Introduction

In recent years, biobased products have re-emerged as an alternative to conventional fossil-fuel-based products, considerably in the food service ware sector. Biobased products are made, in whole or in part, from renewable materials, such as corn, potatoes, sugar cane waste, and perennial grasses. Though not new to the market, paper and other products made from renewable forestry materials are also biobased. The renewability of agricultural and forestry resources is a significant environmental attribute. However, biobased content alone is not an adequate measure of sustainability. Like any other products, biobased products can have environmental and health impacts throughout their life cycle, from production and use to discarding after use. The environmental footprint of biobased products depends on the methods used to produce and harvest the renewable materials, the toxicity and persistence of the chemical additives or other modifiers used, the recovery systems available for discarded products, and many other factors. For these reasons, it is important to choose biobased products carefully.

The BioSpecs for Food Service Ware outline sustainability criteria and recognition levels for food service ware made from compostable biobased materials. They provide a framework to assess the sustainability of these products during three stages of their life cycle: (1) biomass production, (2) manufacturing, and (3) end of product life. Recognizing the many challenges to sustainability across a product’s life cycle, the developers of the BioSpecs designed a three-tiered rating system – Bronze, Silver, and Gold – to reward continued improvement. A companion document, Conformance Guide: BioSpecs for Compostable Biobased Food Service Ware, details how a manufacturer can access conformance to each criterion. The BioSpecs reflect the current collective wisdom of a wide range of organizations and businesses that are addressing the potential benefits and challenges of biomaterials. The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative (SBC), a project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, developed these criteria in close coordination with the Business-NGO Working Group for Safer Chemicals and Sustainable Materials. The BioSpecs are informed by an extensive market survey, conducted in 2008 by the Business-NGO Working Group and Health Care Without Harm, of 45 biobased food service products representing 22 manufacturers.

Scope and Purpose

These specifications focus on compostable and biobased food service ware. Biobased food service ware have proliferated in recent years and represents an important product category for promoting the transition from fossil-fuel-based products to products made from sustainably grown biomass and produced in a manner that reflects the highest occupational and environmental health standards and practices. By outlining sustainability criteria for biobased food service ware, these specifications will enable manufacturers to more fully evaluate the environmental and health implications of the products they make and will encourage the development and use of sustainable biobased products.

These specifications are not intended to evaluate the full range of food service ware, such as durable ceramic plates or metal cutlery. They are applicable only within the biobased product category. Indeed, durable, reusable food service ware is environmentally preferable to single-use biobased products and should be considered as a first option.

The sustainability criteria presented in these specifications provide a threshold for the recognition and promotion of a biobased product as sustainable. The scope of the criteria includes the major stages of a product’s life cycle: (1) biomass production, (2) manufacturing, and (3) end of product life. Purchasing decisions can influence the life cycle. For example, transportation is not addressed as a separate item in the life cycle, but encouraging the use of locally grown and produced materials and products affect the product’s life cycle. Compliance with these criteria enables a product to gain positive recognition in the green market economy. Three progressively higher levels of recognition – Bronze, Silver, and Gold – distinguish among products and encourage higher levels of environmental performance.

Food service ware that meet baseline sustainability criteria are recognized at the Bronze level. To achieve Silver level, the product must meet the criteria of both Bronze and Silver. To reach Gold, products must meet a minimum of five Gold criteria, in addition to all the Bronze and Silver criteria. Only a few products may reach this level of excellence. Those that do, may benefit significantly from this unique designation in the green market economy.

How to Use These Specifications:

Manufacturers of biobased products can use these BioSpecs as a road map for improving the sustainability of their products. Refer to our voluntary process and companion report, Conformance Guide: BioSpecs for Compostable Biobased Food Service Ware, on how to assess product conformance with each criterion. Third party certifications may exist for some of the individual criteria, such as product compostability. In other cases, such as biobased product content, standards and reputable testing labs may be readily available. For other criteria, such as ensuring that products are free of toxic additives, validation may be more challenging.

Any purchaser of biobased food service products can also use these specifications to guide purchasing but may prefer to use the SBC’s purchasing specifications. Buyers should ask their suppliers for data on each criterion along with supporting documentation.

Comments and Early Adopters of BioSpecs:

The public comment period for the first version of the BioSpecs for Food Service Ware lasted from September 30, 2009 to April 16, 2010. Over 70 comments were submitted. All comments were considered and addressed as needed by the BioSpecs Technical Advisory Committee, which was created specifically for this task. The BioSpecs have been updated based on the public comments received and will be further revised as the industry and market evolve. A summary of comments received and how each was addressed along with future revisions of the BioSpecs are posted at www.SustainableBiomaterials.org.

In addition, we are currently seeking buyers and manufacturers to beta test these specifications. Those interested should contact the SBC Coordinator at sbc@ilsr.org.