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ACCTivate! user, BioBased Technologies® takes a green approach to the development of polyols, the building blocks of foams and plastics, which are typically petroleum-based.

Their goal is to reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels while reducing the carbon footprint through their products.

They specialize in the research and development of Agro-based polyols for the Polyurethane industry and have developed Agrol®.

Agrol is a family of earth-friendly polyols derived from vegetable oils that are 96% pure and serve as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polyols.

In the past attempts at successfully creating bio-based polyols have failed.

"Agrol was really one of the first polyols that is that pure and doesn't have the smell, works in industrial applications easily and is affordable," Jennifer Wilson, brand manager said.

"In a BEES (Building for Environmental & Economic Sustainability) Life Cycle modeling study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and funded by the United Soybean Board, it was shown that for every pound of soy based polyols (such as Agrol) produced in place of petroleum based polyols, there was a beneficial impact of 5.6 pounds CO2 to the atmosphere," according to the BioBased Technologies website.

Agrol is used in the production of other BioBased Technologies product brands, such as BioBased Insulation® and Soy Seal®, which are both bio alternatives.

It is used in other products as well, such as in eco-friendly carpet backing, AstroTurf and in the head and arm rests of selected 2008 Toyota, Honda, Ford and Chrysler vehicle models.

BioBased Insulation is a water-blown, soy-based spray polyurethane foam insulation available from a network of certified dealers.

The insulation is a sustainable solution in that it is healthier, more comfortable, more energy efficient, more environmentally responsible and durable than traditional insulation.

As a healthier solution, it blocks harmful outside irritants.

For comfort, it keeps conditioned air inside and undesirable air out. It also reduces airborne noise pollution.

It also decreases the amount of energy needed to heat or cool a structure, which can significantly reduce utility bills making it energy efficient.

Being that it is made from soybean oil, which is an annually renewable resource, makes it environmentally responsible. Using water as the sole blowing agent rather than chemicals in the application of the insulation makes it more sustainable as well.

Its durability is evident in that the insulation does not support mold growth or provide a food source for insects or rodents and maintains its structural integrity.

BioBased Insulation products have won numerous awards and honors, in which most are related to their positive environmental impact. For example, in 2008 the insulation received the first Green Log Home and Lifestyle Award in the insulation category and they have been nominated this year as well.

"The goal of the Green Log Awards is to recognize and shine a spotlight on the remarkable green building solutions which enable us to 'Build a Greener World One Home at a Time,'" according to the Green Log Awards website.

The insulation has also been featured in the media as a product used to build green. For instance, it was featured on a Planet Green TV show as the insulation used to build a five-star green home in Austin, Texas, in which the series focused on the affordability of green building.

BioBased Technologies' other product, Soy Seal is a soy-based canned insulating foam, available through retail outlets that seals leaks, saves energy, stops moisture, increases comfort, decreases carbon emissions and naturally reduces heating and cooling costs.

Soy Seal was launched at the end of 2008 as the first bio alternative canned insulating foam.

"The cool thing about it too is it is not only bio-based, but it also competes head-to-head on prices as well. So now consumers don't have to necessarily pay more money to go green. They can actually do it for the same cost," Wilson said in comparing Soy Seal to non bio-based sealants.

Soy Seal recently became available nationwide through HomeDepot.com after initially being launched only in the Northeast and the North Central parts of the United States in almost 700 stores.

BioBased Technologies and their products are members of many organizations focusing on the environment and have many certifications.

BioBased Insulation is a U.S. Green Building Council member. Also, BioBased Insulation and Soy Seal products are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® and GREENGUARD Certified for Children & Schools®, in which BioBased® 1701s Insulation was the first spray polyurethane foam insulation to be certified for indoor air quality.

Not only does BioBased Technologies develop green sustainable products, but as they say, they aren't just talking the talk about sustainability and green building, they are walking the walk.

They have done this by building their corporate headquarters in Fayetteville, Arkansas to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ® standards, which was completed in October 2008.

"Because of the products that we produce and our understanding of the importance of sustainable building practices, we couldn't have built a corporate headquarters that didn't meet LEED standards," Tom Muccio, chief executive officer said in a press release. "It would have been contrary to who we are and why we do what we do."

"LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings," according to the U.S. Green Building Council website.

The building incorporates several green building practices, such as being built to utilize natural light in order to decrease electricity usage and of course using their insulation products to seal and insulate the building.

The building also encourages general green practices by doing things such as including recycling collection areas throughout the building and having reserved parking spaces for car pools, low emission vehicles and bicycles.

The LEED certification is still in progress since it can take up to a year to complete after getting into the building, but in the meantime BioBased Technologies was recognized by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce with a Green Building Award.

"Green building will continue to grow more than 60 percent in 2009, on a cumulative basis," according to Green building consultant Jerry Yudelson's Top Ten Green Building Trends for 2009.

BioBased Technologies identifies with this trend as they have seen a continued demand for green each year since they began in 2003.

"Even though there has been a downturn in construction we have maintained or in some cases even grown our business," Wilson said.

"It's becoming more and more mainstream," Wilson said about 'going green'. "Now people understand it and are starting to seek it out because they're realizing making green choices is smart not just for their pocketbook, but smart for the environment as well."

Read about BioBased Technologies' success with ACCTivate! as their inventory & business management solution.

Visit the websites of BioBased Technologies, BioBased Insulation and Soy Seal for more information on the company and their products.