Blog post by: Karun Tyagi

Biobased chemicals are those obtained from renewable biological resources such as plants, animals, or microbes. Biobased chemicals, as opposed to traditional chemicals obtained from fossil fuels, provide a more sustainable and environmentally beneficial option. They are distinguished by their capacity to replace or lessen reliance on nonrenewable resources, as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster a circular economy.

Testing the biobased content of biobased chemical formulations is an important step in avoiding greenwashing or making fraudulent claims. Greenwashing is the practise of misrepresenting a product or company as being more ecologically friendly or sustainable than it is. Companies can avoid making false or exaggerated claims regarding the renewable nature of their products by accurately testing and validating the biobased content.

The percentage of renewable or biobased ingredients included in chemical formulations is determined by biobased content testing. Accurate biobased content measurement is critical for sectors who want to promote sustainability, comply with legislation, or give accurate product labelling. This article gives an in-depth look at the science underpinning biobased content testing methods, as well as their dependability and any additional procedures or requirements that may be required in specific industries or applications.Biobased content testing methods, such as radiocarbon analysis, are widely recognized and accepted in various industries and regulatory frameworks. However, it’s important to note that acceptance and requirements may vary depending on specific industries, regions, and applications.

The science behind biobased content testing methods is based on carbon dating and isotopic analysis concepts. These approaches take advantage of carbon isotope discrepancies between biobased (renewable) and fossil-based (non-renewable) materials.

Radiocarbon analysis, which is based on the radioactive decay of carbon-14 (14C), is the most often used method for assessing biobased content. Carbon-14 is a carbon isotope that exists in the atmosphere in a constant ratio to stable carbon isotopes (carbon-12 and carbon-13). Plants, for example, continuously absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and incorporate both stable and radioactive carbon into their tissues.

When a plant or other biobased substance dies, it no longer absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The radioactive carbon-14 in the substance decays at a predictable pace over time, whereas the stable carbon isotopes remain constant. The age of a material can be estimated by analysing the ratio of carbon-14 to stable carbon isotopes in a sample.

The notion of radiocarbon analysis is used in the context of biobased content testing to distinguish between biobased and fossil-based carbon. Because they are produced from old carbon sources that have experienced complete radioactive decay, fossil-based products, such as petroleum-derived compounds, contain no carbon-14. Biobased materials, on the other hand, contain detectable amounts of carbon-14 due to their recent assimilation of atmospheric carbon.

Additional Procedures and Requirements:

While radiocarbon analysis is commonly used, certain industries or applications may require alternate methodologies or additional requirements to assure accuracy and compliance. The following approaches are frequently used:

1.Elemental Analysis: This technique determines a sample’s elemental composition, which includes carbon, hydrogen, and other elements. The biobased content of a sample can be evaluated by comparing its elemental makeup to that of reference materials. Elemental analysis is frequently used in tandem with isotopic analysis.

2.Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS): IRMS determines the isotopic composition of components in a sample (for example, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen). It provides insights into isotope ratios such as carbon-12 to carbon-13, assisting in the measurement of biobased content by comparison with reference materials.

3.Source-Specific Carbon Isotope Analysis: When a formulation incorporates various biobased sources, source-specific carbon isotope analysis is used to distinguish and quantify each source’s contribution.

4.Supply Chain Verification and Traceability: Certain businesses require traceability and verification of biobased content across the supply chain. Documentation, certificates, or third-party audits are frequently used to ensure sustainable sourcing and validity.

5.Certification Programmes: Industry-specific certification programmes, such as the USDA BioPreferred programme, may require biobased content testing to adhere to certain requirements. To achieve compliance, these programmes develop rules and verification mechanisms.

It is critical to test the biobased content of a biobased chemical formulation for various reasons:

Product Verification: Biobased content testing allows manufacturers’ biobased claims to be validated. It assures that the chemical formulation contains the appropriate percentage of renewable or biobased components, providing consumers and stakeholders with transparency and integrity.

Regulatory Compliance: Regulations, standards, or certifications in many places mandate accurate labelling or reporting of biobased content. Testing the biobased content assures compliance with these regulations, eliminating false or misleading claims, and encouraging market fairness.

Sustainability Assessment: Biobased content testing is an important tool for determining the environmental sustainability of chemical formulations. By calculating the percentage of renewable components, the product’s influence on resource depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and total ecological footprint may be assessed. This data is useful for making informed judgements and selecting ecologically friendly options.

Comparison and Benchmarking: Testing the biobased content enables meaningful comparisons between different biobased chemical formulations or between biobased and conventional chemical alternatives. It aids in benchmarking sustainability performance and assists company and consumer decision-making processes.

Transparency in the Supply Chain: Biobased content testing improves supply chain transparency by assuring the traceability and authenticity of biobased goods. It confirms that the renewable resources utilised in the formulation are ethically sourced and supports claims about sustainable sourcing practises.

Research and Development: Biobased content testing is very important in research and development initiatives. It assists scientists and engineers in the formulation and optimisation of biobased products by allowing them to track and quantify the influence of various raw materials or process alterations on the final biobased content.

By conducting rigorous biobased content testing and adhering to industry standards and regulations, companies can demonstrate their commitment to transparency and avoid misleading consumers with false claims. It helps build trust, fosters responsible business practices, and promotes the development and adoption of genuinely sustainable biobased products.