Polyurethane is a greener alternative to PVC (vinyl) and leather. Comparatively, polyurethane is much more environmentally friendly in both production and after-care. PVC contains chloride and does not biodegrade. In landfills, it leaches toxic additives and when incinerated, it emits carcinogenic dioxin. Leather production is a chemical-laden process that uses heavy metals.
Polyurethane is biodegradable and is designed to deteriorate after usage. The life cycle of polyurethane can be specifically designed for the interior design textile industry. Naturally soft and flexible, polyurethane does not require the solvents used to soften PVC or leather. General cleaning of polyurethane surfaces often only requires soap and water. Polyurethane-based faux leather is also an animal friendly alternative to natural leather.
Brentano polyurethane
Brentano uses standard leather tests on our polyurethane faux leathers, allowing us to tailor the life length of a fabric to specific applications such as outdoor, upholstery, and ultra friendly polyurethane textiles. Our polyurethane textiles are manufactured in facilities that are conscientious of the green movement and have been researching to reduce the use of solvents and emission of VOCs, amongst other environmental goals. For example, one manufacturer captures solvents in a distillation tower to reuse and recapture. Additionally, the manufacturers are either 14001 certified or compliant with local pollution protection laws. All pigments and chemicals used in the facilities comply with EPA guidance.
All the environmentally friendly faux leathers in Brentano’s leather category have passed the VOC emissions test California Section 01350. Further testing for other categories is in progress.
Beauty of Faux Leather
Designed to be appreciated
for their own merit and not simply as an imitation of leather, Brentano offers
a beautiful array of styles, ranging from the 18 striking colors of the supple Royal Coach, to the embroidered geometric
pattern of City Block, to the multilayer subtle printing
of Mineral.
Performance of Faux Leather
More affordable than leather and less rigid than vinyl, our faux leathers offer the strength and durability of each with additional benefits. All of our polyurethane based faux leathers are easy to clean and are moisture resistant, and some, such as Streetcar are solvent resistant as well. Different materials are used as substrates for the polyurethane face, which contribute to the strength and hand of an individual textile.
Brentano polyurethane textiles all combine beauty + performance, but some have different strengths than others. To reflect the nuances of Brentano’s polyurethane faux leathers, we have subdivided them into the following three categories: leather, hand, and ultra friendly. Those in the leather category are the strongest of our polyurethanes. All surpass 100,000 double rubs and 245 lbs. breaking strength. Those included in the hand category are the softest and most pliable of our polyurethane faux leathers. Lastly, the ultra friendly series is the greenest category, using a patented method which requires almost no solvent and uses only 1/3 of the energy of traditional methods.
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 are consistently higher indoors, it is important to produce interior products that contain low numbers of 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 the eco-friendly faux leathers in Brentano’s leather category have passed the VOC emissions test California Section 01350. Further testing is in progress.
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