Origin Materials Inc., a carbon-negative materials firm located in the United States, has been awarded the USDA Certified Biobased Product label. Chloromethyl furfural (CMF) and hydrothermal carbon (HTC) products that meet or exceed the minimum biobased content criteria will have a USDA label with the percentage of biobased content highlighted.

The USDA BioPreferred Program, which aims to encourage the development, purchase, and usage of biobased products, provides third-party verification of a product's biobased composition.

The USDA Certified Biobased Product label shows a product's biobased content, how much of a product originates from a renewable source, such as plant, marine, animal, or forestry feedstocks. Non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals are replaced by using renewable, biobased resources.

The company said in a media release that Origin's CMF and HTC are eligible for mandatory federal purchasing since they meet or exceed the USDA's minimum biobased content criteria for one or more product categories.

Biobased products have become more significant in lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that worsen global climate change by displacing petroleum. Biobased products are comparable in price to conventional products, are widely available, and perform as well as or better than their conventional equivalents.

Rich Riley, co-CEO of Origin Materials, said that earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product label is a significant step in their mission to transition the world to sustainable, carbon-negative materials. With this third-party certification of their cost-advantaged platform materials, CMF and HTC, Origin becomes a preferred supplier of biobased materials to the US government.

USDA BioPreferred Program Director, Vernell Thompson, said that they congratulate Origin Materials for receiving the USDA Certified Biobased Product designation. Origin Materials' products will contribute to an ever-expanding economy that adds value to renewable agriculture commodities, generates jobs in rural areas, and reduces their dependency on petroleum.