AAFA's asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program

Strong partnerships create stronger impact.

It was great to connect recently with our partners at Renegade Brands and reflect on the progress we've made together through the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, while also looking ahead to the opportunities on the horizon.

As consumer awareness of indoor environmental health continues to grow, we're seeing increasing interest in products that have been independently tested and certified to support healthier home environments. This is particularly true within the laundry category, where consumers are becoming more conscious of the ingredients and products they bring into their homes.

That's why we're proud to partner with Renegade Brands and support their Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified Free & Clear® laundry products — helping consumers make more informed, evidence-based choices with greater confidence.

Some of the highlights from our recent discussions included:
✅ Expanding awareness of certified Free & Clear® laundry products and their benefits for consumers living with asthma and allergies
✅ Strengthening digital education and optimization initiatives to better communicate the value of certification
✅ Exploring innovative partnerships and community-focused initiatives that improve access to healthier product choices
✅ Planning future collaboration opportunities through industry events, workshops, and educational content

What continues to stand out about the Renegade Brands team is their commitment to combining product innovation with consumer education — ensuring that certification is not just a mark on a package, but a tool that helps consumers navigate an increasingly complex marketplace.

Thank you to the entire Renegade Brands team for your continued partnership and shared commitment to healthier homes.

We're excited for what's ahead.

🇮🇪🤝🇺🇸 Collaboration across borders is helping drive healthier buildings and better indoor air quality outcomes.

During our recent Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Trade Mission to Chicago, it was fantastic to spend time with our long-standing partners at Knauf North America and reflect on the momentum we've built together over the past year.

From product certification and specification adoption to industry education and IAQ awareness, our partnership continues to demonstrate what can be achieved when manufacturers, certification bodies, and industry stakeholders work toward a shared goal.

Some of the highlights from our discussions included:
✅ Growing adoption of IAQ-focused certification language within architectural and engineering specifications
✅ Continued engagement through AIA and ASHRAE educational initiatives, supporting industry learning around healthier buildings
✅ New storytelling and awareness opportunities focused on the role building materials can play in improving indoor environmental quality
✅ Ongoing collaboration with advocacy, industry, and community partners to amplify the conversation around healthier indoor spaces

As an Irish company working with industry-leading organisations across North America, these conversations are a powerful reminder of the value of international collaboration and partnership.

A special thank you to Enterprise Ireland and David O'Flaherty for hosting us in the fantastic Chicago office space throughout the week. Having a base to connect with clients, partners, and industry stakeholders made the trade mission even more impactful.

Excited for what comes next as we continue working together to advance healthier buildings, healthier indoor environments, and greater awareness of the importance of indoor air quality.

One of the highlights of our recent Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Trade Mission to Chicago was spending time with our valued partners at Kimberly-Clark and the Kleenex team.

Since earning Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification in 2024 for their Kleenex® Elite Allergen Air Filters (MERV 12 and MERV 13), the team has demonstrated a genuine commitment to helping consumers create healthier indoor environments. As conversations around home wellness continue to grow, indoor air quality remains one of the most important — and often overlooked — factors in supporting overall wellbeing.

What continues to impress us most is that Kimberly-Clark's commitment extends beyond certified products. Through ongoing community initiatives and donations of certified air filters in Chicago and other regions across the U.S., they are helping make cleaner indoor air more accessible to families who need it most.

It was fantastic to connect in person, celebrate the progress we've made together, and begin planning for the second half of 2026. From consumer education initiatives to community impact programs, we're excited about the opportunities ahead to continue raising awareness of the role cleaner indoor air can play for people living with asthma and allergies.

Partnerships like these demonstrate what's possible when industry leaders, health advocates, and certification bodies work together toward a common goal: helping people breathe clean air at home.

Thank you to the Kimberly-Clark and Kleenex® Air Filters teams for your partnership and continued commitment to healthier indoor environments.

What if the air in your classroom or office played a bigger role in focus, attendance, and well-being than you realized?

Research suggests it does, especially for the 106 million people in the U.S. living with asthma and allergies.

This Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, our latest blog looks at the two indoor environments where Americans spend the most time, schools and workplaces, and why indoor air quality (IAQ) matters for everyone inside them.

What you'll learn:
✓ How IAQ shapes cognition, attendance, and comfort
✓ Practical, evidence-based steps to improve air at school and at work
✓ Why independent certification matters in a market full of "hypoallergenic" claims
✓ The Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified partners helping create healthier classrooms and offices

Read more: https://zurl.co/0nysE

Three May observances with one shared thread.

Clean Air Month, National Building Safety Month, and National Home Improvement Month all have something in common: the air inside our homes.

For the 106 million Americans affected by asthma and allergies, the products in our living spaces shape what we breathe. The portable air cleaner in the bedroom. The paint on the walls. The insulation behind them.

Our latest post looks at how Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified portable air cleaners, insulation, and paints are tested against science-based standards to help improve the indoor air environment where families spend the most time.

Read the full post: https://zurl.co/pgD07

asthmaandallergyfriendly.com

"Removes 99% of allergens." "Hospital-grade filtration." "Whole-house air purification."

The HVAC and air cleaning market is full of bold claims. Independent certification is what separates marketing from measurable performance.

To earn the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification, a whole home air cleaner must demonstrate at least 70% reduction of common allergens (pollen, dust mite, cat allergen), at least 75% reduction of airborne particles in the home, ozone emissions at or below 50 ppb to meet strict safety standards, and lasting performance even after routine cleaning.

This Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, our latest article explores how whole home air cleaners shape indoor air quality across the entire home, and how Trane CleanEffects™ and American Standard's AccuClean™ deliver certified, science-backed performance.

Read our article here: https://zurl.co/RDIr5

Whole Home Air Cleaners and IAQ: Why Certification Matters How Choosing an Independently Certified Whole Home Air Cleaner Can Reduce Allergens and Support Healthier Indoor Environments May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, designated by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) since 1984 to raise awareness about the wide impact of asthma