New Class of Polyurethane Foam Receives First-Ever BioPreferred® Certification

DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND – July 15, 2014 – A new class of sustainable bio-renewable foams developed by Natural Foams Technology in June became the first ever polyurethane foam to be accepted into the U.S. Department of Agriculture's BioPreferred® Program and approved into its labeling and government purchasing system.

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 percent 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 program need only meet a bio-based content of 25% by weight, making NFT'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 biorenewables and give a boost to those using our technology."

Certification means those using the company's biofoams can sell into the U.S. government preferred purchasing program 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."

About NFT: Natural Foams Technology (part of Green Urethanes Ltd) is a British development company with more than 30 years' experience in the polyurethane foam business. The company specializes in green chemistry to develop renewable NOP-based non-emissive foams for the home furnishings market. For more information, please use the contact information and link provided below.