Mission

The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative is a network of organizations working together to spur the introduction and use of biomaterials that are sustainable from cradle to cradle. The Collaborative seeks to advance the development and diffusion of sustainable biomaterials by creating sustainability guidelines, engaging markets, and promoting policy initiatives.

Who We Are

The Collaborative works with a wide range of stakeholders including green product businesses, social investment firms, recycling professionals, and academics, along with advocates focused on environmental health, environmental justice, or rural communities. Indeed, the Collaborative is unique in that it brings together diverse groups and issues across the lifecycle of biomaterials: sustainable agriculture and rural development in the growing of crops; clean production and green chemistry in the manufacture and use of biomaterials; and recycling, composting, and zero waste at the end of product life. Together we are defining the lifecycle properties of sustainable biomaterials and working with businesses to develop and use these materials.

We define a "biomaterial" as any material made from annually renewable plant matter (as opposed to non-renewable prehistoric plant material, fossil fuels), including agricultural crops and residues, and trees. "Sustainable biomaterials" are those that are (1) sourced from sustainably grown and harvested cropland or forests, (2) manufactured without hazardous inputs and impacts, (3) healthy and safe for the environment during use, and (4) designed to be reutilized at the end of their intended use such as via recycling or composting.

Our Core Principles

The Collaborative endorses the following core principles:

  • Reduce the amount of material, product and packaging used;
  • Eliminate single-use products that can be neither recycled or composted;
  • Avoid fossil-fuel-based materials in favor of materials and products derived from renewable feedstocks;
  • Address sustainability across the life cycle of the material: the growing of the feedstock, manufacturing of the biomaterial and final product, using the product and reclaiming the material at the end of its original use;
  • Define sustainability to include issues of environment, health, and social and economic justice;
  • Design and use products that are reusable, recyclable or compostable;
  • Encourage agricultural systems that are sustainable for farmers, the environment, farm workers and communities;
  • Support small- to mid-sized family owned and operated farms;
  • Do not use genetically modified organisms in agricultural feedstock production;
  • Use chemicals that meet the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry;
  • Avoid engineered nanomaterials and chemicals that have not been tested for environmental and public health effects across the lifecycle; and Decentralize production and buy local to reduce the environmental footprint of production, transportation, and consumption.

Background and Structure

The Collaborative grew out of a stakeholders meeting in Minneapolis, April 2006, "Biopolymers Strategy Meeting: Criteria and Markets for Sustainability". The meeting was organized by the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy, Clean Production Action, and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. Representatives from 44 organizations participated. Following the event, a coalition of these groups crafted sustainable purchasing guidelines for bioplastics and continued to dialogue via a new listserv and periodic conference calls. The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative grew out of that coalition, and agreed to focus in 2007 on establishing a web site, launching the guidelines, and seeking companies and others to adopt the guidelines.

The Collaborative is now composed of the following. It is led by two co-coordinators and a staff coordinator:

For more information or to contact the SBC:
Heeral Bhalala,
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
2001 S St NW, Ste 570
Washington, DC 20009
E-Mail: hbhalala@ilsr.org
Tel. (202) 898 - 1610

Partners

As You Sow | Center for Health, Environment and Justice | Clean Production Action | Green Harvest Technologies | Health Care Without Harm | Healthy Building Network | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy | Institute for Local Self-Reliance | Lowell Center for Sustainable Production | Sustainable Research Group | Pure Strategies | RecycleWorld Consulting | Seventh Generation, Inc. | National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture