Biobased content in PU slabstock foam now certified by Certipur-US

Michigan, US – Certipur-US is now awarding biobased foam certification, in addition to its standard certification. To qualify, slabstock flexible PU foam must contain a minimum of 20% biobased content, as well as meeting all current criteria for Certipur-US qualification.

The four foamers who took part in the pilot programme earlier this year are the first to offer certified biobased foam. These are US-based Future Foam, FXI and NCFI Polyurethanes, plus Kuka Home in Mexico.

To qualify for certification foams must undergo emissions testing, chemical analysis and physical property testing to show they meet Certipur-US standards. For the additional biobased certification, the foams are also tested by Beta Analytics’s labs in Miami, which determines the biocontent percentage according to ASTM D6866-22 Method B, a mass spec technique that determines the ratio of fossil to biobased content.

A new version of the logo is available to use on certified biobased foam. Annual recertification will be required, with random verification testing being carried out to ensure continued compliance.

“We praise the foam producers who are early adopters and expect many other foam producers to follow,” said Certipur-US’s executive director Michael Crowell. “We are confident that bedding and upholstered furniture manufacturers will see the tremendous environmental and marketing benefits in using biobased foam, and will create demand for this category of certified foams.”