USDA Certifies Ecospan's BioFlow(TM) Material as BioPreferred

GREENBRAE, CA--(Marketwire - Jan 10, 2012) - Ecospan, LLC, a materials science research, development, and manufacturing company focused on bio-based plastics, has announced certification of its BioFlow brand resins by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as being 94% Biobased within the agency's BioPreferred program.

"Products must be at least 25% biobased in order to be certified for this program," notes Greg Hoffman, Chairman and CEO. "Ecospan is delighted to have received a designation of 94%. Our BioFlow™ based products will now be able to carry BioPreferred labeling."

Authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill), BioPreferred was expanded by a voluntary label for biobased products and a program to establish a preferred Federal purchasing program for biobased products. The USDA is the lead agency for the BioPreferred program. Under it, products are considered biobased if they are composed wholly or significantly of biological ingredients -- renewable plant, animal, marine, or forestry materials. Goals include spurring the development of the biobased industrial base, enhancing US energy security, and reducing environmental impact.

Applicants are required to submit ASTM D6866 test results as evidence of the product's biobased content and documentation of the test lab's ISO 9001 conformance. The product's brand names, contact information, and web URL must also be supplied to the USDA. ASTM D6866 is an industrial application of radiocarbon dating, it has many applications in various industries, and it can be used to analyze solid, liquid, or gas samples.

Through six rounds of published regulations, the USDA has designated 50 biobased product categories representing more than 5,100 individual products on the market at this time. In 2012, at least 14 more categories are expected to be added. More detailed program information and additional resources are available at www.biopreferred.gov.

Ecospan is a material science design, development, and manufacturing company producing durable goods made from bio-based plastics. Ecospan's proprietary blends are the basis for its brand BioFlow^™ and are the result of many years of research and development. BioFlow^™ materials are 100% petroleum-free. Ecospan's products are processed on existing, traditional plastic manufacturing equipment with minor modifications. Ecospan understands the demanding specifications for plastic products across all traditional processes, including compounding, calendaring, thermoforming, injection molding, T-die extrusion, and film blowing.

For more information, contact: Ecospan, 753 Springdale Drive, Exton, Pa 19341, www.ecospan.com, sburns@ecospan.com, 484-870-6350.