We clean with it, we paint with it, we eat with it, we drive with it, and we even shower with it. Our homes are filled with it and our kids play with it. We love petroleum.
Petroleum is used in the production of plastics, cleaners, soaps, lubricants, paint and countless other things we never think about – things we use every day.
When you stop and consider the source of that petroleum and our unbelievable dependence upon it, it is rather unsettling. Combine this with the potential harshness of all of those synthetically produced chemicals in nearly every corner of our lives and you have plenty of incentive for consumers to start looking for some alternatives.
A recent survey conducted for the Ohio Soybean Council showed that nearly 88 percent of Ohio consumers would purchase a bioproduct as long as it performed as well or better than a standard-equivalent product and 60 percent said they would purchase bio-based products even if they cost up to 10 percent more. Fortunately for these consumers, there are more options than ever before in terms of bioproduct alternatives that are safer to work with, kinder to the environment and produced from readily available biomass such as corn and soybeans. Plus, many soy-based products perform as well or better than their petroleum-based counterparts at a comparable price.
To help consumers find and buy the wide array of bioproducts available, the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) created a new Web site -- Soyinside.org. This is an easy-to-use, interactive online resource that assists consumers in finding out where to purchase these green products and just about everything they need to know about them, from how they are made to what they contain.
"As more types of bioproducts become available and as consumers continue to make the right choices, bio-based solutions have the potential to replace petroleum-based materials with renewable, environmentally friendly products and resources," said Kirk Merritt, OSC executive director. "Thanks to soyinside.org, consumers now have the information they need to purchase environmentally friendly products."
The site features a picture of a house with handy icons located throughout that describe the bioproducts including: soy foam used in La-Z-Boy recliners and furniture, environmentally friendly and biodegradable disposable paper cups and packaging, soy-based paints and stains from Sherwin-Williams, personal-care items, carpets, cleaners and other industrial products. The site also highlights bioproducts that are produced or offered by Ohio companies and a list of federally recommended bioproducts.
To provide another boost to bioproducts, Governor Ted Strickland recently signed Senate Bill 131 (sponsored by State Senator Karen Gillmor), which will establish a bioproducts preferred purchasing program in Ohio. SB 131 requires state agencies and state-supported colleges and universities to give purchasing preference to bio-based products, particularly those made in Ohio. The bill allows for an exemption if the bio-product is not available within a reasonable period of time, fails to meet performance standards, or is too costly.
The goal of SB 131 is to harness the considerable purchasing power of the state to support the growth of existing bioproducts and expand the market for other innovative products made from Ohio crops, helping to stimulate investment and jobs, enhance research opportunities at Ohio universities and support Ohio farmers. 


“Thanks to recent advances in research and technology, acres of soybeans, corn, and other agriculture resources growing across Ohio have the tremendous potential to transform our state into a center for bioproducts development in this country, breathe much-needed life into our economy, and create a market for good-paying jobs in our local communities,” Gillmor said. “This legislation will help further the development of the bioproducts industry in Ohio by directing money the state is already spending to support companies that are manufacturing bio-based materials in our state and promoting the growth of other bioproducts businesses.”
Both at the state level and in our homes, the use of bioproducts offers an environmentally beneficial and user-friendly alternative. So, in the next few days, take some time to think about what you shower, clean, eat, drive and paint with. Think about what your kids are playing with. Then, maybe you will agree that it’s time to think about bioproducts.
For more information and to find bioproducts that meet your needs, visit www.soyinside.org.

Matt Reese writes for Ohio’s Country Journal and lives in Baltimore, Ohio. For questions or comments, please contact him at mkcreese@yahoo.com. For more columns, visit freshcountryair.blogspot.com. This column was brought to you by Ohio’s agricultural organizations.