Soy-stainable: sustainable products

Biobased products are in use in all areas of our lives and range from soy ink to soy-based insulation and cleaners.

Biobased products are derived from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. They provide an alternative to conventional petroleum-derived products. Biobased products include diverse categories such as lubricants, detergents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics. Biobased products do not include food, feed, or fuel. (biopreferred.gov)

The FDA does not require any products to be labeled as a biobased product, but they are developing guidelines for voluntary labeling. Many marketing groups have found that when they label their products as biobased, they see a rise in consumer demand.

Some biobased products are more sustainable than others. In the case of candles, for instance, palm oil candles are biobased, but the number of palm oil plantations using sustainable practices is under 20%, according to the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil.