Polyurethane foam industry veteran Michael Crowell has been named executive director of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam and its CertiPUR-US program. He succeeds Robert Duffy who is retiring.

Crowell has more than 40 years of senior management experience in the polyurethane foam industry, including technical, manufacturing, sales and market positions. For the past 10 years, Crowell served as vice president of marketing and sales for Flexible Foam Products Inc., where, among other duties, he had responsibility for government and industry product compliance. During the six years prior, he was vice president for automotive sales at Flexible Foam.

"The CertiPUR-US program is growing exponentially," Crowell said. "I'm excited to work with a program that is contributing value to both the bedding and upholstered furniture industries by providing science-based, credible answers to consumer questions about content and emissions."

Polyurethane foams that earn CertiPUR-US certification label are made without ozone-depleters, formaldehyde, PBDE flame retardants, prohibited phthalates, lead mercury, heavy metals, and other materials of concern, and are low emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million). Certified foams must also meet physical performance and durability standards. Certified foams are verified periodically through random testing.