Use Soy for That BY LAUREN HOUSKA
Ken Budke, owner of Natural Soy Products in Brooklyn
Soy helps make everyday products perform better
H
ow would you respond if someone asked, “What’s so great about soy products?” It’s true that soybean oil is one of the most versatile of the natural oils. Its molecular structure and suitable fatty acid profile can be readily modified for many applications. But science jargon isn’t always the best way to get a point across. So, how about these quick facts? Soybean oil is … • Able to meet or exceed the performance of petroleum in many products. • Readily available and grown right here in the U.S. • Environmentally friendly and biodegradable. • Affordable.
16 | FEBRUARY 2021 | IASOYBEANS.COM
Helping Companies Deliver Iowa-based Natural Soy Products manufactures soy-biobased fifthwheel grease containing 67% soy oil. It displaces the petroleum found in traditional fifth wheel grease. According to the company, the average over-the-road semi tractortrailer uses about 20 pounds of fifthwheel grease in a year. With about 2 million semis rolling across America’s highways, they alone represent an estimated 40 million pounds of fifthwheel grease use each year. Switching their fleet of 81 tractortrailers to this locally produced product has helped Iowa-based grocer Fareway Stores, Inc. meet sustainability goals without sacrificing performance or cost. “I’m very impressed with the biobased fifth-wheel grease,” says Mark
Wyrick, director of fleet management for Fareway Stores, Inc. “It’s comparable in performance and cost to the petroleum-based product we had been using.” For the team at Fareway Stores, Inc., a family-owned business with Iowa roots, supporting farmers and the local economy is also a top priority. “Being from Iowa, we are interested in supporting the local farmers who grow soybeans and choosing products that are better for the environment,” Wyrick adds. “This product fits the bill.” This grease is also recognized as a qualified product in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) BioPreferred program. USDA assists federal government agencies to increase their purchase and use of biobased products.
