See How Certification Can Differentiate Your Product on the Shelves (2024)

We pride ourselves in being the foremost authority in identifying products that are safer and healthier for people affected by asthma and allergies, and we take that responsibility very seriously. Unlike some “Seal of Approvals,” we do not accept paper-based evaluations of manufacturer data. Each standard is written and approved by a medical and scientific advisory committee using best-in-class data. We require each product to be tested at an independent approved laboratory facility in compliance with the relevant standard in that product category. Testing takes approximately 12 weeks and involves the use of climate-controlled chambers using live biological agents by a team of scientists. Aside from the allergen and chemical testing, we also take into consideration other factors that are important to consumers, such as comfort physiology and physical performance to ensure it can withstand the necessary cleaning recommendations.

Certification runs for as long as the Certification contract is valid, subject to audit and compliance reviews to ensure that each product remains eligible for Certification.

All brands must comply with the standard terms and conditions of our Brand Manual and Licensing Agreement, which will also specify which countries/geographies are approved. As long as these legal requirements are met, we strongly encourage brands to use the certification mark on your packaging, digital assets, and also through distributors and retail stores. We can even provide guidance, advice, consultation, and support to help you use Certification effectively, educate retailers or distributors, and transform your digital landscape.

No, but we do reserve the right to inspect products to ensure compliance to the relevant certification standard. From time to time, we will announce amendments to existing standards to ensure that they remain up-to-date with the latest technologies and data. This may require all products in that certification category to pass an additional set of tests to ensure that they are compliant with the updated standard. However, this will be communicated to each company in advance with necessary lead time to make any required changes to the product. We also require that companies notify us if there are any changes to the product formulations or manufacturing environment.

Unlike other certification marks that look at other areas such as energy efficiency and environmental protection (which are all great things!), we focus solely on a product’s impact to human health. Consumer trend analyses show that people are growing more concerned about what’s better for their health, their family, and their home and not just sustainability and eco-focused. Independent studies of our Certification Mark show that it is an important addition to a portfolio of CSR initiatives and helps contribute to brand strength, trust, and social consciousness.

Our Certification has been around for over 12 years and is used worldwide to signify that products have met our standard criteria. The strength of our program relies on best-in-class test methods and assurance that each product has been evaluated for efficacy and impact on asthma, allergies, and the home environment before permitting usage of the Certification Mark, as opposed to relying on manufacturer’s data or testing reports (which can often be inaccurately reported or tested in facilities that are not properly vetted).

Certified products are better choices for everyone – not just people with asthma or allergies. In order to be certified, products must show an added benefit and score in the top percentile of the relevant standard criteria to demonstrate their effectiveness, therefore ensuring that they contribute toward a healthier home environment, such as improving air quality or limiting exposure to toxic chemicals.

For years, physicians, allergists, and immunologists have recommended that in addition to medicinal treatment, patients should purchase products that will reduce triggers in their home environment to help control symptoms. However, the marketplace is full of misleading claims on product packaging, making it difficult for consumers to choose products that are better choices. The FDA does not govern use of the term ‘hypoallergenic,’ and there are no federal standards in this area to protect consumers. Therefore, we created this Certification Program not just to help consumers identify products, but also to help manufacturers validate their allergy-related marketing claims through 3^rd party scientific evaluation of product performance.

About 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, and 26 million Americans suffer from asthma. Asthma alone is the #1 cause of school absenteeism and #1 cause of ER visits among children, contributing to the healthcare cost burden from doctor’s visits, ER visits, and hospitalisations. This problem is worsening by the decade; and there has been a 100% increase in asthma and allergy prevalence over the past 30 years. Now, asthma and allergies are considered a Top 5 Hazard to Human Health Worldwide!