finished lubricant products
Minimum Biobased Content: 44%
Typical Applications
Automotive
- Engine oils
- Transmission Oils
- Driveline
Industrial
- Gear lubricants
- Compressor lubes
- Chain Oils
- Hydraulic fluids
- Turbine lubricants
- Greases
- Refrigeration lubricants
Metalworking fluids
- Metal removing fluids
- Metal forming fluids
- Quenching fluids
BASF’s line of USDA BioPreferred high performance lubricant components can help meet your future sustainable formulation requirements. Contact us for more information and to request a sample.
