What is a biobased product?
Find out what biobased products are, what their advantages are, and how manufacturers are integrating them to transform their practices.
At CIRAM, we perform carbon 14 analyses to determine the proportion of biobased carbon in products as part of the OK biobased certification from TÜV AUSTRIA, applied to raw materials, intermediates, and finished products derived from renewable resources.
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The OK biobased certification from TÜV AUSTRIA is a voluntary system for evaluating and certifying the biobased content of a product.
It is based on carbon-14 analysis, which distinguishes carbon from renewable resources (recent biomass) from carbon from fossil resources. This method thus reliably determines the percentage of biobased carbon in a material.
The certification applies to products containing raw materials of natural origin such as starch, cellulose, or biobased polymers.
The classification is based on a system of 1 to 4 stars, directly linked to the measured biobased carbon percentage:
This system allows for a simple, comparative, and immediately understandable reading of a product's biobased level.
For a global overview of the main European labels for bioplastics and biopolymers, you can consult our dedicated article: Bioplastics and biopolymers: which labels in Europe?.
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The OK biobased certification applies to a wide range of products derived from biobased materials or natural polymers…, including:
It is used in the following processes:
It allows manufacturers to have an objective and standardized measurement of the biobased content, independent of supplier declarations.
Explore the areas of applicationAt CIRAM, we carry out the analyses necessary for OK biobased certification within a rigorous analytical framework, adapted to biobased materials and industrial requirements.
Our approach is based on carbon-14 dating to ensure reliable, comparable, and actionable results for certification processes.
We bring you :
No, this is a voluntary certification system based on measuring the biobased content.
Raw materials, intermediates, and finished products derived from biobased materials. Fuels are excluded.
No, it only measures the biobased content, with no link to biodegradability.
By carbon-14 dating in accordance with standard NF EN 16640.
No, CIRAM only conducts the scientific analyses used for certification purposes.
Find out what biobased products are, what their advantages are, and how manufacturers are integrating them to transform their practices.
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