Tools You Can Use to Leverage Certified Foam Into Sales
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Upholstered Furniture Manufacturers
& Retailers Edition
Tools You Can Use to Leverage
Certified Foam Into Sales
Foams that Feel Good and You
Can Feel Good About Selling SM
www.certipur.us
CertiPUR-US® is a registered certification mark of Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc. ©2023 Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Your Guide to the CertiPUR-US®
Foam Certification Program
Turn consumer demand for certified foam into sales
I
f you sell mattresses, pillows, bedding products, or ■ Embed one of our fifteen
upholstered furniture containing CertiPUR-US® certified videos on your website, or
slabstock or molded flexible polyurethane foam, you can use at point-of-purchase.
register with the program (it’s free) and get listed in the View and find links at
consumer section of our website (also free). This is the place certipur.us/videos.
consumers are checking before they buy. Go to certipur.us/
■ Download free handouts, FAQs
register.
and more at certipur.us/tools.
The CertiPUR-US® name and logo are trademarked and can
■ Visit our online store to order
only be used by registered companies – so even if you are
hangtags or point-of-purchase and
selling brands already listed on our website, if you want to use
top-of-bed label options at
our name or logo to promote that brand, you need to register.
certipur.us/store.
■ Remember the three most important CertiPUR-US®
■ Encourage RSAs and customer
Terms of Use Manual rules:
sales staff to take our free,
1. Spell CertiPUR-US® correctly! 20-minute certificate course at
certipur.us/certificatecourse.
2. Before you print, post, publicize or CertiPUR-US® Comes with
Comfort
Certified flexible polyuretha
ne foams meet CertiPUR-U
standards for content, emissions
and Confidence
S® program
■ The CertiPUR-US® program
and durability, and are
package anything that includes the
independent, accredited analyzed by
testing laboratories.
CertiPUR-US®certified
foams are:
Made without ozone
depleters Made without
Made without PBDEs formaldehyde
or the
following Tris flame retardants: Made without phthalates regulated by
CertiPUR-US® name or logo, send art and is administered by a nonprofit
TCEP, TDBPP, TDCPP or the Consumer Product Safety
TEPA Commission
Made without mercury, Low VOC (Volatile Organic
lead Compound)
and other heavy metals emissions for indoor air
quality
(less than 0.5 parts per million)
Administered by a nonprofit
organization, CertiPUR-U
copy to us for pre-approval at approvals@ organization. Find participating foam
is a certification program S®
for flexible polyuretha
in bedding and upholstere ne foam used
d furniture. For technical
and a list of participatin criteria
g companies, visit:
www.certipur.us
certipur.us. The approval process is very fast producers at certipur.us/producers.
CertiPUR-US® is a registered
certification mark of Alliance
which administers the for Flexible Polyurethane
program. ©2023 All rights Foam, Inc.
reserved.
— usually less than two business days..
3. Don’t make false claims! Follow the language used
on our website. See all program rules at certipur.us/ CertiPUR-US® certified flexible polyurethane
termsofuse. Remember, when making claims in foams are...
connection with the CertiPUR-US® program, you 9 Made without ozone depleters
cannot say:
9 Made without PBDEs or the following Tris flame
Chemical-free retardants: TCEP, TDBPP, TDCPP or TEPA
Safe
9 Made without mercury, lead and other heavy metals
Non-toxic
No flame retardants, free of FRs 9 Made without formaldehyde
Hypoallergenic 9 Made without phthalates regulated by the Consumer
Environmentally safe Product Safety Commission
No carcinogens 9 Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions
for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million)
NEW! All participating companies must update their listings annually: certipur.us/update
Foams that Feel Good and You Can Feel Good About Selling SM
www.certipur.us
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the most common questions we receive.
If you still need to reach us, send your question via email
to info@certipur.us and we’ll respond very quickly.
Q: What does it mean when I see the CertiPUR-US®
seal on a product?
A: It means the foam in the bedding or upholstered furniture
has been tested to meet CertiPUR-US® rigorous standards
for emissions, content, performance and durability.
Specifically, the foam is:
■ Made without ozone depleters
■ Made without PBDEs or the following Tris flame
retardants: TCEP, TDBPP, TDCPP or TEPA
■ Made without mercury, lead and heavy metals
■ Made without formaldehyde
■ Made without phthalates regulated by the
Consumer Product Safety Commission
■ Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions
for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million)
Q: I saw the CertiPUR-US® logo on display in a store,
but I do not see this brand listed on your website. polyurethane foam and use of our name or logo is
How do I know if it really contains certified foam? conveyed to their customers who verify that they use
A: We keep the listings on our website updated weekly. CertiPUR-US® certified flexible polyurethane foam. Check
If the company you are buying from is promoting its to see if the company you are considering purchasing
participation in the CertiPUR-US® program and it is not from is listed as a company that sells products containing
listed on our site, please send specific information to CertiPUR-US® certified foam at certipur.us/directory.
info@certipur.us and we will follow-up. It could be that
the company is misusing our logo and its products do Q: Whom do I contact about a problem with one of
not contain certified foam—in which case we will take your mattresses?
swift legal action. More likely, the company is legitimately A: We don’t sell mattresses! The CertiPUR-US® program is
using certified foam, but hasn’t taken the time to take the a nonprofit organization that focuses on certification
necessary steps to be registered with the program. That of flexible polyurethane foam contained in bedding
process includes our verifying they are purchasing foam and upholstered furniture to assure low emissions and
from one or more of the foam producers who are part high performance, among other things. For information
of the CertiPUR-US® program. A list of those companies concerning a bedding or upholstered furniture product
meeting our requirements can be found at certipur.us/ you have purchased or a warranty, we recommend you
listings. contact the manufacturer or retailer directly.
Q: A company on the Internet says you certify their Q: You certify foam to be “low” in emissions. I see ads
furniture but I do not see the company listed on that say “no” emissions. Isn’t it better to have “no”
your website. Are their sofas certified? emissions and “no” off gassing?
A: We do not certify furniture, product lines or companies. A: Unless you are talking about very clean stainless steel,
We only certify flexible polyurethane foam. Our there are few things on this planet that do not “off-gas”
certification is held by the manufacturer of the flexible to some extent, including your own body! When you
buy products made with CertiPUR-US® certified foam,
Get Educated
you can be confident that the flexible polyurethane
foam inside has been rigorously tested by an accredited
About Certified
laboratory to meet specific criteria for content and
indoor emissions. Certified foams are low VOC (Volatile
Organic Compound) emissions for indoor quality (less
Foam and Graduate than 0.5 parts per million). You can find the details in
the complete Technical Guidelines available on our
To Higher Sales website.
Q: I am buying a mattress which contains
CertiPUR-US® certified foam, but it was made
outside the United States. Is it possible that it
contains certified foam?
A: Yes. We currently have foam producers participating
in the program and offering certified foams from the
U.S. and countries all around the world. As long as the
foam meets our rigorous certification and ongoing re-
certification requirements, it can carry our certification.
Q: Do companies that certify foams have to re-
certify, or is it a one-time certification process?
A: Foam producers must go through the complete
certification procedure every six months for the first year
and then annually thereafter to maintain the certification
for each type of foam they want certified.
Q: If the foam is CertiPUR-US® certified, does that
mean it is made without flame retardants?
Take our Free, 20-minute A: There are hundreds of flame retardants (FRs) that
are used in various consumer products. We identify
Certificate Course those FRs that could be used in upholstered furniture
or mattresses. Certified foams are made without the
Becoming an expert on the CertiPUR-US® foam following Tris flame retardants: TCEP, TDBPP, TDCPP
certification program or TEPA. A list of additional FRs that are prohibited
can help you answer in certified foams can be found in our Technical
consumer questions, Guidelines at certipur.us/technicalguidelines.
enhance your
credibility and Q: I am allergic to latex and am having a reaction to
sales potential and a mattress which contains certified foam. Can it
earn a personalized have latex in it?
certificate of knowledge. A: The CertiPUR-US® program only certifies flexible
Take the course now at certipur.us/ polyurethane foam for bedding products and
certificatecourse upholstered furniture. Latex foam is outside the scope
of our certification. It is possible for a manufacturer
to include a layer of latex in a mattress that contains
certified polyurethane foam. In this case, as long as the
flexible polyurethane foam is certified, the manufacturer
Foams that Feel Good and You would be allowed to use the CertiPUR-US® name and
Can Feel Good About Selling SM
logo. You should contact the mattress manufacturer to
www.certipur.us ask if your model contains latex.
Q: How do I know the specific product I am
purchasing uses certified foam? Englander
American Furniture Manufacturing, Inc.
A: Some companies only offer products that contain Highland House Furniture
certified foams, other companies offer certified foams Air Tech FX
in certain products or certain product lines. Ask the Johnson City Bedding
Albany Foam and Supply, Inc.
manufacturer to be sure. The Bed Boss
Carolina Mattress Guild
Q: I’ve seen advertisements for the product I bought, Allied Aerofoam
which say it contains foam you certify. Why is Dorel Home Products
American Bedding Mfg., Inc.
there no label or hangtag on it? Geo-Mattress
A: Companies that have verified they use CertiPUR-US® Drexel Heritage
Saatva
certified flexible polyurethane foam in their products
Kolcraft
may use our name and logo, but are not required to label Moonlight Slumber
their products or packaging. Lack of our name or logo is Sensorpedic
Applause Source
not an indication the flexible polyurethane foam inside
Old West Mattress Company
is not certified. You can look up the companies on our Malouf
website to be sure they are participating in our program. Steinhafel’s Bedding
If you feel a company is misrepresenting CertiPUR-US®
certification, please notify us at once by writing to If you’re not on THE LIST *
info@certipur.us. If you can include detailed information
with a photo, website link, and a contact name, that will
you may be losing sales
help our investigation. Simmons
Serta
Purple
Q: Is there fiberglass in certified foam? West Elm
A: There would not be fiberglass in the certified foam used Klaussner
for mattresses, pillows, or upholstered furniture. However, Kingsdown
Casper
some mattress manufacturers surround a mattress’s foam Pottery Barn
CertiPUR-US® ce
rtified foams are
…
9 Made without
core with barrier fabrics made from fiberglass to help Corsicana 9 Made without
ozone depleters
PBDEs or the follow
Eastman House ing
meet government standards for mattress flammability. Tris flame retardant
TDCPP or TEPA
s: TCEP, TDBPP,
Wayfair
A mattress zipper is usually there for easy assembly at Noctova Sleep 9 Made without
mercury, lead and
heavy metals other
the factory and not for the customer to use. For that Bob’s Discount Furniture
9 Made without
formaldehyde
Ethan Allen
reason, never remove the cover of your mattress, even Ashley Sleep
9 Made without
phthalates regula
ted by
the Consumer Pro
duct Safety Commis
if it has a zipper, unless the mattress cover is specifically Craftmaster 9 Low VOC (Volati
le Organic Compou
sion
emissions for ind nd)
intended to be removed for laundering. Consult the Spring Air oor air quality (les
0.5 parts per million
)
s than
King Koil
manufacturer’s website or call their customer service Lady Americana
department before you zip off your mattress cover. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Symbol
Tuft & Needle
William Sonoma Home
Sleep Number
Room & Board
AmazonBasics
Restonic
Therapedic
FREE for companies selling products Saatva … and 1,500 more!
containing certified foam: *See certipur.us/listings
■ Get registered FREE: certipur.us/register Shoppers are using our list of participating bedding
■ Check your FREE listings: certipur.us/directory and upholstered furniture retail manufacturers to make
purchasing decisions. If you’re not listed, you do not have
■ Train staff FREE: certipur.us/certificatecourse
permission to use our logo (even if you are buying certified
■ Share FREE videos: certipur.us/videos foam) until you submit the required paperwork. It’s quick,
easy (and free) to get listed if you are using CertiPUR-US®
www.certipur.us certified foam. Just go to certipur.us/register
To discover why CertiPUR-US® certified
foams come with Comfort and Confidence…
just read the hangtag!
1| Made without ozone that registered foams are made
depleters — Ozone’s presence CertiPUR-US® Comes with Comfort and Confidence without mercury, lead and other
is important in our upper Certified flexible polyurethane foams meet CertiPUR-US® program heavy metals.
atmosphere, where it provides standards for content, emissions and durability, and are analyzed by
a shield from the sun’s radiant independent, accredited testing laboratories. 4 | Made without formaldehyde
energy. The Montreal Protocol, CertiPUR-US®certified foams are: — Like heavy metals, formalde-
adopted in 1987, mandated Made without ozone depleters Made without formaldehyde hyde has never been used as a raw
that industries eliminate ozone- Made without PBDEs or the Made without phthalates regulated by material in foam. Formaldehyde
following Tris flame retardants: the Consumer Product Safety Commission
depleting chlorofluorocarbons TCEP, TDBPP, TDCPP or TEPA Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) has been labeled as a cause of
(CFCs) by the year 2000. U.S. Made without mercury, lead emissions for indoor air quality poor indoor air quality. The detec-
and other heavy metals (less than 0.5 parts per million)
foam producers were well ahead tion of
An Increasing Number of Consumers
Want a Different Kind of Comfort
When Buying Upholstered Furniture
W hen buying upholstered furniture, consumers
have an important decision to make – and it has
nothing to do with comfort, durability, or the color and
style of the covering. It’s about what you can’t see: the
foam inside.
Amidst confusing and often inaccurate information
in the media and on the internet, a growing number
of consumers are justifiably concerned about indoor
air emissions and chemicals – particularly flame
retardants. This can make shopping for a new sofa or
upholstered chair a perplexing process.
But it needn’t be. The CertiPUR-US foam certification
®
chemicals that were restricted in the U.S. A group of foam
program, administered by a nonprofit organization, is manufacturers worked in conjunction with environmental-
helping furniture and mattress shoppers make informed ists, academics, industry and consumer groups, and
decisions using information based on scientific data, chemists to develop a testing, analysis, and certification
content analysis, and laboratory testing of foams used program specifically for the flexible polyurethane foam
for furniture cushioning. used in bedding products and upholstered furniture.
Now considered the most rigorous certification program
for foam, CertiPUR-US certified foams are made without
®
“There are a number of people ozone depleters, mercury, lead, and heavy metals, formalde-
making decisions about whether hyde, phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety
to buy upholstered furniture based Commission, PBDEs or the following Tris flame retardants:
TCEP, TDBPP, TDCPP or TEPA. A complete list is available in
on whether the foam is certified.”
our Technical Guidelines at www.certipur.us/technical-
guidelines. The foams are also tested to be low VOC (Volatile
Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality.
“The number of calls we get from consumers has risen
dramatically,” explains Mike Crowell, executive director of “The integrity of our program is paramount,” says Crowell.
the certification program. “There are a number of people “This is not an easy standard to pass. Foam producers have
making decisions based on whether the foam in the to re-certify every year and we conduct random verification
upholstered furniture or mattress they are considering testing just to keep everyone on their toes.”
is certified. It’s not unusual for a caller to thank us for the
Find a list of companies offering upholstered furniture —
service we are providing. It’s very gratifying.”
as well as mattresses and pillows — that contain certified
The program was established a number of years ago to foam at www.certipur.us
address an influx of substandard foams coming into the
U.S. In some cases, these substandard foams contained Article by Michele Ostrove, Health and Consumer WriterYour free listings
in our online
consumer directory
might be the
difference between
buy or goodbye
for this
furniture shopper
Is your company and all the brands
he might search for listed?
certipur.us/GetListed
Foams that Feel Good and You Can
Feel Good About Selling
SM
Listing are only available to companies selling products
containing CertiPUR-US® certified foam.You can also read
