UTT News...

BioCel^TM and EnviroCel^TM Qualify Under Expanded USDA Preferred Providers Program
June 2008

Recent rulings from the United States Department of Agriculture qualify high-performance BioCel™ and EnviroCel™ polyurethane carpet backing systems for Federal purchasing preference as designated biobased items under the USDA's BioPreferred^SM program.

The BioPreferred program was established as part of the 2002 Farm Bill. It requires Federal agencies to purchase biobased products over their petroleum-based counterparts, as long as the biobased materials are reasonably available, reasonably priced, and comparable in performance. In May, 27 new product categories were announced, adding to the six categories already approved. BioCel and EnviroCel qualify in the carpet category because they replace large percentages of the petroleum-based components in their polyurethane chemistry with Agrol® polyols made from soybean plants. The two backing systems also contain Celceram®, a recovered pre-consumer mineral compound that adds to the products' environmental and performance benefits.

"I am gratified that the Federal government, the country's largest single consumer, is supporting the diverse community of biobased products, and rewarding innovation and environmental initiative on the part of the manufacturers." said Universal Textile Technologies president Tom Peeples.

Life cycle assessments funded by the National Soybean Board and performed according to ISO 14040 guidelines prove conclusively that the manufacture and use of soy-based polyols results in a significantly smaller environmental footprint compared to petroleum-based materials. Benefits were demonstrated in the areas of global warming, fossil fuel depletion, smog formation, and several other issues of environmental impact.