HALEY GERSHON1*, KAYLA MESSIER2, AMY MCGAUGHY2
*Corresponding author
1. Beta Analytic, Miami, USA
2. Greenology Products, LLC, Raleigh, USA

Abstract

Consumer demand for alternatives to conventional household and personal care products has led numerous brands to shift product formulations to develop more environmentally-conscious products. For example, several brands are now focusing on deriving products from biomass-based, also known as biobased, ingredients rather than petrochemical-derived sources. This article focuses on a case study to highlight the use of carbon-14 testing as an analytical method to determine the percentage of a product that is composed of biobased carbon content. By submitting product samples for carbon-14 analysis, companies can submit eligible products for biobased certifications and eco-labels, including certification under the USDA’s BioPreferred® Program.

INTRODUCTION
In recent years, consumers have been paying more attention to not only the ingredients in the products they use, but also where those ingredients come from, and what the impact may be on both the consumer and the environment’s health and well being. Rising concern from both consumers as well as various state and federal initiatives regarding materials derived from petroleum feedstocks has caused a major shift in various consumer product markets; two in particular include the home care and personal care markets (1). With consumers seeking out “better-for-you” alternatives to their daily household and personal care products, various national brands have been shifting their focus to formulate and develop more environmentally-conscious products. This not only includes opting for recyclable or compostable packaging over the usual petroleum-based options, but also reducing the overall complexity and impact of the product formulation itself, and paying more attention to where these ingredients are derived from, such as from biomass versus petrochemical-derived sources.

HOW TO VERIFY BIOBASED INGREDIENTS< ...