Plastics derived from fossil fuels are nonrenewable, may leach toxic chemicals, harm marine life, and increase reliance on imported fossil-fuel-based feedstocks.  The developoment of bioplastics and other biobased materials hold great promise to mitigate many of these problems by offering the potential for renewability, biodegradation, and path away from harmful chemicals.They are not, however, an automatic panacea. As the interest in biomaterials grows, concerns regarding sourcing and end-of-life issues surrounding these materials follow, such as food competition, GMOs, and compostibility vs. recyclability.The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative (SBC) has developed tools to help producers, purchasers, and consumers  navigate the maze of biobased materials  entering the marketplace. Its purchasing specifications, for instance, are designed to promote products that are sustainable from cradle to cradle: from field and manufacturing to recovery.In this webinar presentation, Brenda Platt, co-chair of the Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative, will discuss the SBC’s efforts to promote market-based tools such as purchasing guidelines and Working Landscape Certificates, an innovative program that allows buyers of biobased products to support sustainable agricultural practices.

In addition to co-chairing the Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative, Brenda Platt is the co-director of the nonprofit Institute for Local Self-Reliance, based in Washington, DC, and heads up its Sustainable Plastics Project.  She has worked 26 years on waste reduction, recycling and composting issues

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/182650512