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June 25, 2009 -
When nearly 30 bedding
executives from industry leading
companies met recently for the
first Specialty Sleep
Association (SSA) Green
Initiative Conference, the group
determined that the industry
needs a common set of
definitions, terms and standards
to reduce consumer confusion
about the level of environmental
impact some bedding products can
have.
Participating companies included
Simmons, Sealy, Tempurpedic,
Serta, Natura World, Foamex,
Hickory Springs, Anatomic
Global, , I-Care, Cargill,
Organic Mattresses Inc. (OMI)
and Anatomic Global. This
conference marked the first time
industry leaders gathered to
discuss the need for
standardizing the way “green” is
defined in bedding products.
Now, the SSA has released a
complete DVD of the proceedings
so that those who were not there
can see the information that was
presented at the meeting, and
hear the discussion that ensued.
As part of launching the next
step, the SSA is encouraging
manufacturers and suppliers to
understand the impact and
importance of the initial
meeting of the mattress/ bedding
industry’s “Green Initiative.”
“We were gratified by the number
of companies that participated
in our Green Initiative
conference; however, many
leading manufacturers and
suppliers were unable to join us
do to conflicts such as InterZum
in Europe,” said Tambra Jones,
executive director, SSA. “We
believe that by hearing the
words of our speakers via our
educational DVD, others will
want to join in and help us
create what is sure to become an
industry standard.”
Speakers included Anatomic
Global President Jeff Scorziell,
who led a discussion about what
mattress manufacturers were
hearing from consumers and their
retailers about the importance
of being “green.” Ralph
Rossdeutscher, president and CEO
of Natura World, explained his
company’s green labeling which
identifies how much natural
material, by weight, goes into
each of his products. Walt
Bader, president of OMI,
discussed the pristine
conditions under which its
mattresses are produced and the
organic certifications its brand
carries. Anne Kozel, specialty
sleep brand director of Simmons
talked about Simmons’
relationship with the
charismatic Danny Seo to help
give exposure to its green line
and the importance of what she
termed “light” green bedding for
the consumer who wants to be
environmentally sensitive but
also budget conscious.
The second panel discussion
focused on “How to Not Re-Invent
the Wheel --- Green Terminology,
Standards and Existing
Regulations.” Susan Inglis,
executive director of the
Sustainable Furnishings Council,
explained how her organization’s
green certification program had
worked in the case goods
industry.
Vicki Worden, an expert on
launching products and services
with green labels shared
examples of other industries
that have taken steps to develop
rating systems and standards
around the “greenness” of their
products and recommended steps
for the SSA to follow.
Finally, Stijn Devaere of
Centexbel, one of the larges
green certification
organizations in Europe,
discussed the proliferation of
green labels in Belgium and
Europe that center around the
words “natural” or “organic” and
which standards his organization
follows to provide
certification.
The SSA Green Initiative is a
process designed to identify,
define and standardize how
mattress manufacturers and
retailers label “green” and
natural sleep products. The
group will shortly announce a
nine-company initial Board of
Governors to recruit up to 40 to
50 mattress/ bedding
manufacturers …raise funds… hire
staffing and consultants and set
the specific goals and direction
for the “ Green Initiative”
program. The SSA Green
Initiative Educational DVD is
available for $100, plus
shipping. Those who attended the
recent conference can purchase
the SSA DVD for $15, plus
shipping. Any company joining
the SSA, becoming a member of
the SSA “Green Initiative”
working committee and ordering
the DVD will be credited $85
toward the “Green Initiative”
dues structure.
Companies interested in
learning more about the SSA or
to purchase the SSA Green
Initiative Educational DVD
should contact SSA Executive
Director Tambra Jones,
tambra@sleepinformation.org. |
