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March 2012   
Greetings!

What is "biobased?" The question seems to be drawing some confusion lately, especially in light of proposed credit changes to the LEED rating system, for which the third comment period is now closing.

 

The standard test for determining the percentage of biobased content is ASTM D6866. There are several standard methods, all of which are applicable to any products that contain carbon-based components. The test measures and differentiates between product carbon resulting from biobased input and that from fossil-based input. The scope of this test, however, does not include any guidance as to whether the percentage of content meets requirements for various definitions of biobased.

 

The USDA bio-preferred program is the most recognized program across all industry sectors for defining biobased, and references ASTM D6866 as the method for determining the percentage of content.  The IgCC references the same test. Recently the IgCC approved the definition of biobased building products that establishes minimum 75% biobased content, raising the bar from 50% in previous versions.

 

Standard definitions don't discourage some companies from adding a small percentage of biobased material into a product and putting "bio" in the name. Want to know if the material is really biobased? Ask for the results of ASTM D6866.

 

Alpar Architectural uses deTerra� biobased polymer, a material that is 93% biobased when tested to ASTM 6866, making Alpar's products the only wall protection products that can meet the IgCC's definition for biobased. While we're proud to be first, we hope our commitment to using rapidly renewable, non-toxic materials will help inspire other manufacturers to do the same.  

 

Still have questions?  Please don't hesitate to contact me.   

 

Sincerely,

 


Lisa Britton, CSI, CCPR, LEED AP BD+C
President
Alpar Architectural Joins HPD Pilot 
 
Alpar Architectural Products is pleased to announce that we have joined the Pilot Program as one of 30 manufacturers to test and improve the Health Product Declaration Open Standard (HPD), a voluntary format for disclosing product content and related health concerns that are typically not reported even when a product, or a building, is certified "green." The program is being administered by the Health Product Declaration Working Group, a voluntary association of experts from the community of building designers, specifiers, owners and users. The HPD Open Standard Working Group was convened in July 2011 by the Materials Research Collaborative, a joint project of the Healthy Building Network and BuildingGreen, Inc.

As part of this program, Alpar will complete detailed Health Product Declarations for our products and provide feedback to the HPD Working Group.  We hope to contribute to the group's efforts to eliminate barriers to creating transparency for building products.  For more information, visit the HPD working group's website by clicking here.   

 

About Alpar Architectural Products
 
Alpar Architectural Products is a manufacturer of wall and corner protection.  Our mission is to provide high-performance building products that have the least possible environmental impact. Alpar provides only products that are FREE from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs) and petroleum and that contain rapidly renewable or recycled materials including deTerra biobased polymer.  DeTerra biobased polymer is made from more than 90% rapidly renewable materials and out performs PVC and PETG on fire tests and many mechanical tests relevant to wall protection.

To learn more about the human and environmental health issues related to the manufacture, use and disposal of PVC, visit our resources page on our website or click HERE. 
 
DeTerra is a registered trademark of Interfacial Solutions IP, LLC.
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HPD Pilot
About Alpar
Clean Med 2012
Literature

CleanMed 2012
Visit us at CleanMed, April 30 - May 2 in Denver, CO.  Clean Med is the premier national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability. It's the one place where health care innovators connect to open their minds to new ideas, actively engage with each other, and find innovative ways to inspire their organizations. 

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