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March 11, 2009 - The Specialty Sleep Association
(SSA) announced today it is
launching the first
mattress/bedding industry “Green
Initiative.” This initiative is
a step-by-step process designed
to identify, define and set
standards for how mattress
manufacturers and retailers
label “green” and natural sleep
products such as mattresses, box
springs and pillows. The
ultimate goal will be to create
a certification program based on
existing legitimate standards
and programs as well as sleep
industry specific terms and
standards for mattresses and
bedding. This initiative will be
the first time any North
American national sleep products
industry group has created a
uniform standard.
“While we laud the overall
movement towards
environmentally-friendly sleep
products, we are aware that
there is a green washing taking
place at retail, with every
manufacturer and supplier using
its own definitions of what is
green, sustainable or natural.
This is causing a tremendous
amount of confusion with
consumers and we as an industry
must take a leadership role in
creating a uniform set of
standards and definitions,” said
SSA President Dale T. Read, who
is also the publisher of BEDROOM
Magazine.
The SSA green standards
initiative will kick-off with an
industry wide conference in May
8, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point,
Bonita Springs, FL that
is expected to identify and
define a set of standards which
are expected to be ratified by
the summer of 2009.
“Since its inception as an
advocacy group for innovative,
technology-driven sleep systems,
the SSA has always been a leader
in promoting natural, healthier
and safer sleep solutions for
consumers. Educating consumers,
retailers, suppliers and
manufacturers about existing
standards, and defining new
‘green standards’ for the
mattress/bedding industry is the
most important mission we could
embrace in 2009,” Read said.
The SSA Board of Directors voted
unanimously in early February to
support the initiative. The
non-profit organization chose to
commit to a process of defining
critical terms and standards for
the sleep industry, rather than
wait for the government or a
non-mattress/bedding outside
agency to define these terms and
set these standards. The SSA has
joined the Sustainable
Furnishings Council, and will be
working closely with the
extensive information this
council has developed for
sustainable and green standards.
Among other challenges, the SSA
will define such terms as
"green,” “natural,”
“all-natural” and “organic."
With confusion among consumers
and debates in the mattress
industry over what constitutes
“sustainable” or “green,” the
organization will reach out to
the entire industry ---
retailers, manufacturers and
suppliers --- and invite them
into the process beginning with
a SSA “Green Initiative” opening
conference May 8. Thought
leaders in the sleep and home
furnishings industry will offer
presentations on
“environmentally-friendly”
bedding at this first meeting
scheduled to review, discuss and
formalize the SSA “Green
Initiative” process.
Memory foam, latex, air, gel,
water, adjustable, new spring
technology, natural and organic
bedding products continue to
fuel the growth of the bedding
industry.
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 air, flotation, latex,
foam and adjustable sleep
surfaces, and related
merchandise. SSA membership is
comprised of more than 100
manufacturers and retailers
ranging from small, family-owned
businesses to large
corporations.
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