Biobased SolutionsFOR GOVERNMENT

UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD
SPRING 2014
Biobased Solutions FOR GOVERNMENT
Go to www.soybiobased.org to sign up for the electronic version of this newsletter
and to see profiles of how biobased products are successfully used across America.
‘Much Less Flammable, Less Toxic, Superior Performance…’
EPA Award Goes to Soy-Biobased
Transformer Fluid
he U.S. Environmental
coolant and insulator in
Protection Agency (EPA)
high-voltage
electrical
recognized Cargill with a
transformers. In making
2013 Presidential Green
the December 2013 awards
Chemistry Challenge Award
announcement, EPA recogfor its technological innovanized Cargill “for developA U.S. EPA Program
tion
in
developing
ing a vegetable oil-based
Envirotemp™ FR3™ (http://www.envitransformer fluid that is much less flamrotempfluids.com) - a soybean oil-based
mable, less toxic, provides superior pertransformer fluid. The United Soybean
formance compared to mineral oil-based
Board (USB) supported early research on
fluids and has a lower carbon footprint.”
the product, which is widely used as a
T
John Motter
DEAR READER
Someone new to all the uses
and benefits of U.S. soybeans
recently referred to my crop as
“Busy Beans.”
As a family farmer from Ohio, I see
firsthand how “busy” soybeans get.
They harvest energy from the sun to
capture carbon from the atmosphere. And that's just the beginning!
Each year, we grow these abundant
beans as a renewable source for
food, fuels, and biobased products
like the ones featured in this
newsletter.
Continued on page 2
Visit our Website!
www.soybiobased.org
Continued on page 3
DC Workers Breathe
Better with Biobased
eadaches and nasal irritation were a common
complaint among fleet maintenance staff at
the District of Columbia’s Water and Sewer
Authority (DC Water) after employees used adhesive
removers and other harsh chemicals.
H
That’s why they were pleased to learn about a soybiobased alternative that not only got the job done
well, but did it without the adverse side effects. USB
partnered with the Greater Washington Region
Clean Cities Coalition to introduce soy-biobased
products to DC Water through pilot projects.
“The adhesive remover we had been using can
make you sick if you get downwind of it,” said
Anthony Lancaster, fleet maintenance supervisor for
Continued on page 4
The United Soybean Board partnered
with the Greater Washington Region
Clean Cities Coalition to introduce
soy-biobased products to DC Water
through pilot projects.
DEAR READER
Continued from page 1
The United Soybean Board (USB) produced
this Biobased Solutions for Government as
well as a new video to help share those benefits with you, our customers. Go to
www.soybiobased.org to view the video.
Find out about the biobased choices we can
all make to reduce America’s dependence
on petroleum and foreign oil. Biobased
products can decrease harmful chemicals in
our workplaces and homes as well as the
general environment.
At USB, we realize that many Americans
never have a chance to step foot on a farm.
Therefore, we are part of the U.S. Farmers
and Ranchers Alliance effort to share a new
documentary “Farmland.” Directed by
award-winning filmmaker James Moll,
“Farmland” takes you across America to
meet the nation’s newest generation of
farmers and ranchers. You can see more
details www.farmlandfilm.com
USB is also excited to assist the next generation of biobased innovators through the
Collegiate Biobased Network (CBN)
www.soybiobased.org/CBN/, a program we
launched to inform college and university
students about opportunities with biobased
products. CBN connects students with
industry leaders, fellow interested students
as well as farmers.
When you read our newsletter article about
the work of Ford interns Peter Rohweder
and Alper Kiziltas, I think you will see why
America’s biobased future is brighter than ever.
— John Motter
United Soybean Board
Customer Focus Action Team Chair
John grows soybeans
and corn in Jenera, Ohio
Cargill and EPA representatives at the Green Chemistry Awards ceremony. From left:
Cargill Senior Chemist Kevin Rapp, Principal Chemist Charles Tanger, and Cargill
Industrial Specialties President Kurtis Miller, EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office
of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Jim Jones, Cargill Corporate Vice President
Research and Development Chris Mullet, and Global Technology Manager Patrick
McShane.
EPA Award Goes to Soy-Biobased
Transformer Fluid
Continued from page 1
EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention Jim Jones said, “EPA is recognizing groundbreaking scientific solutions to real-world environmental problems that improve
the bottom line for America’s manufacturing sector. These revolutionary technologies have great potential to make consumer products from adhesives to paints safer for us to use, as well as safer and
less costly to manufacture by reducing hazardous wastes, energy,
and water wastes.”
The prestigious annual awards recognize the development of new
technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into
the design, manufacture, and use of chemicals. They cover five different focus areas. Cargill’s 2013 award came in the Design of
Greener Chemicals focus area.
In 2007, the EPA honored Cargill for its BiOH™ brand polyols, the
first commercially successful soy-biobased polyols used in
polyurethane foam cushioning. In 2011, Sherwin-Williams won the
award and USB was recognized for its partnership in the development of an innovative new paint formulation that utilizes soybean oil
and recycled plastic bottles (PET) and reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 60 percent.
Go to www.soybiobased.org
for more about these award-winning products
2
Ford Interns
Drive Sustainability
any college students spend their summers working
at restaurants, lifeguarding or babysitting to make a
little extra money before heading back to school. For two
interns at Ford Motor Company, their summer jobs helped
drive sustainable automobiles to the next level.
M
Peter Rohweder, a sophomore at the College of Wooster
in Ohio and Alper Kiziltas, a Ph.D. candidate at the
University of Maine, spent 2013 focusing on how to
expand the use of soy in Ford vehicles.
Rohweder spent the summer of 2013 working as an
intern in the Elastomers Group at Ford. His research
focused on using soy oil as a replacement for petroleum
oil in stock rubber, typically used for applications such as
windshield wipers, weather stripping, hosing and other
automotive seals.
The chemistry major sees a natural connection between
Ford Motor Company and soy.
“It’s part of who they are as a company, dating back to
Henry Ford’s vision of using soy in cars,” Rohweder said.
“Ford Motor Company has been extremely innovative in
looking for new ways to use renewable materials like soy
in its vehicles.”
Kiziltas completed his soy research as a Ph.D. student
Peter Rohweder, a sophomore at the College of Wooster, worked
as an intern at Ford Motor Company where he conducted
research focused on using soy oil as a replacement for petroleum
oil in stock rubber.
under the supervision of Ford’s Team Leader of Plastics
Research Ellen Lee. While there, he looked at ways to
extend the use of soy in polyurethane flexible foams.
Ford currently uses soy-based polyurethane foams in
seat cushions and seat backs in all vehicles produced in
North America. USB funding supported joint research
with Ford that led to commercialization of the foam. The
technology has successfully migrated to other automotive applications, and now efforts are underway to
increase the content of soy-based polyol in the foam formulations.
“By using soy-based materials, Ford is able to lessen its
environmental impact, reduce dependence of fossil fuels,
and cut CO2 emissions,” Kiziltas said.
For the full-time scientists in the lab, the summer interns
are a welcome addition.
“The college students really bring a fresh perspective and
creative ideas to the research program,” said Technical
Leader for Ford’s Elastomers Research Cynthia Flanigan.
“This is a great opportunity to expand our portfolio of sustainable materials and to investigate different types of
soy-based materials for automotive rubber compounds.”
Who knows; the next great breakthrough may be just a
summer internship away.
Alper Kiziltas, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine, also
interned at Ford where he looked at ways to extend the use of soy in
polyurethane flexible foams.
To read more about these students and
USB’s Collegiate Biobased Network,
visit: www.soybiobased.org/CBN/
3
DC Workers Breathe Better with Biobased
Continued from page 1
DC Water. “The soy-based alternative
is not only a green product, but it
doesn’t cause headaches or nasal
irritation. And, it did a great job
removing decals from our vehicles.”
they tried through a USB pilot project,
including:
Similarly The DC Department of
Public
Works
(DPW)
Fleet
Management Division reported success with the soy-biobased products
– Soy Scrub Hand Cleaner
from Franmar Chemical
– Bio-General Purpose™
Cleaner/Degreaser from
Renewable Lubricants, and
– Bio-Penetrating Lubricant,
from Renewable Lubricants
“Overall the products performed very
well, and had no offensive odor,” said
DPW Fleet Management Fuel
Management Officer Ryan Frasier.
“We like the fact they are more environmentally friendly and safer to use
than many of the harsh chemicals that
we were using. Our staff loves the
hand cleaner and finds the grit really
helps remove dirt and grease, and
wipes clean.”
To read more about the DC government’s success with biobased, visit www.soybiobased.org/news-and-updates/
DC Water employees report that the soy-based
hydraulic fluid worked very well in their vac-cons –
the large trucks used to clean out the sewer system –
as well as skimmer boats used to pick-up debris
from the Anacostia River.
DC Water tried a range of
biobased products including:
– SoyGrease™ Extreme Pressure
(EP) Plus #2 Grease from Soy Clean
– Enviro Logic 132 Hydraulic Fluid
from Terresolve
– Soy Scrub Hand Cleaner from
Franmar Chemical
– Ickee Stickee Unstuck Adhesive
Remover from Franmar Chemical
– Bio-Orange Cleaner from
Renewable Lubricants, and
– Envirologic 440 Two-Cycle Engine
Oil from Terresolve
4
New York Citywide Administrative
Services Assistant Commissioner
Robert Cleary makes a point about
New York’s procurement system to
attendees at the USB Biobased
Stakeholders’ Workshop. Right to
left: New York State Office of General
Services Director of the Central
Contracting Group Don Green;
Cleary; Medford Township Public
Schools Director of Operations and
Technology Joe Biluck; Port
Authority of New York and New
Jersey Manager of the Department
of Procurement Larry Waxman,
and USB consultant and session
moderator Karen Coble Edwards.
New York region federal employees shared perspective on biobased products as well as
results with them at Department of Energy facilities. From left, USB consultant and session
moderator Sueanne Pfifferling; Judy-Ann Mitchell, Branch Chief of the Sustainability and
Multimedia Programs Branch, Clean Air and Sustainability Division, EPA Region II; Peter
Pohlot, Pollution Prevention Coordinator, Brookhaven National Laboratory; and Keith Rule,
Senior Project Engineer, Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory.
USB Biobased Stakeholders’
Workshop Connects in New York
ew York regional stakeholders
learned about the myriad
opportunities for soy-biobased products to bring sustainability and energy security benefits to their operations during the United Soybean
Board’s (USB) annual Biobased
Products Stakeholders’ Workshop.
USB held “Country & City Connect
for Sustainability: Bringing the
Benefits of Biobased to the New York
Region” in Manhattan in September
2013.
N
The workshop highlighted a number
of biobased successes in New York
City, which is also a national leader in
the use of biodiesel and Bioheat®.
Soy-backing is in the turf on rooftops
like the Old New York Times office
building, Battery Park and other
sports fields, as well as carpet at
New York’s first LEED-Gold certified
restaurant. A New York City Barnes &
Noble boasts wood ceilings made
U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy
Secretary Krysta Harden described the
federal government’s commitment to
advancing biobased products use and
development across the nation.
with a formaldehyde-free soy-based
adhesive and a white soy-based roof
offers energy benefits to the historic
U.S. Government Services Administration building.
To read more visit www.soybiobased.org/2013-usbbiobased-stakeholders-workshop-registration-page/
5
Biobased Product Categories Designated by USDA
for Federal Procurement Preference
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 97 BioPreferred®
product categories required for preferred federal purchasing. In the process,
minimum biobased content standards are established for each product category.
For more details on the product categories go to www.biopreferred.gov
Item
Minimum Biobased Content
Minimum Biobased Content
Adhesive and Mastic Removers .......................................58%
Dethatchers........................................................................87%
Agricultural Spray Adjuvants..............................................50%
Diesel Fuel Additives .........................................................90%
Animal Cleaning Products .................................................57%
Dishwashing Products .......................................................58%
Animal Repellents ..............................................................79%
Disposable Containers ......................................................72%
Aircraft and Boat Cleaners
Aircraft Cleaners ......................................................48%
Boat Cleaners..........................................................38%
Disposable Cutlery ............................................................48%
Air Fresheners and Deodorizers ........................................97%
Asphalt and Tar Removers.................................................80%
Asphalt Restorers...............................................................68%
Automotive Care Products.................................................75%
Bath Products ....................................................................61%
Bathroom and Spa Cleaners ............................................74%
Bedding, Bed Linens and Towels ......................................12%
Disposable Tableware ........................................................72%
Dust Suppressants.............................................................85%
Electronic Components Cleaners ......................................91%
Engine Crankcase Oil.........................................................25%
Erosion Control Materials...................................................77%
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Foam Recycling Products...90%
Fertilizers ...........................................................................71%
Films
Bioremediation Materials ...................................................86%
Non-Durable Films ..................................................85%
Semi-Durable Films ................................................45%
Blast Media ........................................................................94%
Firearm Lubricants ............................................................49%
Candles and Wax Melts .....................................................88%
Floor Cleaners and Protectors...........................................77%
Carpets ...............................................................................7%
Floor Coverings (non-carpet) .............................................91%
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners
General Purpose Cleaners .....................................54%
Spot Removers..........................................................7%
Floor Strippers ...................................................................78%
Chain and Cable Lubricants .............................................77%
Composite Panels
Acoustical Panels ....................................................37%
Interior Panels..........................................................55%
Plastic Lumber .......................................................23%
Structural Interior Panels.........................................89%
Structural Wall Panels .............................................94%
Countertops and Solid Surface Products ...............89%
Compost Activators and Accelerators...............................95%
Concrete and Asphalt Cleaners .........................................70%
Concrete and Asphalt Release Fluids ..............................87%
Corrosion Preventatives ....................................................53%
Cuts, Burns, and Abrasions Ointments .............................84%
De-Icers - General Purpose ..............................................93%
Deodorants ........................................................................73%
6
Item
Fluid-Filled Transformers
Synthetic Ester-Based.............................................66%
Vegetable Oil-Based................................................95%
Food Cleaners....................................................................53%
Foot Care Products............................................................83%
Forming Lubricants ............................................................68%
Fuel Conditioners ...............................................................64%
Furniture Cleaners and Protectors.....................................71%
Gasoline Fuel Additives .....................................................92%
Gear Lubricants ................................................................58%
General Purpose Household Cleaners ..............................39%
Glass Cleaners ..................................................................49%
Graffiti and Grease Removers............................................34%
Greases
Food Grade .............................................................42%
Multipurpose............................................................72%
Rail Track .................................................................30%
Truck ........................................................................71%
Not Elsewhere Specified .........................................75%
Item
Minimum Biobased Content
Hair Care Products
Conditioners ............................................................78%
Shampoos ...............................................................66%
Hand Cleaners and Sanitizers
Hand Cleaners.........................................................64%
Hand Sanitizers ......................................................73%
Item
Minimum Biobased Content
Microbial Cleaning Products
Drain Maintenance Products...................................45%
General Cleaners .....................................................50%
Wastewater Maintenance Products ........................44%
Mulch and Compost Materials...........................................95%
Multipurpose Cleaners ......................................................56%
Heat Transfer Fluids ...........................................................89%
Multipurpose Lubricants ....................................................88%
Hydraulic Fluids - Mobile Equipment ...............................44%
Oven and Grill Cleaners .....................................................66%
Hydraulic Fluids - Stationary Equipment ...........................44%
Packing and Insulating Materials .......................................74%
Industrial Cleaners ............................................................41%
Paint Removers..................................................................41%
Inks
Parts Wash Solutions ........................................................65%
Specialty Inks .........................................................66%
Sheetfed - Color ......................................................67%
Sheetfed - Black......................................................49%
Printer Toner - < 25 ppm.........................................34%
Printer Toner - ≥ 25 ppm .........................................20%
News........................................................................32%
Ink Removers and Cleaners...............................................79%
Interior Paints and Coatings
Latex and Waterborne Alkyd ..................................20%
Oil-Based and Solventborne Alkyd .........................67%
Laundry Products
General Purpose......................................................34%
Pretreatment/Spot Removers .................................46%
Penetrating Lubricants ......................................................68%
Plastic Insulating Foam for Residential and
Commercial Construction ............................................7%
Pneumatic Equipment Lubricants......................................67%
Roof Coatings ....................................................................20%
Shaving Products...............................................................92%
Slide Way Lubricants .........................................................74%
Sorbents.............................................................................89%
Specialty Precision Cleaners and Solvents .......................56%
Sun Care Products.............................................................53%
Lip Care Products .............................................................82%
Thermal Shipping Containers
Durable ....................................................................21%
Non-durable.............................................................82%
Lotions and Moisturizers....................................................59%
Topical Pain Relief Products ..............................................91%
Metal Cleaners and Corrosion Removers
Corrosion Removers................................................71%
Other Metal Cleaners ..............................................56%
Stainless Steel .........................................................75%
Turbine Drip Oils ................................................................87%
Leather, Vinyl, and Rubber Care Products ........................55%
Metalworking Fluids
General Purpose .....................................................57%
High Performance ..................................................40%
Straight Oils ............................................................66%
Two-Cycle Engine Oils ......................................................34%
Wastewater Systems Coatings ..........................................47%
Water Clarifying Agents .....................................................92%
Water Tank Coatings .........................................................59%
Water Turbine Bearing Oils ................................................46%
Wood and Concrete Sealers
Membrane Concrete Sealers...................................11%
Penetrating Liquids .................................................79%
Wood and Concrete Stains................................................39%
7
No Travel?
Try
Webinars@Work
Busy schedules and tight travel
budgets can make it tough to
keep current and learn about
sustainable product choices.
USB can organize webinars to
help government workers stay
abreast of biobased options.
Here are a couple of
recent examples:
The Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee (MSPC) partnered
with USB on a webinar “Yes We
Can: How to Purchase and Use
Biobased Products” featuring Toby Rhue, a Michigan-based Forest Service employee
who has used soy-based products. More than 200 participants joined the webinar to
hear real-world examples of switching to biobased products.
To listen to the webinar, visit
www.soybiobased.org/news-and-updates/webinar-say-yes-to-biobased-sum/
Keith Reinholt (left), field operations
director, Michigan Soybean
Promotion Committee, speaks
with W. Toby Rhue, fleet manager,
Huron Manistee and Hiawatha
National Forests. Rhue shared
practical how-to steps on switching
to biobased during a 2013 webinar.
A second webinar, “Converting Biobased Concepts into Commercial Successes”
featured scientists from Ford Motor Company and Universal Textile Technologies
who shared their experiences with commercial applications for biobased technology. USB designed the webinar for members of the Collegiate Biobased Network and
opened it to other interested stakeholders.
To listen to the webinar, visit www.soybiobased.org/news-and-updates/convertingbiobased-concepts-into-commercial-successes-webinar-summary/
America's farms are just beginning to tap their potential as a
source for natural, renewable biobased products that offer benefits to worker health, the environment, America's economy and
energy security. To learn more about the many biobased products made from soybeans, go to www.soybiobased.org.
Because of the potential for biobased products to create new
markets for soybeans, U.S. soybean farmers have invested millions of dollars to research, test and promote biobased products.
Much of this work was done through the United Soybean Board
(USB), which is composed of 70 U.S. soybean farmers appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to invest soybean checkoff funds. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and
Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing
Service has oversight responsibilities for the soybean checkoff.
16305 Swingley Ridge Rd., Ste. 120, Chesterfield, MO 63017
1-888-579-1580 FAX: 314-579-1599 merker@smithbucklin.com
USB Publication Code: 1430-812-8231-032014-2000
This newsletter is provided for information only. The United Soybean Board does not endorse,
promote or make any representations regarding any specific suppliers mentioned herein.