Foam supplier NCFI Polyurethanes, with headquarters in Mount Airy, North Carolina, has earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first BioPreferred designation for flexible foam.
Bio-Lux Max5 flexible foam contains 53% bio-based content and “is being hailed as the next generation in flexible foam,” NCFI said. In addition, Bio-Lux Max5 is the first flexible foam to earn the BioPreferred program’s coveted “Biobased Product Certification” label.
NCFI’s previous-generation Bio-Lux Max had 33% bio-based content and “was a giant leap ahead of the industry’s 12% to 16% (bio-based content),” said Chris Bradley, NCFI vice president of consumer products. “We’ve been producing at the 33% level for several years. Now, we’ve completely changed the game with 53% bio-based content. This patented process represents a radical change for the industry—a real high-water mark.
“The race to increase the levels of renewable content became a sprint for flexible foam makers due to the volatility of petroleum-based products, and that ‘reduced carbon footprint’ became a watchword trend. Our Bio-Lux Max5 is the largest single step toward majority renewable content in the industry’s history. It gives the manufacturer and the end-user of upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows and toppers the most sustainable foam available.”
Producing “greener” foams has been a part of the company’s long history, a news release said. NCFI strives to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, and has been working toward greater overall sustainability since the early 1990s.
“We turned 50 this year, and one of the secrets to our longevity in an ever-changing market is that we preach and practice constant innovation,” Bradley added. “We’ve consistently maximized the renewable content in our Bio-Lux product line, and that doesn’t stop with 53%. Crossing the formerly elusive 50 percent barrier gives our customers what they’ve been asking for, real and significant renewable content they can show their consumers. It’s a definite competitive advantage.”
