A number of foam producers have been added to the list of companies providing CertiPUR–US certified foams. They include Advanced Urethane Technologies/Sleep Innovations, Flexible Foam Products Inc., FXI Foamex Innovations, Premier Foam Inc. and Sinomax USA Inc.
CertiPUR–US is an effort of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam Inc., based in Loudon, Tenn. The voluntary foam certification and labeling program is modeled after the European CertiPUR program developed in 2002.
CertiPUR–US is open to all producers of furniture and bedding foam products. Foams undergo third–party laboratory analysis that examines VOC emissions and foam chemistry. Products must be manufactured without the use of prohibited substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, methylene chloride, PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury and other materials of concern. CertiPUR–US also sets baseline requirements for foam performance and durability.
“Retail interest is helping drive momentum,” said Robert Luedeka, Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam executive director. “A number of retailers are specifying CertiPUR–US certified foams, including Nature’s Sleep and BedInABox.com. We are also seeing CertiPUR–US used as a value–added marketing tool to answer the questions of a growing number of consumers who want a greater level of comfort and confidence in the furniture and mattresses they buy.”
