First ever BioPreferred Certification of PU foam

The first of these newly certified foams, developed with the UK-based company’s pioneering Natural Oil Polyols (NOPs) technology, has been verified as containing 53 % by weight bio-based material according to the test criteria supervised by the USDA and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Foams submitted for consideration to the programme need only meet a bio-based content of 25 % by weight, making Natural Foam Technology's 53 % bio-based content more than double the federal requirement.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this certification and be the first foam technology do so,” said Natural Foams’ Director Jeff Rowlands. “It will help raise our profile in the world of bio-renewables and give a boost to those using our technology.” Certification means those using the company’s bio-foams can sell into the US government preferred purchasing programme and into the retail environment with a BioPreferred Label attached to their products.

“It’s important for us that the public see this information to make more educated choices about shopping sustainably,” said Rowlands. The announcement comes in the same month that NFT’s underlying NOP-based technology received patent approval by the US Patent Office. Rowlands said it was “a big milestone” for the company that would reinforce their work further increasing the natural content in foam while further reducing the carbon and chemical footprint. “We’re developing non-hazardous sustainable solutions for foam in furniture, bedding and potentially the automotive industry as well that is driving product innovation and safeguarding the environment.”