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INVISTA Earns SCS Global Services' Validation of Its Performance-Testing Protocols

KENNESAW, Ga. – INVISTA announced that SCS Global Services (SCS), an internationally recognized independent certifier and standards developer, has provided third-party validation of the Antron® fiber brand Comparative Claims Standards Process. This validation confirms that the process, which evaluates carpets made from Antron® fibers under key technical performance parameters, is based on sound science and produces statistically significant results. INVISTA sought the expertise of SCS, which has been conducting independent certification in the carpet and green building sectors for two decades, to evaluate the Antron® brand’s protocol, methodologies and comparative findings of its performance testing process. After a thorough review, SCS validated that the process adheres to industry standardized test protocols, as well as stringent supplemental testing and rigorous evaluation methodologies, to evaluate technical performance characteristics such as soil and stain resistance, colorfastness and texture retention. SCS further validated that the results yielded by this process constitute statistically valid comparative performance claims. “INVISTA places a strong emphasis on performance of its products,” said Marc Ahrens, commercial vice president. “We are pleased that SCS has validated the rigor and science behind our processes for confirming this performance, both in terms of technical parameters and the environment.” He noted that Antron® fiber has already been certified by SCS as an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP)* in its category, signifying superior environmental performance based on a full life cycle assessment (LCA). "We are pleased to confirm that INVISTA's Comparative Claims Performance Standard provides a scientifically sound basis for comparing the performance characteristics of carpets made from Antron® fiber with other fiber sources," said Keith Killpack, Manager, LCA Services as SCS Global Services. "Technical performance plus environmental preferability is a real win-win for Antron® customers." “With all of the product claims in the market, it has become increasingly hard for customers to determine if performance and environmental claims made by manufacturers are valid,” stated Ahrens. “Our goal is to provide customers with information they can rely on, which this third party validation should provide.” SCS’ comprehensive evaluation and resulting validation gives customers the assurance that carpets made with Antron® carpet fiber will meet their carpet performance expectations, thereby decreasing the need for premature replacement. This can play a significant role in reducing both the costs associated with replacement and the environmental impact. “Specifiers and end-users can be confident that they are selecting carpets with long-term performance and durability and a much lower environmental impact than carpets made from competing fibers,” said Ahrens. About Antron® Carpet Fiber All Antron® nylon carpet fiber is: EPP certified by SCS, based on life cycle assessment (LCA); made of type 6,6 nylon with hollow filament fiber shapes; protected by DuraTech® soil resistance treatment; and screened through a rigorous certification process. In 2009, INVISTA commissioned a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) conducted by Boustead Consulting & Associates Ltd., a renowned global leader and third-party expert in environmental life-cycle evaluations, to help our customers better understand the environmental benefits of Antron® fibers. These LCA results, reinforced by the LCA results from the SCS EPP certification process, are the basis of the eco-profiles of INVISTA’s manufacturing processes for Antron® carpet fibers. Combining these results with data from real-world performance testing conducted by INVISTA’s technical team showed that carpets of Antron® nylon can last 75% longer than the majority of competitive nylon carpets and that carpets of Antron® fiber can have 38% lower energy consumption and 42% lower greenhouse gas emissions (expressed as CO2 equivalents) than the majority of competitive carpets*. The approach to Antron® nylon performance claims, the Antron® walk test methodology and the Antron® performance claims themselves are certified by SCS as technically sound. *Results based on testing a representative sample of carpets of comparable construction, style and color. For more information on Antron® carpet fiber, please call 1-877-5ANTRON or visit antron.net.

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