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PBPC Newsletter August 7, 2026
Welcome to the Plant Based Products Council Newsletter!
In this edition, explore the latest PBPC news, activities, and groundbreaking innovations in the sustainability and bioeconomy sectors. Stay informed on current trends, updates, and exciting developments shaping our future.
Missed our last issue? Read the July 10 newsletter here. Know someone interested in our industry? Encourage them to subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
PBPC Pressing for Farm Bill that Strengthens Bioeconomy
On Aug. 6, the Senate Agriculture Committee considered the Agricultural Act of 2026 but stopped short of advancing the legislation as disputes over nutrition funding and committee attendance prevented the bill from securing enough votes to take the next step in the legislative process.
PBPC Executive Director James Glueck released a statement calling for further action to pass a bipartisan, five-year Farm Bill.
Thanks to the advocacy of PBPC and our members, the Farm Bill under Senate consideration includes several key priorities for the biobased products industry, including provisions to define biobased product terminology, strengthen USDA’s BioPreferred Program, and reauthorize a critical grant program that helps bring biorefinery and renewable chemical projects to commercial scale.
Get Involved: Tell the Senate to Pass the Farm Bill
Tell your Senators to quickly advance the Farm Bill and protect the biobased priorities that strengthen American agriculture, manufacturing, and innovation.
PBPC Leads the Charge on Tax Incentives to Grow Ag Bioeconomy
PBPC recently led more than 100 companies, organizations, producer groups, and other stakeholders throughout the plant-based product supply chain in sending a letter to Members of Congress endorsing the Biobased Materials Investment and Production Act.
Representing every stage of the plant-based products value chain from agricultural producers and feedstock suppliers to manufacturers and end users, the letter’s signatories reflect growing recognition that strengthening American biomanufacturing capacity is a critical opportunity to support farmers, manufacturers, and American bioproduct innovation.
Endorsed by PBPC and introduced by Reps. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), the Biobased Materials Investment and Production Act would help accelerate domestic biobased manufacturing by encouraging investment in new production facilities and the commercialization of innovative biobased materials.
Support for the legislation also continues to grow on Capitol Hill, thanks to advocacy from PBPC and our members. Since its introduction, the bipartisan bill has attracted additional support from Members of Congress, with Reps. Jim Baird (R-IN), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) joining as cosponsors of the legislation.
Act Now: Comment on NAICS Recommendations Soon
The White House Office of Management and Budget’s Economic Classification Policy Committee (ECPC) is accepting public comments through Aug. 12 on its proposed 2027 updates to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Despite bipartisan congressional direction and interagency efforts to improve how the U.S. bioeconomy is reflected in federal economic statistics, the proposal does not currently include new classifications for biobased products. Dedicated NAICS codes are critical for accurately measuring the industry’s economic contribution, employment, investment, and growth – data that helps inform policymaking and demonstrates the impact of America’s growing ag bioeconomy.
PBPC is submitting comments on the urgent need for NAICS codes that support the U.S. bioeconomy, and we encourage members and stakeholders to submit their own comments before the Aug. 12 deadline. If you have questions or would like guidance on how to ensure your voice is heard, please contact PBPC Executive Director James Glueck.
Introducing PBPC’s Plant-Based Passport
Summer is peak travel season. Whether you’re exploring Washington, D.C. or visiting a new destination, we have you covered with a new Plant-Based Passport highlighting landmarks in our nation’s capital and everyday products that show how plant-based products are shaping our world.
Made with 100% biobased materials, the pocket-sized passport highlights a different part of the biobased economy at each stop around Washington, D.C. From learning about the plant science behind renewable materials at the U.S. Botanic Garden and National Arboretum to spotting biobased food service items at Nationals Park and the National Zoo, the passport takes visitors through the biobased product value chain as they traverse the nation’s capital. The passport also showcases examples of plant-based innovation you can find anywhere else you travel.
This summer, the PBPC team has been sharing the Plant-Based Passport with congressional offices and the White House to demonstrate the breadth of America’s growing ag bioeconomy and spark conversations about the policies needed to help it continue to thrive.
Download your own digital Plant-Based Passport to join in on the fun from wherever you are this August. Share your journey with #DCPlantBasedPassport so we can follow along!
Plant-based Leader Blog: Kemvera Building New Markets for American Ethanol
A new PBPC blog post examines how member company Kemvera is creating value from corn beyond traditional markets. In an interview with company leaders, Kemvera discusses its plans to convert ethanol into biobased chemicals used in products ranging from disinfectants and paints to pharmaceuticals and adhesives.
The interview explores how producing chemicals closer to feedstocks and customers can shorten supply chains, reduce dependence on traditional production hubs, and create new economic opportunities in the Midwest. Kemvera also shares its long-term vision for expanding domestic biobased chemical production and the role plant-based innovation can play in strengthening U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
Check out the full conversation with Kemvera CEO Chern-Hooi Lim and COO Brent Cutcliffe on PBPC.com.
White House Continues Focus on Biomanufacturing R&D
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) recently released its Fiscal Year 2028 Research and Development Priorities along with a report to the President on Science: A New Golden Age, providing new insight into the Trump Administration’s strategy for strengthening U.S. leadership in science and technology.
While the R&D priorities span a broad range of critical and emerging technologies, they continue to recognize the importance of biotechnology and biomanufacturing. The guidance directs federal agencies to prioritize investments in biological sciences that underpin biotechnology and biomanufacturing, as well as chemistry and materials science, including polymers and biomaterials. Federal research agencies will now develop implementation plans outlining how these priorities will shape future investments.
The announcement also comes amid continued congressional focus on strengthening America’s bioeconomy. During a recent House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on the Administration’s research priorities, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios reaffirmed the importance of restoring domestic chemical and bioindustrial manufacturing to build more resilient supply chains. His remarks underscore the Administration’s continued focus on strengthening U.S. biomanufacturing capacity.
PBPC Membership Program
Not a PBPC member yet, but want to learn more?
All PBPC members receive a variety of benefits that provide their organization a voice in Washington while helping them stay up to date on the latest policy developments, communicate with their audiences, access valuable insights, and more. Read about PBPC’s impact on the industry in our 2025 Annual Report. Tiered membership levels are available to fit the needs of any member of the plant-based products supply chain. Visit our website or reach out to PBPC’s Keniece Barbee to learn more.
PLANT-BASED INNOVATIONS
Almost every day we see new developments in the plant-based products space. Learn more about what’s ahead for circular innovations.
- Iowa State University: Initiative to strengthen rural communities through biomanufacturing receives $15 million in federal funding
- Material District: Solar-Powered Refrigerator Uses Bacterial Cellulose Insulation
- World Footwear: BioShoes4All Sets New Benchmark for Sustainable Footwear Innovation
- Wall Street Journal: The Paper in Your Paper Towel Is a Candidate for a Radical Overhaul
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS & TRENDS
As more consumers seek environmentally friendly products, brands are adapting to meet these demands by offering more sustainable solutions. Here are some of the top stories covering these trends and providing insights on the latest industry news.
- Packaging Dive: 3 ways Amazon is evolving packaging materials, formats and systems
- Packaging Insights: Bio-based packaging materials set for “widespread” adoption, says CBE JU
- Packaging Insights: US Plastics Pact sets new guidelines for circular packaging design
- Plastics News: Young US consumers most confused by packaging sustainability claims, Alpha finds
GOVERNMENT UPDATES
As Congress and the Trump Administration look towards midterm elections later this year, the sustainability landscape continues to evolve. Read more about the latest developments.
- AIP: White House Calls for Science Funding Shake-Up
- Packaging Dive: Federal Labeling, Recycled Content Bills Spotlighted in Congressional Hearing
- Agri-Pulse: Senate Ag Committee fails to advance farm bill amid SNAP feud
- Brownfield: Farm bill effort stalls in committee over SNAP funding dispute
PBPC MEMBER NEWS
The dedicated work of our members toward a more sustainable future never ceases to amaze us. From setting sweeping environmental commitments, to partnering with others to make sustainable solutions more accessible, to launching new plant-based materials. Below, find some of the impressive work of our members over the last weeks.
- Plastics News: Jeong Hyun Kim, CJ Biomaterials Inc. | Women Breaking the Mold 2026
- Plastics Today: Braskem, Lallemand Launch Renewable Bio-Acetone for Plastics
- The Packer: Are You Ready for SB 54? An Expert Offers Top Tips Ahead of Aug. 1 Reduction Plan Deadline
- Primient: 2025 Impact Report: Creating Sustainable Plant-based Value in the Bioeconomy
If you support our mission to promote sustainable, circular solutions through plant-based products, sign up for our newsletter! We’ll keep you updated on our latest initiatives and opportunities for you to get involved.