Senate Bill 131 was introduced on June 19, 2009 by Ohio Senator Karen Gillmor (R-Tiffin), to create a BioPreferred purchasing program.  The bill will aid in economic growth through work with agricultural, research and manufacturing companies including OBIC Alliance members. The bill encourages the purchase of bio-based products for state agencies and state universities when the products are comparable.  Price, performance and availability will be factors to consider in the comparison.

SB 131 will require state agencies to give preference to bio-based alternatives when purchasing.  The bill will not include heating oil, electricity or fuel.  Current bio-based producing companies include Sherwin Williams, The Scotts Company and Univenture.

“During this economic stress, we need creative solutions to help fuel the state’s economy.   The combined purchasing power of the state and our public colleges and universities is enormous,” Gillmor said.  This bill will help capture those dollars which the state is already spending and channel them directly back into Ohio’s economy.”

There are currently bio-based products on the market.  Gillmor has collaborated with Ross Youngs, the CEO of Univenture.  Working with Battelle and the Ohio Soybean Council, they have developed several products including soy-based three-ring binder, CD holders, and nametag holders that are bio-based and biodegradable.

“I believe the state should be doing everything it can to support advanced research and development in the commercialization of bio-products,” Gillmor said, “but we also need to lead by example and actually purchase and use these products whenever possible.”

For more information about SB 131 visit the Ohio Soybean Council and General Assembly web sites. To see a current list of federally approved biobased products, visit: biopreferred.gov