USDA issues labels for green products

Consumers looking to buy green may soon be more sure of their purchase as the U.S. Department of Agriculture issues labels on a wide variety of products made with bio-based ingredients. The new label "is aimed at doing for bio-based products what the government's Energy Star program has done in helping shoppers identify energy-efficient appliances," Philip Brasher of the Des Moines Register reports. The labels are similar to the ones USDA issues for organic foods.

"We know we have consumers who are looking to do better environmentally and are trying to find some way to guide their purchasing decisions," Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan told Brasher. The seal will say "USDA Certified Biobased Product" and will display what percentage of the product is made from corn, soy and other renewable sources. "Given a little bit of time and a little bit of exposure, given what we know about the interest level of consumers, I think it's going to resonate," William Horner, CEO of Totally Green, which sells water in corn-based bottles and plans to use the labels, told Brasher. "I think its time has come." (Read more)