AWSB's Natural Soaps & Balms Added to USDA's BioPreferred Online Catalog

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) BioPreferred program recently added A Wild Soap Bar's natural soaps and body balms to its online product catalog. With its searchable and user-friendly database, anyone can use the online catalog to find biobased products that meet BioPreferred program requirements.

BioPreferred is a Federal program that seeks to increase the purchase and use of biobased goods — products made from biological or renewable materials.  “Initially, the catalog was created to help Federal procurement officers identify biobased products that qualify for preferred purchasing,” said Ron Buckhalt, BioPreferred’s program manager. “But the BioPreferred online catalog is accessible to anyone who wants to search for biobased products. We are gratified so many find the catalog a useful tool.”

BioPreferred’s online product catalog is searchable by product category and further by subcategory, manufacturer name or product name. Today, more than 1480 biobased products manufactured by more than 320 companies are in the online catalog, with new products continually being added.   A Wild Soap Bar is listed in the Personal Care & Toiletries category under the Hand Cleaners & Sanitizers and Lip Care subcategories.

BioPreferred estimates more than 19,000 biobased products are commercially available, and manufactured by more than 2,540 businesses, both large and small— including many in rural communities. The 2002 Farm Bill, then reauthorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, requires all Federal agencies to give procurement preference to BioPreferred designated items, helping biobased manufacturers gain a portion of the estimated $500 billion Federal agencies annually spend on products and services. Additional product development support for biobased manufacturers and Federal environmental purchasing mandates came in October 2009 with Executive Order 13514: Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance. This Administration directive requires Federal agencies to purchase various “green” items (including BioPreferred products) in 95 percent of all applicable contracts. 


Personally, I think this is a mixed blessing. Of course I want to support eco-friendly biobased companies, but at the same time I don't want the federal government telling me I have to buy this product or that one.  So how do you feel about this BioPreferred program?