CertiPUR-US® certified foams are:
1. Made without Ozone Depleters
Although many industries are compliant with mandated regulations to eliminate the use of chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs) in the manufacturing of foam, this standard is not universal. The ozone is an important protective barrier shielding the atmosphere from the sun's harmful UV rays. The CertiPUR-US® label ensures that no CFCs and other ozone depleters have been used in the foam manufacturing.
2. Made without PBDE Flame Retardants
Foam producers in the US were banned from using PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) fire retardants in foam production by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2005, after being controversially linked to cases of chronic illness in cats and humans. CertiPUR-US® certified polyurethane foams are made without PBDEs.
3. Made without Mercury, Lead, and Heavy Metals
There has been concern regarding the aversive health effects of heavy metals in the home, such as lead in paint and mercury in fish. Analysis conducted on all CertiPUR-US® registered foams ensure that mercury, lead, and heavy metals have not been used in the manufacturing process.
4. Made without Formaldehyde
It has been determined that formaldehyde is a contributor to poor indoor air quality. Although it is not a raw material of foam, CertiPUR-USx conducts laboratory analysis to ensure that formaldehyde has not been used in the manufacture of certified foam products.
5. Made without Prohibited Phthalates
Phthalates are used in foam manufacturing as a softening agent, and are present in many consumer products. In 2009, The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act identified specific phthalates that could no longer be used in children's products. The CertiPUR-US® program requires thorough laboratory analyses be conducted on foam extractions, and prohibits the use of phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in all certified foams.
6. Low VOC Emissions
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not only a major contributor of outdoor air pollution, but their presence is a factor in poor indoor air quality as well. Using chamber emission tests standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), VOCs are measured in foam samples. CertiPUR-US® compliant foams have low VOC emissions (less than 0.5 ppm).
