COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Senate approved a bill Tuesday that will encourage the use of bio-based products by the state. Co-sponsored by Minority Leader Capri Cafaro, D-32, and state Sen. Karen Gillmor, R-26, Senate Bill 131 was approved unanimously. The bill requires the director of Ohio‘s Department of Administrative Services to establish a program that ensures supplies composed of bio-based products are purchased by DAS, state colleges and universities and other state agencies when costs are comparable to products that are not bio-based.

“This legislation is important because Ohio has the ability to be a leader and innovator in bio-based products,” Cafaro said. “We have the opportunity to promote agriculture, revitalize Ohio’s industrial base and take advantage of our outstanding research institutions by producing bio-based products that are truly home grown.”

Bio-based alternatives use renewable resources such as corn and soybeans for products that range from lip balm to copy machine toner. S.B. 131 is similar to a national program that gives purchasing preference to bio-based products at federal agencies.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio