PrimaLoft® Insulation Obtains bluesign® System Partner Status

ALBANY, New York — (March 16, 2011) — PrimaLoft®, the world leader in performance insulation, recently conducted the bluesign® screening and was subsequently awarded compliance with the bluesign® criteria, establishing PrimaLoft® as the first branded insulation manufacturer to obtain bluesign’s system partner status.

Effective immediately, PrimaLoft®’s ONE, SPORT and ECO insulation products manufactured in Nantong City, China, will carry the esteemed bluesign® certification. This certification ensures brands, retailers and consumers that PrimaLoft® insulation is an environmentally friendly product and can still be counted on for epic thermal performance in both dry and wet conditions.

Furthermore, brands and retailers seeking to become bluesign® members with certified bluesign® products are required to use bluesign® approved raw materials and fabrics from suppliers and textile mills that are certified bluesign® system partners.

According to Sebastian Baumgartner, Communications for bluesign® technologies ag, “We are very proud to welcome PrimaLoft® to our system partner network. PrimaLoft® is the first ever insulation company to become a bluesign® system partner and committed to the criteria set by the bluesign® standard.”

Baumgartner continued, “This is outstanding proof of the acceptance and importance of the bluesign® standard in this industry. In addition, PrimaLoft® will allow a large number of brands, retailers and end consumers to benefit from the positive effects of the bluesign® standard.”

PrimaLoft® offers premium insulation products that are engineered for performance and is recognized globally as the performance insulation of choice for world-class brands in the outdoor, home, military, fashion, hunting and workwear markets.

“As a company with roots steeped in the outdoors, PrimaLoft® is committed to taking steps to minimize our impact on the environment,” said Eileen Berner, sales and marketing director for PrimaLoft®. “Achieving the bluesign® standard assures consumers, brands and retailers that PrimaLoft® is a trusted partner with products that can be not only counted on to perform, but also adhere to strict environmental, health and safety regulations.”

One of the most renowned environmental certifications in the world, the bluesign® standard evaluates each ingredient from raw materials and chemical components to natural resource consumption and the occupational health of the workplace environment. bluesign®’s proprietary Input Management Process analyzes every component to eliminate the use of potentially harmful substances in the textile manufacturing industry without compromising the product’s functionality, quality or design.

bluesign® system partners and members demonstrate awareness and responsibility to consumers, while cultivating a positive movement towards sustainability in the industry.

About PrimaLoft®:
PrimaLoft® is a registered trademark of Albany International Corp. PrimaLoft® insulation was originally developed for the US Army as a water-resistant synthetic alternative to down. Today, PrimaLoft® is regarded as a research and development leader in high performance insulations and yarns, which provide warmth and comfort from head to toe. Its family of products are manufactured in the US, Europe and Asia. The PrimaLoft® brand is recognized globally and is used in leading outdoor and fashion brands, home furnishings, work wear and military applications. For more information, please visit www.PrimaLoft.com.

About bluesign®:
bluesign technologies ag was founded in 2000. Since then, the bluesign® standard has been adopted by different worldwide leading textile manufacturers. Various significant key players of the chemical and machine industry rely on the bluesign® standard and endorse it as bluesign® supporters. Several well-known brands of the sporting goods and fashion industry benefit as bluesign® members of the extensive know-how of bluesign technologies. In 2008 SGS has acquired a 50% stake in bluesign technologies ag.

Media Contact:
Verde PR
Theresa Blake
Theresa@verdepr.com
970.259.3555