Hero Advantage Number 1: Designed for performance and designed for our planet with "Upcycling"

Using the concept of "upcycling" we turn used cooking oil into a comprehensive line bio-soap and bio-solvent products: Hero Biobased Cleaning Products.

The art of soap making using oil and fats has been practiced for centuries. However, it has been diverted towards synthetic surfactants and petroleum derivatives by the major soap companies. Our engineers have embraced the use of vegetable oils as a raw material from our innovative technology "upcycling" facility. This gives Hero Biobased Cleaning Products an earth friendly and pollution prevention twist.

We noticed that used vegetable oil wasn’t being used efficiently. After it is has been used for cooking, it still has value. It just needs to be cleaned. Many food facilities are content to just have it hauled away for little or no cost. Others may discharge it illegally. In this, we saw an opportunity to help. To produce a product that is a convergence of industry benefits: biobased cleaning POWER, a SAFE workplace, environment improvement, resource conservation, and a way to SAVE money. It is the perfect storm of benefits.

We refine the "Post Consumer Vegetable Oil" into its base ingredients and then transform it into the finest bio-soaps and bio-solvents. By "Upcycling" the used vegetable oil, we convert a used product into a higher value resource rather than one of equal or lower value. It is a smarter way to manufacture bio-soaps and bio-solvents, saving material, saving water, saving energy, and saving the earth. We do this in our custom facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. And we create a secondary market for used vegetable oil which provides a welcome source of income for local restaurants not to mention the “green” bragging rights for their businesses.

But when you ask our customers what they value most about Hero™ Biobased Cleaning Products, the most frequent comment you will hear:“Cleaning POWER!” Hero works, where other "green" cleaners aren't productive, Hero will have you checking the label to make sure you aren't using the "other stuff".

To illustrate the Hero™ Biobased Cleaning Product Cost Advantage, we use the work done by The United Soybean Board. They advise a larger view to calculate the total cost when comparing products. Their published Biobased Product Life Cycle Cost Checklist helps make the calculation and it considers key aspects that affect total cost such as performance per unit used, safety and health factors, environmental impact and end-of-life costs. Here are few questions from the Biobased Product Life Cycle Cost Checklist with an Hero™ Biobased Cleaning Product response.

Q. Will the biobased product require less material to perform the job or last longer during use?

A. YES, Hero™ Biobased Products are concentrated and outlast the competition. Periodic refreshing with only water extends cleaning power.

Q. Does the biobased product offer any other performance benefits such as reduced product inventory, increased productivity, etc.?

A. YES, Hero™ Biobased Products work better and faster than competition in similar tasks improving productivity. Concentrated formulas pack a lot of cleaning power in a small space. This reduces product inventory requirements while increasing cleaning productivity.

Q. Does the biobased product pose less exposure risk to employees in the form of irritation to skin, lungs or eyes?

A. YES, Hero™ Biobased Products are gentle to the skin. No protective clothing is required (gloves are recommended but not required), no inhalation risk, not flammable, not cancer causing. Hero Biobased Products will create a safe workplace and will contribute to a happy and healthy workforce.

Q. Will the biobased product have less smog forming potential due to lower volatile organic compound (VOC) content?

A. YES, Hero™ Biobased Products have low VOC emissions and thus have no smog forming potential. Hero™ Biobased Products will help meet Clean Air Act requirements.

Q. At the end of the biobased product’s life, will it qualify to be handled under less stringent disposal requirements because it rapidly biodegrades?

A. YES, All Hero™ Biobased Products are rated Readily Biodegradable and thus no special disposal requirements. POTWs like materials like Hero™ Biobased Products because the biodegradation properties assure favorable processing by the POTW facilities. Hero™ Biobased Products will help meet Clean Water Act requirements.

The full United Soybean Board Biobased Product Life Cycle Cost Checklist can be found here:

http://www.soybiobased.org/resources/biobased-product-life-cycle-cost/