On Wednesday May 24th the CEO and founder of Allergy Standards Limited, Dr. John McKeon, gave a webinar to representatives of retailers, manufacturers, component producers, and influencers in the textile industry. The webinar was hosted by Warren Shoulberg, editorial director of the key industry publication and media portal Home Textiles Today.
Dr. McKeon outlined that management of asthma and allergies focus around trigger factors. And with 14.2 million visits to doctor’s offices each year for treatment, and 70% of households in the US affected by asthma and allergies, there is a huge body of consumers concerned about their indoor air quality. And they are also concerned to know the products they bring into their homes for use by their families are not contributing to asthma and allergy symptoms because of the chemicals or materials they contain. Americans spend $43 billion each year on products marketed toward allergy control. To counteract false or meaningless claims in relation to these kinds of products, Allergy Standards Limited partnered with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to develop the asthma & allergy friendly®® Certification Program. Allergy Standards Limited is an international standards body that has developed scientific protocols against which products are tested before being admitted to the Certification Program. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America is the main patient advocacy organisation for sufferers of asthma and allergy and their families. When the asthma & allergy friendly®® Certification Mark is attached to a product, consumers can be confident that the product has been subject to rigorous scientific tests to ensure it is more suitable for those with asthma and allergy. It is also increasingly being used by retailers as a way of identifying the most suitable suppliers for allergy-focussed textile lines. There are certification protocols for pillows, mattresses, encasements, covers, sheets, comforters, etc., and the Program is also happy to work with component producers. Existing clients of the Certification Program in the textiles space include Hollander, Downlite, Nishat and Welspun. The Certification Program also certifies a wide range of other household products including vacuum cleaners, dehumifiers, insulation, washing machines, cleaning products, and cleaning services. Clients LG, Dyson, Owens Corning and Stanley Steemer. You can listen back to Dr. John McKeon’s webinar above. For more information on the Certification Program, visit www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.com