Schools Need Non-Toxic Products

All Go BioBased cleaners are especially desirable for cleaning schools as they are safe and extremely effective at cleaning. They are not only non-toxic and biodegradable but most importantly, they are child safe.

Nearly 1 in 8 school aged children have asthma. This rate is rising most rapidly in pre-school aged children. Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness. Every year asthma accounts for 14 million lost days of school! When using Go BioBased cleaners in a school environment there will be a measurable improvement in attitudes and behavior of the students. Children are more attentive and better behaved because of the lack of neurotoxins or "brain poison" found in chemical cleaning products. Ergo, it is difficult to learn in an environment in which one does not feel good. Absenteeism (of students AND teachers) will also be reduced, since immune system deficiency is linked to toxic cleaning chemicals.

But children are not the only beneficiaries of using non-toxic cleaners. Janitorial staff often has direct contact with high concentrations of cleaning chemicals and therefore may suffer serious and direct injury due to their use. Janitorial workers experience relatively high injury rates, many of which are due to the toxic chemicals found in cleaning products, particularly floor and carpet maintenance products, disinfectants and specialty cleaners. These chemicals can cause headaches, asthma, burns, permanent eye damage, major organ damage and even cancer.

Did you know pesticides can be found in disinfectants and sanitizers and that is why they must be registered with the EPA?

Fall 2009
 
BioPreferred Legislation Introduced in Ohio Complements Federal BioPreferred Program

In June, Ohio State Senator Karen Gillmor (R-Tiffin) introduced legislation, S.B. 131, to establish an Ohio BioPreferred purchasing program. S.B. 131 will help the state "go green" while breathing new life into its flagging economy through research, manufacturing, and agriculture - the number one industry in the state - all without costing the state additional dollars.

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

The strong agricultural industry in Ohio is the foundation upon which the state's research and manufacturing industries can build. Many Ohio research and manufacturing companies such as Battelle Memorial Institute, Proctor & Gamble, Sherwin Williams, The Scotts Company and others are already leading the way in bioproduct development and marketing. The bill also benefits Ohio's small businesses, many of which supply biobased products.

"The Ohio Biopreferred purchasing program will help grow the bioproducts industry here in Ohio, and in-turn help make Ohio soybean farmers more profitable," said Mark Watkins, OSA President and soybean farmer from Hardin County. "Soy-based bioproducts are an important new market for the entire state, and it's exciting to have this great opportunity to increase their usage in Ohio without adding any extra burden on taxpayers."

The bill would require the state and public colleges and universities to give purchasing preference to biobased products if the biobased product is comparable in price, performance, and availability. It adopts product standards and approved product lists established by the Federal government as part of the similar Federal BioPreferred purchasing program. It does not apply to the purchase of motor vehicle fuel, heating oil or electricity.

The bill also requires the Director of the Department of Administrative Services to prepare and submit a report annually to the Governor, the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on the state's bioproduct usage including the amount of money spent by state agencies on bioproducts. Agriculture has long been the bread and butter industry of Ohio, with every county in Ohio boasting sizable acreage in agriculture production. Ohio's soybean industry alone is valued at approximately $2 billion. The BioPreferred legislation is an effort to, through Ohio's mainstay agriculture industry, turn the state's planning and economic development toward future development as it works through the automotive industry's devastating downturn.

Beyond the marketplace benefits, the bill also encourages product research and development at Ohio's colleges and universities and private research institutions, in turn encouraging students to enroll and enter scientific fields using math, science and technology of the future.

In 2007, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed a compact with other members of the Midwest Governor's Association supporting state implementation of this successful Federal program. Enacting this legislation will bring Ohio in line with the Federal legislation. Gillmor noted that, given the already significant investment that Ohio companies and Ohio agriculture are putting into the development of affordable biobased products, now is an ideal time for the state to make an investment in the clean production of renewable resources.

"We must build on Ohio's legendary ability to envision and develop new products," Gillmor said. "This bill will grow our already outstanding higher education system and further educate our citizens for higher wage jobs at a time when many skilled workers are out of work. In the inventive spirit of Thomas Edison, it is within our reach to make Ohio the 'Bioproducts Center of the Nation.'"


For more information write:
United Soybean Board
16640 Chesterfield Grove Rd., Suite 130
Chesterfield, MO 63005-1429
www.unitedsoybean.org/newuses
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This activity is for information only. The United Soybean Board does not endorse, promote or make any representations regarding specific suppliers.

The United Soybean Board was created by the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6311 (the Act), and the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order, 7 CFR Part 1220 (the Order), to promote increased demand for and consumption of soybeans and soybean products. Pursuant to the Act and the Order, USB does not engage in lobbying and does not attempt to influence government policy or action.