Bio-based, bio-sourced, and bio-attributed materials may sound similar, but understanding how renewable content is sourced, measured, and verified can help designers make more informed and credible material specifications.
The language of sustainable materials is getting more complicated. Terms like bio-based, bio-sourced, bio-attributed, and USDA BioPreferred® are increasingly common in product literature, but they don’t necessarily mean the same thing—or provide the same level of verification.
In this ICYMI episode of I Hear Design, we revisit an interiors+sources article that breaks down the terminology designers and specifiers should understand when evaluating renewable material claims. Learn how ASTM D6866 testing helps verify bio-based content, how supply-chain tracking differs from lab verification, and why a higher percentage of renewable content doesn’t always tell the full sustainability or performance story.
It’s a practical primer for design professionals who want to look beyond marketing language, ask better questions, and specify bio-based materials with greater confidence.
Roslyn Muney is the director of brand strategies at The Mitchell Group, leading the messaging and education behind the company’s sustainability platforms and performance‑coated fabrics. She translates complex material science into clear, design‑forward language that equips sales teams, design professionals, and customers throughout the contract market.
