Glen Raven Custom Fabrics has reinforced its NSF/ANSI 336 Sustainability Assessment with third-party certification by UL Environment, a company providing independent validation of green marketing claims. More than 50 patterns in the Sunbrella Contract fabric line, including those with Defiance® treatment, carry the Silver Level certification.

Glen Raven Custom Fabrics self-certified two of its fabrics – a filling-face twill and plain-weave canvas – under the standard in 2011, the first company to do so since the Association of Contract Textiles (ACT) instituted the sustainability standard for commercial furnishings fabrics. An expanded self-assessment of more than 35 fabrics followed in February 2013.

“This certification reinforces our commitment to the principles which ACT is encouraging in the market, and our shared view that fabric can be a superior example of sustainable design and performance working together,” said John Gant, manager of sustainable development for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics. “We will continue to support ACT in their mission to educate the contract market about this standard and its integration into the design of commercial furniture.”

This spring, ACT is launching their "Facts" certification program, which leverages the NSF/ANSI 336 standard to identify sustainable fabrics and helps promote those products to the trade. Sunbrella Contract fabrics have earned the distinction to carry the “Facts” mark.

The NSF/ANSI 336 Standard is a voluntary sustainability assessment tool that encompasses a range of environmental practices, including fabric sourcing, safety of materials, water conservation, water quality, energy conservation, recycling practices, air quality in manufacturing and social accountability.

UL Environment visited Glen Raven’s manufacturing operations to evaluate the processes and materials, and certified that fifty patterns of Sunbrella Contract fabrics comply with the environmental and social responsibility criteria set forth in the NSF/ANSI 336 system.

“Sunbrella Contract fabrics must live up to Glen Raven’s own rigorous testing and quality standards,” said Allen Hawks, contract market manager for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics. “Securing UL Environment certification was the next step in affirming our commitment to our customers and to the environment.”

Included in the third-party certification is Heritage, a Sunbrella fabric that uses post-industrial recycled fiber. UL Environment audited this unique process and supply chain, and confirmed its integrity and value under the NSF336 standard.

“While the feature of recycled content is truly important, it is also vital that the processing and treatments are carefully designed so that the complete product maintains its environmental value,” Gant said.

Sunbrella Contract fabrics are currently available through a number of contract partners serving the hospitality, healthcare, corporate and education markets, including Carnegie, CF Stinson, Designtex, HBF Textiles, Maharam, Pallas Textiles, Robert Allen Contract, Sina Pearson Textiles and Weitzner.

About UL Environment
UL Environment supports the growth and development of sustainable products, services and organizations in the global marketplace through standards development, educational services and independent third-party assessment and certification. Specific environmental solutions services UL Environment provides include environmental claims validation, sustainable products certification, organizational sustainability guidance, environmental product declarations and advisory services. Additional information about UL Environment can be found at ulenvironment.com. Or follow UL Environment news and education tips on Twitter @ulenvironment.

About Sunbrella Fabrics
Introduced in 1961, Sunbrella revolutionized the way the world thinks about how beautiful fabrics look, feel and perform. The Sunbrella brand is the leading premium fabric choice for awning, marine and furniture manufacturers, offering legendary durability, fade resistance and ease of cleaning.

Upholstery fabrics from Sunbrella are continually advancing in design sophistication and comfort, resulting in applications both outside and inside the home for coordinated décor. Sunbrella fabrics have been certified by GreenGuard, an international standard, for contributing to indoor air quality. Additionally, more than 50 Sunbrella Contract fabrics are third-party certified to the NSF/ANSI 336 Sustainability Assessment, making it the broadest offering of compliant fabrics in the contract market.

Sunbrella fabrics are manufactured and marketed by Glen Raven, a 132-year-old family-owned company based in North Carolina with operations worldwide. For more information on the Sunbrella brand, including fabric resources, visit www.sunbrellacontract.com.