The Bio Specs for Food Service Ware outline sustainability criteria and recognition levels for food service ware made from compostable biobased materials. They provide a framework that enables buyers to assess the sustainability of these products during three stages of their life cycle: (1) biomass production, (2) manufacturing, and (3) end of product life. “Sustainability” encompasses issues of environmental protection, health, and social and economic justice, as well as material resources. The purpose of The BioSpecs is to encourage the market development of biobased food service ware that meet the highest sustainability standards and to prevent the “greenwashing” of partially or wholly biobased products that nevertheless fail to meet environmental, worker protection, and consumer standards.
