Sunbrella® Fabrics Earn Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation

Furniture World Magazine

Sunbrella® brand awning and furniture fabrics have been awarded the “Seal of Recommendation” by The Skin Cancer Foundation, an international organization dedicated to the prevention of skin cancer. The Seal signifies that Sunbrella fabrics have passed the Foundation’s rigorous testing criteria and offer significant levels of sun protection. In addition, Glen Raven, which manufactures Sunbrella fabrics, has become a member of the Foundation’s Corporate Council. This membership will closely align Glen Raven with the Foundation’s educational programs and provide access to cutting edge research related to skin cancer prevention. “The public’s awareness of the risks of sun exposure and the connection with skin cancer is growing every year,” said Perry Robins, M.D., president of The Skin Cancer Foundation which has awarded its seal to 310 products in the U. S. and more than 70 products overseas. “When consumers purchase products that carry our Seal of Recommendation they can be confident that they are getting a safe and effective sun protection product.” An independent Photobiology Committee comprised of experts in the effects of solar radiation determines whether a product meets the Foundation’s rigorous sun protection criteria. To earn the Seal, a manufacturer must prove that its product sufficiently and safely "aids in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin." Sunbrella awning and furniture fabrics were subjected to extensive testing and met The Skin Cancer Foundations standards for Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF). UPF is a measure of the amount of ultraviolet light passing through the fabric. “Consumers have long selected awnings, market umbrellas and boat tops made from Sunbrella fabrics because of the sun protection they provide,” said Harry Gobble, director of marketing for Glen Raven. “With the Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation, these consumers are now assured that an independent organization has documented the level of sun protection provided by products using our fabrics.” Founded in 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation is the only global organization concerned exclusively with the world's most prevalent malignancy - cancer of the skin. The mission of this non-profit organization is to increase public and professional awareness about the prevention, detection and treatment of skin cancer. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.skincancer.org. According to the Foundation, more than 1 million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. The incidence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is rising faster than that of any other cancer. One in 5 Americans will get skin cancer in the course of a lifetime and someone dies every hour from skin cancer, primarily melanoma. By 2010, melanoma is projected to rise to one in 50 Americans. Glen Raven revolutionized the way the world thinks about how beautiful fabrics perform with the introduction of Sunbrella in 1962. Today, durable, easy-care Sunbrella is available in thousands of sophisticated styles, patterns and colors for wherever people live, work and play. Glen Raven, Inc. is based in Glen Raven, N.C. and supplies performance fabrics to customers in more than 120 countries. On the web at www.sunbrella.com.