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July 26, 2010 - The Specialty
Sleep Association (SSA) is
launching the mattress
industry’s first
Environmental Program to
better educate and inform
consumers of the components in
the sleep products they buy.
After more than a year of
research and industry
involvement, the leading trade
association has created a
two-step label and seal that
will appear on mattresses from
manufacturers who join the
program that informs the
consumer about the minimum
environmental and safety
compliance levels the particular
product adheres to, along with a
label that lists components in
the mattress.
Manufacturers in the program pay
a fee to the SSA to use the
label and seal, and complete an
extensive application process
with documentation that backs up
claims. Consumers wanting
further information beyond the
seal and label will be able to
go the SSA’s website for more
detailed information and can
contact the organization if they
wish to learn more about a
specific manufacturer’s
component filing.
 To
display the Level I seal, a
manufacturer must meet all
federal safety flammability
requirements; provide a
warrantee for the product; meet
all safety requirements for
children’s products if
applicable; disclose material
construction with a descriptive
label content; participate in an
annual survey to identify carbon
footprint issues and has
committed to continuous
improvement; and meet standards
set by the Montreal Protocol Act
when applicable, for reduction
or elimination of ozone
depleting substances. For the
Level II seal, a manufacturer
would have to meet all the
requirements of the first
threshold and in addition: meet
California Section 1350 testing
for low VOC emissions and
validate that the mattress’
textile covering contains no
harmful substances.
Several manufacturers have
already signed onto the program
and plan to show mattresses in
compliance with the program at
the forthcoming Summer Las Vegas
Furniture Market beginning
August 2nd. A leading industry
supplier has provided the
preliminary funding to launch a
consumer education program
through the enhancement of the
current SSA website and a new
social networking initiative
that will launch when the first
mattresses are expected to hit
retailer’s floors.
“Purchasing safe and
environmentally friendly
products is an overwhelming
concern of consumers. The SSA
Environmental Program represents the best way
to finally deliver a clear
message, through a revolutionary
new label and education program,
that the bedding industry is
listening to that concern. The
SSA is proud to have taken a
leadership role in this
important task of creating
clarity in defining the broad
terms being used to define
environmentally friendly
products as part of our ongoing
mission to promote natural,
healthier and safer sleep
solutions for consumers,” said
SSA President Dale Read.
“The SSA Environmental Program is all about
transparency and education. It
represents a unification of
suppliers, manufacturers and
retailers around a set of
environmental terms and
definitions that will reduce
confusion and bolster sales to
consumers anxious to purchase
environmentally friendly
products,” he added.
SSA Environmental Program is the result of the SSA’s
“Green Initiative,” which
brought together 15 leading
manufacturers, suppliers and
retailers who studied and
debated how the industry
represented various
environmental terms like “green”
and “natural” to consumers. The
group conducted a major study of
consumers and retail sales
associates to provide input, as
well as looking at numerous
certification programs and
standards currently in use
around the world. The process
culminated in a comprehensive
report delivered to industry
leaders earlier this year.
“The SSA Environmental Program is the next step in
standardizing the information
about environmentally-friendly
sleep products available to
consumers. The SSA Environmental
Program seal will not
only provide an industry
standard for what is green,
sustainable or natural, but will
also give retail sales
associates the opportunity to
discuss mattress safety, female
consumers’ number one concern,”
added Read.
Founded in 1995, the Specialty
Sleep Association (SSA) is a
national not-for-profit
organization created to
facilitate the growth and
positive awareness of the
specialty sleep category. Its
members develop and/or sell
specialty sleep products,
including natural and organic
bedding, latex, memory foam,
air, gel, water, adjustable, new
spring technologies and related
products. SSA membership
includes more than 100
manufacturers and retailers
ranging from small, family-owned
businesses to large
corporations.
For more information
regarding the SSA, please
contact Executive Director
Tambra Jones at: 559-868-4187 or
559-676-8639 or by email:
tambra@sleepinformation.org. |
