SCS Global Services (SCS) and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) today are announcing an initiative aimed at growing the asthma & allergy friendly(R) certification program internationally. Consumer products and building materials carrying the asthma & allergy friendly mark are scientifically proven to support the needs of people affected by allergies or asthma.

The strategic initiative, announced at the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, will further strengthen and expand the certification program’s accessibility in the green building product manufacturing sector.

“Globally, there is an opportunity for manufacturers to access the growing consumer market for healthier products,” said SCS Vice President of Corporate Sales and Marketing Stanley Mathuram. “asthma & allergy friendly is a robust certification, and a mark that consumers trust. We are pleased to add it to our portfolio of services. SCS’s depth of knowledge about product manufacturing and supply chains, combined with the breadth and reputation of ASL’s standards, should help companies deliver qualified products to the business and residential markets."

ASL’s physicians and scientists developed the asthma & allergy friendly certification in 2002 and have since awarded the mark to millions of products across 38 categories. To earn certification, products must undergo rigorous chemical, physical and allergen testing to prove that they contribute to healthier home and workplace environments. Certified products help consumers address indoor air quality, limit their exposure to harmful chemicals, and reduce allergens and irritants that can trigger symptoms.

“This initiative will be catalytic for the certification,” said ASL CEO Dr. John McKeon. “SCS is an innovator in the field of indoor air quality and a marketplace leader in certification. Its global scope and credibility make SCS the ideal certification body to bring the asthma & allergy friendly certification to more products in more countries.”

Current categories of certified products include flooring, insulation, wall paint, HVAC, furnace and automobile air filters, as well as bedding, toys and cleaning products. Additionally, certified electronics and appliances include washers, dryers, vacuums, air purifiers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers. asthma & allergy friendly products can be purchased around the world, including at U.S. retailers, such as The Home Depot, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target and Amazon.

“As a client of both ASL and SCS, Owens Corning sees tremendous opportunity in the companies working together to grow the market for asthma and allergy friendly products, like our high-performance Pure Safety insulation, and to facilitate increased consumer access to them,” said Owens Corning Senior R&D Leader for Product Sustainability Jesús Hernández-Torres, Ph.D. “Pure Safety was the first insulation to earn this certification, and we know it matters to consumers that the products they use in their homes have been vetted by a trusted third party.”