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Bio-based Products
Let’s work together
If you are looking to reduce reliance on fossil feedstocks, increase renewable content, or explore bio-based drop-in alternatives, our teams can help. We work with suppliers to understand bio-based content and feedstocks, then translate that into practical choices for your formulation or application.
Why do bio-based products matter?
Bio-based products are created from plants, animals, or microbes. For many customers, this is one way to increase renewable carbon in products, reduce reliance on fossil feedstocks, support climate and circularity strategies, and explore innovation opportunities across multiple industries.
At the same time, bio-based does not automatically mean “natural” or “low-impact”. Some bio-based materials are heavily processed, and different agricultural routes can have very different footprints.
The Bio-based characteristic is therefore focused on what the material is made from and how much of it is bio-based, rather than promising a particular overall environmental outcome or carbon footprint. It is a classification we use to help customers screen and compare products and does not create a legal definition or replace regulatory or retailer requirements. Customers remain responsible for evaluating bio-based performance and claims for their own products.
What it means
In the Univar Solutions Sustainable & Natural Product (SNP) framework, a product is considered bio-based when it:
- Contains at least 25% bio-based feedstocks by mass
- Uses biological sources such as plants, fungi, animals, or microbes
- Can involve any type of chemistry or processing, including chemical modification
The 25% threshold provides a practical cut-off for including bio-based content in the framework and references content levels used in the USDA BioPreferred programme’s voluntary labelling initiative.
This characteristic focuses on feedstock origin and content. It does not, by itself, indicate that a product is “low carbon”, “better for the environment”, or suitable for any particular ecolabel or marketing claim. Environmental performance depends on the full life cycle of the product and how it is used.
How it works
Bio-based status is determined at the product level using supplier data. We collect the following information:
- Which bio-based feedstocks are used
- The percentage of bio-based content by mass (or the minimum supplier-claimed value)
- How that percentage was determined, for example through mass balance, formulation data, or analytical methods
Where available, we also consider renewable carbon content from C-14 analysis or similar testing such as ASTM D6866, and any Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data that suppliers choose to share relating to bio-based feedstocks or renewable carbon content.
This information is captured in our systems so you can filter and compare alternatives by their bio-based content. Our assessment is based on information provided by suppliers; we do not independently verify all data, methodologies, or calculations. Customers remain responsible for assessing suitability, performance, environmental impacts, and claims for their specific uses.
Criteria and Standards
We consider:
Supporting Documentation
Typical documentation includes:
- Signed supplier statements confirming ≥25% bio-based content and specifying the bio-based feedstock type
- ISCC PLUS or similar certificates indicating bio-based or bio-circular content
- Technical data sheets listing ingredient origin and composition
- Renewable carbon content or index values where measured (for example by ASTM D6866 or other C-14 methods)
- Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) / Life Cycle Assessment reports where they include information on bio-based feedstocks, renewable carbon content, or related product documentation
- Accreditation by USDA Biopreferred, USDA Organic, EU Organic, COSMOS
Let's Work Together
If you are looking to reduce reliance on fossil feedstocks, increase renewable content, or explore bio-based drop-in alternatives, our teams can help. We work with suppliers to understand bio-based content and feedstocks, then translate that information into practical options for your formulation or application, alongside your own technical and regulatory assessments.
Supporting Documentation
Typical documentation includes:
- Signed supplier statements confirming ≥25% bio-based content and specifying the bio-based feedstock type
- ISCC PLUS or similar certificates indicating bio-based or bio-circular content
- Technical data sheets listing ingredient origin and composition
- Renewable carbon content or index values where measured (for example by ASTM D6866 or other C-14 methods)
- Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) / Life Cycle Assessment reports where they include information on bio-based feedstocks, renewable carbon content, or related product documentation
- Accreditation by USDA Biopreferred, USDA Organic, EU Organic, COSMOS
Let's Work Together
If you are looking to reduce reliance on fossil feedstocks, increase renewable content, or explore bio-based drop-in alternatives, our teams can help. We work with suppliers to understand bio-based content and feedstocks, then translate that information into practical options for your formulation or application, alongside your own technical and regulatory assessments.
Explore our Sustainable & Natural product framework
Bio-based is one of the characteristics within the Univar Solutions Sustainable & Natural Product (SNP) framework. Combined with Natural, Carbon Footprinting, Safer Substitutes, Biodegradable and/or Compostable, Circularity, Social Impact Accreditation, and Environmental Accreditation, it helps you build a richer, more nuanced view of product-level sustainability attributes and trade-offs.
Explore our accredited products
Looking for bio-based options in a specific market or formulation category? Browse our SNP-classified bio-based portfolio and see how higher renewable content can support your innovation and sustainability goals, alongside your own performance, regulatory, and labelling assessments for finished products.
NOTICE: All product information is provided in good faith and is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication based on information received from the supplier and secondary databases. However, Univar Solutions is not able to verify whether third-party data is accurate, complete, and up-to-date and assumes no responsibility, obligation, or liability for the information provided. NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SUCH AS THOSE OF MERCHANTABILTIY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED. Customer is solely responsible for determining whether products and/or the information provided are appropriate for Customer’s use, and Customer assumes all risk and liability in acting on the information provided.
Our Suppliers also sign our Supplier Code of Conduct so you can be assured that we are working throughout our supply chain to transparently create our Sustainable & Natural Products Portfolio.
