NSF International has developed a U.S. standard for sustainable commercial furnishing fabrics-NSF/ANSI 336: Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric. The goal of the science-based standard is to bring credibility and transparency to the marketplace while helping to eliminate greenwashing.
NSF/ANSI 336 addresses the environmental, economic, and social aspects of fabrics used in commercial furniture and other furnishings. A variety of fabrics can be certified to the standard, including woven, non-woven, bonded, and knitted fabrics used for upholstery, as well as vertical fabrics and decorative top of bed applications. The standard also incorporates life cycle assessment criteria, which measures inputs, outputs, and environmental impacts of textile products across their entire lifespan.
The standard outlines several criteria that are used to measure a product’s sustainability characteristics. The criteria are divided into categories such as fiber sourcing, water and energy use, and recycling practices.
