Earthcare, an industry leader in the carbonization of non-wood organic waste streams and biochar production, has announced today that it has earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product Label for its Ecochar™ biochar end-use product.
Ecochar™ is a carbon-activated biochar product derived from the carbonization of non-wood organic waste streams using Earthcare’s patented technology which has been deployed in operating facilities worldwide. Through its affiliated entities, the Earthcare team has decades of experience in the research and development, design, sale and deployment of Ecochar™. EcoChar, LLC is a specialty biochar company which works to effectively deploy Ecochar™ in a number of beneficial use applications including agronomic, agricultural and environmental remediation. EcoChar Environmental Solutions, LLC is a leading provider of commercial scale decarbonization, “green carbon” cutting-edge technologies and multi-beneficial environmental services, offering scalable solutions for a variety of soil and water-related pollutant problems.
Earthcare’s Ecochar™ biochar end-use product, which has been certified as 99% biobased, has an array of beneficial use applications including as a soil amendment to increase soil health, water and nutrient retention; in animal bedding for moisture and ammonia reduction as well as odor control; as a stormwater treatment media; in soil remediation to capture metals and other contaminants; as an amendment in concrete to improve durability and to sequester carbon; and in other carbon capture and sequestration applications.
Ecochar™ can now display a unique USDA label that highlights its percentage of biobased content. Third-party verification for a product’s biobased content is administered through the USDA BioPreferred® Program, which strives to increase the development, purchase, and use of biobased products.
Biobased products help address climate change by offering renewable alternatives to petroleum-based products; sequester carbon dioxide, lowering the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere that contribute to climate change; create and expand markets; are generally safer for people and the environment than their petroleum-based counterparts; and represent incredible technological advances and innovations.
The USDA Certified Biobased Product Label displays a product’s biobased content, which is the portion of a product that comes from a renewable source, such as plant, animal, marine, or forestry feedstocks. Utilizing renewable biobased materials displaces the need for non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals. Biobased products are cost-comparative, readily available, and perform as well as or better than their conventional counterparts.
Earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label for Ecochar™ is a significant milestone for Earthcare. This label not only verifies the renewable and sustainable nature of our biochar but also provides consumers with clear and trustworthy information about its sources and benefits. By displaying the USDA label, we are helping customers make informed decisions and ensure they understand the value of choosing Ecochar™,” explains Michael McGolden, President & CEO of Earthcare.
“We applaud Earthcare for earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label,” said Vernell Thompson with the USDA BioPreferred Program. “The label is intended to help spur economic development, create new jobs, and provide new markets for farm commodities. But the label also makes it easier for consumers and federal buyers to locate biobased products and consider planet-friendlier options during purchase decisions. By having their products become USDA Certified Biobased, Earthcare joins an expanding list of businesses combatting inaccurate marketing claims and the practice of greenwashing, while also contributing to a thriving bioeconomy that decreases our reliance on petroleum.”
In the latest Economic Impact Report released by USDA, the biobased products industry supported 4.6 million American jobs; contributed $470 billion to the U.S. economy and generated 2.79 jobs in other sectors of the economy for every biobased job. Biobased products also have a substantial environmental impact, displacing about 9.4 million barrels of oil a year, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year.
About the USDA BioPreferred Program
With the goal of increasing the development, purchase, and use of biobased products, USDA’s BioPreferred® Program was first introduced in the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized in 2018. It requires federal agencies and contractors to give purchasing preference to biobased products. The USDA BioPreferred Program also includes a voluntary certification and labeling initiative for biobased products. This is referred to as the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label. More than 1,800 companies across the U.S. and in 47 countries participate in the Program. From farm and field all the way through the manufacturing process, the expanding market for biobased products creates jobs, supports rural economic growth in America, and has a positive impact on our planet. Have questions? Please contact: Vernell Thompson, USDA BioPreferred Program at Vernell.Thompson@usda.gov.