CertiPur-US
The CertiPur-US Seal is beginning to appear more frequently on flexible polyurethane foam (FPF) - including memory foam products - on sale in the US. It provides a way for buyers to quickly and simply check that their choice of memory foam product has been produced using methods and materials that meet certain standards.What Is CertiPur-US?
So what does the CertiPur seal mean? Why should you care?
CertiPur-US is an extension of the original European CertiPur scheme for foam products. Those items carrying the seal have been checked to ensure that they comply to certain voluntary standards on durability, content and emisions. These standards include rules on emissions, performance, permitted content and environmental guidelines. Specifically the CertiPur rules state that to attain the seal a product must be:
• Emissions tested
• Content tested
• Low emission volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Made without prohibited phtalates
• Made without ozone layer damaging CFCs
• Made without mercury, lead or heavy metals
• Made without formaldehyde
• Made without methylene chloride
• Made without PBDEs
• Durability and performance tested
The CertiPur-US Seal is designed to give consumers confidence that the foam product they buy meets these standards. It needs to be stressed that if a product doesn't carry the seal it doesn't necessarily man that it fails these criteria, simply that it hasn't been certified as meeting them.
Of course there are some people who think that even the CertiPur-US foam standards don't go far enough in environmental protection. Others have criticised it because it's an industry led initiative. Such critics might prefer to buy products specifically marketed as being green. As always the decision as to what's best for you depends on your personal priorities - and your budget.
CertiPUR-US is a registered certification mark of Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc.
This site is not associated with or endorsed by the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam