Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. has earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product label. The product, Acetic Acid Glacial, is now able to 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, an initiative created by the 2002 Farm Bill (and most recently expanded by the 2014 Farm Bill). One of the goals of the BioPreferred Program is to increase the development, purchase and use of biobased products. 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, through petroleum displacement, have played an increasingly important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that exacerbate global climate change. Biobased products are cost-comparative, readily available, and perform as well as or better than their conventional counterparts.
Samir Somaiya, Chairman and Managing Director, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. said, “We have always believed that renewable resources can meaningfully supplement the needs of our planet and help achieve a sustainable future, so necessary for the generations to come after us. Godavari Biorefineries has pioneered the use of agricultural feedstock to make foods, energy, chemicals and biomaterials. We are proud to add acetic acid, made from renewable resources to our portfolio.”
"We applaud Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. for earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product label," said Kate Lewis, USDA BioPreferred Program. "Products from Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. are contributing to an ever expanding marketplace that adds value to renewable agriculture commodities, creates jobs in rural communities, and decreases our reliance on petroleum." According to a report that USDA released in 2016, biobased products contributed $393 billion to the U.S. economy in 2014 and support, directly and indirectly, 4.2 million jobs. In this report, the research team estimate petroleum displacement of up to 6.8 million barrels in 2014. The increased production of renewable chemicals and biobased products contributes to the development and expansion of the U.S. bioeconomy - where society looks to agriculture for sustainable sources of fuel, energy, chemicals, and products.
To learn more about the USDA Certified Biobased Product label please visit www.biopreferred.gov and follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BioPreferred
Contact:
Godavari Biorefineries Ltd.
Mr. Shirish Paranjpe
91-22-61702100
paranjpe.shirish@somaiya.com
USDA BioPreferred ® Program
Vernell Thompson
202.720.4145
Vernell.Thompson@dm.usda.gov
