Industrial Uses

U.S. Soy: Leading the Charge Toward a Sustainable Future 
Explore the Innovative and Eco-Friendly Applications of Soybeans  

For decades, the Soy Checkoff has been at the forefront of soybean innovation, driving research and development to unlock the full potential of this remarkable crop. Beyond its vital role in food and animal feed, U.S. Soy revolutionizes industries with its sustainable and versatile and high-performing applications. Sectors using soy-based materials, either the oil or meal component, include rubber, coatings, solvents, plastics, lubricants, adhesives, foams and more.  

As the world demands more environmentally responsible solutions, U.S. Soy offers a powerful alternative to traditional harsh chemicals and petrochemical-based materials. From asphalt and concrete to tires and firefighting foam, soy-based products deliver excellent performance while reducing our environmental footprint.  

Why Choose U.S. Soy for Industrial Applications?  

  • Renewable Resource: Soybeans are an annual crop, offering a sustainable and reliable supply chain.  
  • Reduced Carbon Footprint: Soybeans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  
  • Cost-Effective: Soy-based alternatives can offer cost benefits, including reduced environmental and health impacts on workers and communities.  
  • Versatile Applications: With over 1,000 soy-based products already on the market, the possibilities are endless.  
  • Supporting American Farmers: Choosing U.S. Soy supports American farmers and strengthens the U.S. economy.  It’s not just about buying a commodity; it’s an investment in a complex, interconnected ecosystem that underpins rural economies, drives innovation, supports a vast supply chain, and strengthens America’s position in the global marketplace. The ripple effect of a healthy U.S. soy industry extends far beyond the farm gate, touching countless lives and contributing significantly to the nation’s economic well-being. 
  • A Safer Future: With United Soybean Board’s vision of sustainable soy solutions for every life, every day, soy is replacing petroleum (biofuels), plastics (straws), PFAS or “forever chemicals” (firefighting foam), formaldehyde (plywood) and carbon black to help everyday consumers make more sustainable choices.  

Current U.S. Soy Innovations and Brand Partnerships 

  • BioSpan Technologies, SoyLei and more in Asphalt: Soybean oil in polymers offer a lower-cost and cleaner alternative for rejuvenators and binding agents used in asphalt. The United States has more than 2.7 million miles of paved roads and highways and 94 percent of those are surfaced with asphalt (source), opening the door to significant opportunities for soybean oil use in asphalt for roads, parking lots and roofs too.  
  • Crafco’s PoreShield™ Concrete Protectant: A USDA BioPreferred concrete protectant that extends the life of concrete surfaces—ranging from roads to parking lots to fueling stations–by 10-plus years. On average, 200 bushels of soybeans are used for every two-lane mile of concrete highway joint treated with PoreShield.  
  • Goodyear Tires: Goodyear aims to replace petroleum oil with biobased alternatives, including soy, in all products by 2040. It’s found on their popular consumer tires for cars to pickup trucks, police pursuit, transit busses, waste haul and more in major cities, including New York City.  
  • Skechers Shoes: That same technology used in Goodyear tires is used in Skechers, offering 171 shoes, ranging from boots to sandals and sneakers, that contain soy.  
  • DEWALT Bar and Chain Oil: Through a soy checkoff partnership, DEWALT now sells a soy-based Bar & Chain Biodegradable Oil, available at Home Depot’s 1,300 stores nationwide, as well as online platforms including Bomgaars, Mac Tools, Grainger and Amazon.  
  • SoyFoam™ by Cross Plains Solutions for Firefighters: The first and only firefighting foam that’s 100% free of PFAS’ “forever chemicals.” It’s safer for firefighters and better for our local communities’ soil health, air quality and drinking water. This product has the potential to use the protein from 12 million bushels of soybeans.  
  • SYNLawn® Turf: SYNLawn has installed 100 million square feet of U.S. Soy-backed artificial grass across 260,000 installations in the U.S. and 31 other countries since 2008. It can be found at Fenway Park’s dug out and players’ tunnel, Paws & Pints dog park in Des Moines Iowa, and LinkedIn offices in California as well as a growing number of innovative water-conserving golf courses around the globe.  
  • Columbia Forest Products PureBond® Plywood: PureBond uses soy adhesives to create safer, formaldehyde-free plywood. Found at nationwide distributors and The Home Depot, soy has been used in more than 150 million panels (enough to span the Earth to the moon) of PureBond plywood for 20 years.  
  • HempWood® Non-toxic, No VOC Flooring and Furniture: From Kentucky high school floors to a sustainable Airbnb OMG Destination in Kansas, HempWood also offers the benefits from soy’s performance in formaldehyde-free wood materials for floors, tables and more.  
  • Danimer Straws: USB developed a biobased plastic straw using high oleic soybean oil. It’s soil and marine biodegradable. These soy straws only take six months to biodegrade once they contact microbes in water or soil.  

The U.S. Soy Difference   

The half-million U.S. soybean farmers who invest in the soy checkoff help drive innovation and expand the use of soy in industrial applications. Through checkoff-funded research and partnerships, we’re developing new and exciting ways to harness the power of this incredible commodity. The return on investment of industrial uses for domestic demand-enhancing research has a benefit-cost ratio of $42.88 to $1. (source)    

Key Messages  

  • Soybean oil market breakout: 50% fuel, 45% food and 5% industrial.  
  • Soybeans power our planet and its people in multiple sustainable ways — and the potential for this incredible bean continues to grow. U.S. Soy touches multiple industries, from food and animal feed uses to biofuels and consumer products across the U.S.  
  • The soybean’s 80/20 split feeds and fuels a lot of people. The average U.S. soybean yield is roughly 50 bushels per acre — equivalent to 3,000 pounds (about the weight of a compact tractor) of soybeans. Once crushed, those beans can produce 570 pounds of soybean oil and 2,350 pounds of protein. That’s enough to produce all the following (more here):   
    • More than 50 gallons of renewable diesel.   
    • Animal feed for over 800 pounds of boneless chicken.   
    • Enough vegetable oil to meet two people’s annual oil consumption.   
    • Not to mention thousands of industrial uses as well!   
    • Supports 3.9 million American jobs through direct, indirect and induced contributions  
    • Contributes $489 billion (about $1,500 per person in the U.S.) to the U.S. economy  
    • Displaces about 10.7 million barrels of oil a year  
  • Meeting growing demand: Today, we’re growing, processing and using more soy across the value chain than ever before. And over the past 40 years, U.S. Soy production has more than doubled (source)— ensuring that the U.S. Soy industry has and will continue to reliably meet demand.   
  • The soybean’s versatile chemical composition makes it ideal for a range of uses. Its amino acid profile helps soybean meal remain a desirable animal feed, while its oil has an astonishing range of applications.  
  • Checkoff-supported research helps bring dozens of new soy products to market. Soy continues to be seen as a desirable alternative to petrochemicals and harsh chemicals.  

Call to Action:  

  • Partner With Us: Discover how the USB can help you integrate soy-based solutions into your products and processes at USSOY.org  
  • Find Soy-Based Products: Browse a directory of soy-based products at SoyBiobased.org