What does it mean when a foam is CertiPUR-US® certified?
It means the foam in the bedding or upholstered furniture has been tested to meet CertiPUR-US® rigorous standards for emissions, content and durability. Specifically, the foam is:
- Made without formaldehyde
- Made without ozone depleters
- Made without phthalates regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Made without mercury, lead and other heavy metals
- Low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million)
- Screened for relevant chemicals, including flame retardants, that are classified as carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxins and are harmful to human health
Here are answers to the most common questions we receive:
A: Our directory is updated weekly. If the company you are buying from is promoting its participation in the CertiPUR-US program and it is not listed on our site, we can’t vouch for their use of certified foam. Please send specific information to info@certipur.us and we will follow-up. It could be that the company is misusing our logo and its products do not contain certified foam—in which case we will take swift legal action. It is also possible the company is legitimately using certified foam, but hasn’t taken the necessary steps to be registered with the program. That process includes our verifying they are purchasing foam from one or more of the foam producers who are part of the CertiPUR-US program.
A: We do not certify furniture, product lines or companies. We only certify flexible polyurethane foam. Our certification is held by the manufacturer of the flexible polyurethane foam and use of our name or logo is conveyed to their customers who verify that they use CertiPUR-US certified foam. Check to see if the company you are considering purchasing from is listed as a company that sells products containing CertiPUR-US certified foam at certipur.us/directory.
A: We don’t sell mattresses! The CertiPUR-US program focuses on certification of flexible polyurethane foam contained in mattresses, pillows, sleep-related products and upholstered furniture (see detailed information about the program here). For information concerning a mattress or upholstered furniture product you have purchased, we recommend you contact the manufacturer or retailer directly.
A: There are few things on this planet that do not “off-gas” to some extent, including your own body! When you buy products made with CertiPUR-US certified foam, you can be confident that the flexible polyurethane foam inside has been rigorously tested by an independent, accredited laboratory to meet specific criteria for content and indoor emissions. Certified foams are low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions for indoor quality (less than 0.5 parts per million). You can find the details in the complete Technical Guidelines at certipur.us/technicalguidelines.
A: CertiPUR-US certified 25% biobased foams meet all of the criteria for our certified foams and in addition have been analyzed by the independent ISO 17025-accredited laboratory Beta Analytic, that specializes in biobased testing services. The percentage of biobased content in the foam is based on the internationally recognized ASTM D6866-22 Method B standard which uses an Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) instrument to measure how much of the carbon within a product is derived from biomass. The result indicates the percentage of the product’s biobased carbon versus fossil-derived carbon. In developing and certifying biobased foams, foam producers are supporting the efforts of upholstered furniture and mattress manufacturers to use environmentally responsible materials in constructing home furnishings for consumer use. Within any one mattress or sofa, for instance, manufacturers may use a combination of CertiPUR-US certified foam and CertiPUR-US certified 25% biobased foam in order to create the optimum balance between comfort, support and durability. When the foam is CertiPUR-US certified, consumers can rest assured that the foam meets our rigorous standards for content, emissions and durability. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “the increased development, purchase, and use of biobased products will reduce our Nation’s reliance on petroleum, and increase the use of renewable agricultural materials. Biobased products also help us increase our use of renewable resources while decreasing our use of non-renewable resources, such as petroleum. Biobased products displace around 300 million gallons of petroleum per year in the U.S., which is the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the road.” Details about certified biobased foams may be found at certipur.us/biobased.
A: Yes. We currently have foam producers participating in the program and offering certified foams from countries throughout the world. As long as the foam meets our rigorous certification and ongoing recertification requirements, it can carry our certification.
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.
A: There are hundreds of flame retardants (FRs) that are used in various consumer products. We identify those FRs that could be used in upholstered furniture or mattresses. A list of the FRs that are prohibited in certified foams can be found in our Technical Guidelines at certipur.us/technical-guidelines.
A: The CertiPUR-US program only certifies flexible polyurethane foam for mattresses, pillows, sleep-related products and 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 would be allowed to use the CertiPUR-US name and logo. You should contact the mattress manufacturer to ask if your model contains latex.
A: Some companies only offer products that contain certified foams, other companies offer certified foams in certain products or certain product lines. Ask the manufacturer to be sure.
A: Companies that have verified they use CertiPUR-US certified foam in their products may use our name and logo, but are not required to label their products or packaging. Lack of our name or logo is not an indication the flexible polyurethane foam inside is not certified. You can look up the companies in our directory to be sure they are participating in our program. If you feel a company is misrepresenting CertiPUR-US certification, please notify us at once by writing to info@certipur.us. If you can include detailed information with a photo, website link, and a contact name, that will help our investigation.
A: There would not be fiberglass in the certified foam used for mattresses, pillows or upholstered furniture. However, some mattress manufacturers surround a mattress’s foam core with barrier fabrics made from fiberglass to help meet government standards for mattress flammability. A mattress zipper is usually there for easy assembly at the factory and not for the customer to use. For that reason, never remove the cover of your mattress, even if it has a zipper, unless the mattress cover is specifically intended to be removed for laundering. Consult the manufacturer’s website or call their customer service department before you zip off your mattress cover. Read more about fiberglass at certipur.us/fiberglass. The best way to protect your mattress from getting soiled is to use a mattress pad or mattress protector on top of the mattress. These products will not diminish the feel or comfort of your mattress but will help keep it clean. Many of these products have waterproof features, and some protectors that cover all sides of your product have the added benefit of deterring bedbugs.
If you still need to reach us, send your question via email to info@certipur.us and we’ll respond very quickly.