Polyurethane is a greener alternative to PVC (vinyl) and leather in both production and after-care. Naturally soft and flexible, polyurethane does not require the solvents used to soften PVC or leather in the manufacturing process. Leather production is an especially chemical-laden process involving heavy metals. Polyurethane can also be designed to deteriorate after a period of use specific to interior design applications, whereas PVC never degrades. It leaches toxins into landfills and emits carcinogenic dioxin when incinerated.
Brentano polyurethane
Our polyurethane textiles are manufactured in facilities that are conscientious of the green movement and have clear environmental goals. All of the manufacturers we use for our polyurethane textiles are either 14001 certified or compliant with local pollution protection laws, and the pigments and chemicals used in their facilities comply with REACH guidelines.
All of the faux leathers in Brentano's  leather and  ultra friendly categories satisfy the VOC emissions requirements for California Section 01350. Future testing will include the  hand category.
Beauty of Faux Leather
Designed to be appreciated for their own merits and not simply as an imitation of leather, Brentano's faux leathers embody a beautiful array of styles. Whether quilted, woven, embroidered, printed, or presented in any other variety of ways -- from the 13 striking colors of
Galaxy, to the embroidered geometric pattern of
City Block, to the multilayer subtle printing of
Mineral -- their range of colors and hands make them at home in any luxurious interior environment.
Performance of Faux Leather
By varying the materials used in production, we have developed the strength and hand of each textile. Polyurethane fabrics are also intrinsically less rigid than PVC, moisture resistant, and easy to clean. Most of our polyurethane-based faux leathers can even be cleaned with bleach.
Brentano polyurethane textiles all combine beauty + performance, but some offer different benefits than others. To reflect the nuances of Brentano's polyurethane faux leathers, we have subdivided them into three categories:
leather, hand, and ultra friendly.
LEATHER - Tough microfiber backings make these the strongest of our polyurethanes. All surpass 100,000 double rubs and 200 lbs. breaking strength.
HAND - These are the softest and most pliable of our polyurethane faux leathers.
ULTRA FRIENDLY - Our greenest polyurethanes use a patented dry process that uses one third of the energy of traditional methods and almost no solvent.
Note: All decorative products are classified according to the base material.
Created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 14001 is a set of international standards pertaining to environmental management systems (EMS). An EMS is a framework that helps a company achieve environmental goals by setting up an individualized environmental policy that sets objectives and targets for improving environmental performance. According to the ISO website ( www.iso.org), an EMS meeting the requirements of ISO 14001 is a management tool that enables an organization to "identify and control the environmental impact of its activities, products or services." It also allows a company to "improve its environmental performance continually and to implement a systematic approach to setting environmental objectives and targets", as well as achieving these goals and demonstrating how they have been achieved.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as gases emitted from certain solids or liquids. They include a variety of chemicals which may have short and long-term negative health effects. Because VOCs can collect in high concentrations indoors, it is important to produce interior products that emit few VOCs.
The California Section 01350 test is a small-scale chamber test for materials for interiors, such as paint, wallpaper, and fabric. It is a pass/fail test that evaluates a material for toxic chemicals, including VOCs, at very low levels. Materials must meet stringent California state guidelines. If a material passes, it is deemed suitable for use in the education sector and is listed on the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) website ( www.chps.net). The mission of CHPS is to facilitate design, construction, and operation of schools that are not only energy and resource efficient, but also provide a healthy environment.
All of the faux leathers in Brentano's leather and ultra friendly categories satisfy the VOC emissions requirements for California Section 01350. Future testing will include the hand category.
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