Seventh Generation Marks 1st Anniversary of Pioneering USDA Biobased Certification

BURLINGTON, VT--(Marketwire - Apr 26, 2012) - Seventh Generation, the nation's most trusted brand of environmentally-friendly household and personal care products, is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the USDA Certified Biobased label and its first-in-the-nation certification of 13 of the company's key offerings. To commemorate the event, the company announced its intention to ensure that all eligible formulated products will be 100% USDA Biobased Certified by 2020.

The USDA BioPreferred® program's voluntary labeling initiative helps consumers easily identify biobased goods made in whole or significant part from sustainable agricultural, forestry, and/or marine raw materials rather than nonrenewable materials like those obtained from petroleum. Products that meet or exceed the standards established for their specific category receive official certification and may display the USDA Certified Biobased Product label on their products. All biobased content claims are verified by independent labs and monitored by the USDA and ASTM International so consumers can trust the label's accuracy and every buying decision based on it.

The biobased product certification and labeling initiative, which was launched last year as a new part of USDA's BioPreferred program, initially certified 13 Seventh Generation products from the company's bathtub cleaner and dish soap to its laundry liquid, which uses a revolutionary new 100% plant-based surfactant.

"We think biobased certification has the huge potential to break through what's become a clutter of green seals and certifications that just end up confusing consumers," said Chris Miller, the company's Director of Corporate Consciousness. "The label cuts to heart of the matter with a single glance that tells shoppers this is a product made from renewable materials that can be produced sustainably. It simplifies the often bewildering marketplace for so-called eco-friendly consumer products in the same way the USDA Organic seal has brought clarity to our food purchases."

Not only is the label a good idea whose time has come, the idea it represents -- that products manufactured from renewable natural components and ingredients make a crucial contribution to a healthier world -- is more critical than ever. It's for this reason that Seventh Generation is marking the first anniversary of the USDA program by announcing its commitment to biobased products.

"We are very pleased to celebrate the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label anniversary with Seventh Generation," said Kate Lewis, USDA BioPreferred Program deputy manager. "Biobased products help meet consumer demand to supplement or replace a wide variety of petroleum-based products. The companies we work with, who apply for the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label, understand the value of the BioPreferred program in promoting their biobased products as well as helping create jobs in rural communities by adding value to agricultural commodities."

About Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. To read more about Seventh Generation's corporate responsibility, visit the company's Corporate Consciousness Report.

About USDA BioPreferred
The USDA BioPreferred program was created by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill), and expanded by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill). The purpose is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. The United States Department of Agriculture manages the program. Products that meet the USDA BioPreferred program requirements carry a distinctive label for easier identification by the consumer. To learn more about the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label please visit www.biopreferred.gov, and follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BioPreferred.