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March 1, 2011 - The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 has been
adopted by the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) as part
of its new industry-wide Environmental & Safety Program.
The three-tier label and seal program stipulates OEKO-TEX®
Standard 100 as a substantiating certification to
reassure consumers that their sleep products are free
from harmful levels of dangerous substances and safe for
people. OEKO-TEX® certification is cited for sleep
products bearing the Level II seal and the highest Level
III seal. SSA’s Environmental & Safety Program was
developed through collaboration with sleep products
manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers in an
unprecedented effort to define environmental and safety
standards for the industry and to communicate clearly
and honestly with consumers. The program was two years
in development and included consumer research and a
thorough evaluation of the key standards and
certifications available in the industry. In addition to
meeting all regulatory mandates, the program also
outlines requirements for natural materials and
addresses carbon footprint monitoring, VOC emissions
assessments, and other environmental and safety
measures. The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is referenced in
Level II and III for latex foams and the textile
components of a mattress.
“Consumers are concerned about the environmental and
health safety of their sleep products and that they are
made in ecologically responsible ways,” says SSA
President, Dale T. Read. “SSA developed this
comprehensive, three-level system to allow manufacturers
and retailers to clearly convey these critical points
through a comprehensive labeling system and
easy-to-understand seals that help consumers identify
the best product choices for them.”
The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification ensures that
products are tested to be free from unsafe levels of
more than 100 chemicals that are believed to be
detrimental to human health, substances such as lead,
formaldehyde, heavy metals, carcinogenic dye stuffs, and
phthalates. In addition, OEKO-TEX® tests for color
fastness and pH levels, both of which can affect the
safety of sleep products. The OEKO-TEX® Restricted
Substances List is constantly reviewed to confirm that
it reflects the strictest global regulatory
requirements, the most current textile chemistry and
manufacturing processes, and the latest medical
knowledge.
“We are proud that SSA references the OEKO-TEX®
Standard 100 in its Environmental & Safety Program,”
says Dr. Sam Moore, who represents OEKO-TEX® in the US.
“We applaud the specialty sleep products industry’s
initiative to make sleep products safer and to educate
consumers so they can make more informed choices for
themselves and their families.”
For more information on OEKO-TEX®, visit
www.OEKO-TEX.com.
To learn more about SSA’s Environmental & Safety
Program,
click here or visit their showroom in Las Vegas or
their new High Point showroom in April 2011.
About SSA
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 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. SSA has showroom in Las Vegas and High
Point.
For more information regarding the SSA, contact
Executive Director Tambra Jones at
tambra@sleepinformation.org, 559-868-4187,
559-676-8639 |
