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As the fall harvest commences for farmers across the U.S., proponents of diverse uses for the nation’s bountiful agricultural resources also are taking the opportunity to extol the “green” payoff of bio-based industrial products.
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United Soybean Board |
| Soy-based spray polyurethane foam was installed in the Habitat for Humanity build. |
A farmer-run research and promotion group led by the United Soybean Board recently embarked on a collaborative program with Habitat for Humanity groups across the U.S. to showcase soy-based construction products, including paint and spray-foam insulation.
Building materials derived from soy, such as paint, coatings and insulation, offer consumers a “greener” and “safer” alternative to petroleum-based counterparts, the farmers’ group said.
“Soybean farmers recognize the need for new markets for their products. We invested in research to bring soy-based products to the marketplace,” said Mike Beard, an Indiana soybean farmer and United Soybean Board director, in a YouTube video announcing the effort.
Recently, the Greater Indianapolis Habitat for Humanity chapter utilized soy-based paint and insulation in a new home, named the “Ag House.”
The home’s building envelope made use of BioBased Insulation®, a spray polyurethane foam insulation manufactured by BioBased Technologies, based in Springdale, Ark.
The product helps reduce the environmental footprint of residential and commercial structures by sealing and insulating in one step, according to the company’s website, making the structure more energy-efficient, comfortable, healthier, and durable.
The manufacturer estimates that, when combined with other “responsible building components,” the insulation can reduce monthly heating and cooling costs by up to 50%.
More information: BioBased Insulation.
The Indiana Habitat home also features soy-based paint, DuraSoy™ One, manufactured by Eco Safety Products, based in Phoenix, Ariz.
According to product data information, the paint is a professional-grade, high solids,” ultra-durable” coating system made from 40% bio-based content and 40% recycled content. The product offers one-step priming, sealing and coating, the company says.
The company says its patented “soy ester dispersion technology” allows the paint to replicate the properties of a high-solids, oil-modified paint with oil derived from soybeans. A proprietary emulsion process is reported to impart superior penetration, sealing, hiding, surface protection, and scrub resistance.
The product contains no VOCs and is low odor, and can be applied to interior or exterior surfaces such as: drywall, plaster, stucco, wood, hardboard siding, vinyl, masonry, brick, block, and most primed metals, the company noted.
More information: DuraSoy.
In addition to the paint and insulation, the carpet installed in the Ag House employed a soy-based backing.
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Greater Indianapolis Habitat for Humanity |
| The “Ag House” was constructed at the Indiana State Fair by Habitat for Humanity volunteers and transported to its permanent location. |
Utilizing the soybean-derived products, the house was built during the Indiana State Fair and was subsequently transported to a permanent site.
R&D Program Plows New Horizons for Soy
The United Soybean Board is made up of 69 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the Soybean Checkoff, a U.S. farmer-funded soy research and promotion program, on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers.
Checkoff funds are invested in animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access, and supply.
More information: Beyond the Bean Online.
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