Today, whether specified or implied, environmental protection is a key concern. Ultrafabrics® products give strategic advantages over both leather and vinyl-based products. In addition to providing an animal-friendly alternative to genuine leather, Ultrafabrics, LLC delivers important environmental benefits in both production and end-use.

Environmentally Sound Production

Ultrafabrics® products are part of a new generation of technologically advanced, polyurethane-based materials that are recognized for the ways they protect the environment. The process used to create Ultrafabrics® products minimizes effluent, reduces emissions and consumes less energy. In fact, Ultraleather passes California Protocol 01350 for volatile organic compound emissions.

No POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) - a set of toxic chemicals linked to cancer and damage to the nervous and immune systems. Ultrafabrics® products contain no heavy metals, formaldehyde, Azo-dyes or any other toxic chemicals such as nitrogen oxide, pyroxlyn (nitrocellulose), chloride or sulfur.

Free of any PBDEs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers) – used in some FR treatments and suspected to cause damage to the nervous and reproductive systems and which have been found in women’s breast milk.

Ultrafabrics® products are manufactured using an environmentally safe process with no toxic by-products. Practically all (over 99%) of the solvents are recaptured and subsequently recycled.

In our manufacturing process, we use liquid gas (LPG) instead of exhaust gas (CO or CO2) as a source of energy. This prevents air pollution that is caused by carbon monoxide/dioxide – known greenhouse gases that contributes to the potential for ‘Global Warming’.

All Ultrafabrics® products comply with the newly effective (July 2006) RoHS Directive by the European Union. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances is an initiative to limit the large amounts of toxic "E-waste", and our fabrics contain none of the  six hazardous materials that are restricted.

Ultrafabrics® products inherently meet the criteria established by international organizations such as Greenguard™ and Oeko-Tex. Both have rigorous requirements for products meeting low emission standards and not containing harmful substances.

Animal Friendly Alternative

Ultrafabrics® products combine aesthetics and performance that are superior to genuine leather… and no guilt over animal cruelty and the conditions under which ‘skins’ are obtained and processed.

The tanning process prevents animal leathers from bio-degrading.

Oil-based, potentially toxic aftercare that is normally used on genuine leathers to preserve the skin and protect against stains is not needed on any Ultrafabrics® products.

Animal skins are turned into leather using a variety of dangerous substances including mineral salts, formaldehyde, coal-tar derivatives and various oils and dyes – some of which are cyanide based.

Most U.S. produced leather is “chrome-tanned” – the EPA considers all waste containing chromium to be hazardous.
 

Superior to Vinyl

Polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) might begin with the same “poly” prefix, but that’s where the similarity ends! Finished fabrics of PVC are nearly environmentally indestructible and can release hydrochloric acid and other toxic compounds when produced or burned.

Ultrafabrics® products contain none of the volatile plasticizers and stabilizers that are found in many vinyl-based products

The production of expanded PVC foam releases toxic plasticizer (phthalates) into the air. Plasticizers not only contribute to air pollution, but are suspected carcinogens

The stabilizers added to prevent PVC resin from degrading during processing include compounds suspected of other health risks.
 

Post-Production & Consumer Benefits

Ultrafabrics® products are the fabric of choice for all interior applications because of the environmental benefits they provide. We never use materials in our manufacturing process or our packaging that are harmful to the environment or to human beings.

The backcloth of the fabric is composed of reinforced rayon – a biodegradable product made from the cellulose in wood pulp – a natural and renewable source

All of our boxes, as well as the inner core or tubing, are biodegradable and recyclable

Ultrafabrics® products are produced in a more energy-efficient manner than that which is normally used in the manufacturing of PVC and the tanning of genuine leather

Ultrafabrics® products inherently meet the criteria established by international organizations such as Greenguard™ and Oeko-Tex. Greenguard™ measures for indoor-air quality, and all of our fabrics meet their standards for fabrics and furnishings

Oeko-Tex has a very detailed and lengthy list of substances they test for – including the plasticizers used in PVC and chromium for tanning leather; neither of which are in any Ultrafabrics® products.