NewGen Surgical™ Inc. Earns Another USDA Certified Biobased Product Label

San Rafael, CA — May 18, 2026 — NewGen Surgical™ Inc. announced today that it has earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product Label for its newest lines of One and Two-Compartment Trays and Surgical Bowls (250cc and 500cc).

To obtain the certification, the NewGen Surgical products were analyzed for biobased content under ASTM D6866-24 by an accredited lab specializing in biobased, biogenic carbon testing. The NewGen Surgical One and Two-Compartment Trays are rated at 87% biobased content, while the 250cc and 500cc Sponge Bowls are at 84%.

Third-party verification for a product’s biobased content is administered through the USDA BioPreferred® Program, which strives to increase the development, purchase, and use of biobased products.

The USDA Certified Biobased Product Label displays a product’s biobased content, which is the portion of a product that comes from a renewable source, such as plant, animal, marine, or forestry feedstocks. Using renewable, bio-based materials eliminates the need for non-renewable petroleum-based chemicals. Biobased products are cost-comparative, readily available, and perform as well as or better than their conventional counterparts.

“Our team is proud to deepen our participation in the USDA BioPreferred Program as we accelerate the shift away from unnecessary plastics in the operating room and reduce healthcare’s carbon footprint,” says Robert Chase, CEO and Co‑Founder at NewGen Surgical. “With this latest round of certifications, every NewGen Surgical product in our portfolio is now tested and certified, giving our customers verified data to support climate commitments while choosing solutions that are healthier for people, the planet, healthcare staff, and the communities they serve.”

“We applaud NewGen Surgical™ Inc. for earning the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label,” said Vernell Thompson, USDA BioPreferred Program. “The label is intended to help spur economic development, create new jobs, and provide new markets for farm commodities. But the label also makes it easier for consumers and federal buyers to locate biobased products and consider planet-friendlier options during purchase decisions.

By having their products become USDA Certified Biobased, NewGen Surgical™ Inc. joins an expanding list of businesses combatting inaccurate marketing claims and the practice of greenwashing, while also contributing to a thriving bioeconomy that decreases our reliance on petroleum.”

In the latest Economic Impact Report released by USDA, the biobased products industry supported 4.6 million American jobs, contributed $470 billion to the U.S. economy, and generated 2.79 jobs in other sectors for every biobased job. Biobased products also have a substantial environmental impact, displacing about 9.4 million barrels of oil per year and potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 12.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year.

About NewGen Surgical

Founded in 2012 in the San Francisco Bay Area, NewGen Surgical, Inc. designs and manufactures sustainable surgical products and packaging that replace millions of plastic consumables used in healthcare. Its clinically proven product lines meet patient‑safety standards and are distributed in custom surgical packs to hospitals worldwide, reducing plastic waste and Scope 3 CO₂ emissions. With more than 13 million plant-based products delivered globally, NewGen Surgical, the first company to earn USDA BioPreferred Certification for surgical products, continues to advance material innovation and support the adoption of sustainable surgical solutions in healthcare.

About the USDA BioPreferred Program

With the goal of increasing the development, purchase, and use of biobased products, USDA’s BioPreferred® Program was first introduced in the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized in 2018. It requires federal agencies and contractors to give purchasing preference to biobased products. The USDA BioPreferred Program also includes a voluntary certification and labeling initiative for biobased products. This is referred to as the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label. More than 1,800 companies across the U.S. and in 47 countries participate in the Program. Please contact: Vernell Thompson, USDA BioPreferred Program at Vernell.Thompson@usda.gov.