How Do I Choose the Best Biodiesel Supplier?

Biodiesel is an alternative energy source that can produce energy similar to petroleum-based diesel. It is more environmentally sound that standard diesel, because less pollution is created by its use and plant-based feedstock is used to make it. Choosing the best biodiesel supplier involves more than just finding the supplier that offers the best price. You also need to determine if the supplier's product meets your needs and your company's ethical standards.

Check the biodiesel supplier's product for quality. Ensure it is made to an acceptable standard able to produce enough energy. While biodiesel produces a substantial amount of energy, it produces less than petroleum diesel. The supplier's biodiesel must be able to create enough energy for its intended use or a good price will do you no good.

To create sufficient energy, some suppliers blend biodiesel with regular diesel. In terms of energy, this is better, but it also produces more pollution than unblended biodiesel. If energy is a concern, find a supplier that sells a biodiesel blend. If pollution and adhering to green standards are more of a concern, find a supplier that sells pure biodiesel.

Check up on the biodiesel supplier to see if the company works to ethical and labor standards. While your company may have high standards, a supplier that does not have the same standards can reflect poorly on your reputation. Checking environmental standards doesn’t apply as much to biodiesel suppliers as it does for other markets, but ensuring the supplier is not doing anything illegal or unethical in this regard is still of importance.

Talk with the biodiesel supplier and see if the supplier uses any other companies to manufacture its biodiesel. Assessing these companies just like you assessed the main supplier for ethical and labor standards is paramount to ensuring your business does not suffer if the outsourced business does not live up to ethical and labor standards. Checking on the main biodiesel supplier's affiliates may turn up something that can prove dangerous to your reputation or to the quality of the biodiesel product you would be receiving.

Price is often the last consideration, because quality and the supplier’s standards are a higher priority. Regardless, price is still a major consideration that can be the deciding factor between two very similar biodiesel supplier companies. Location often runs parallel with price, because a closer supplier will charge less to ship the biodiesel than a company farther away. Figure this into the price to ensure you are getting an accurate quote from the supplier.