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October 13, 2010 -
Simmons Kids, the children’s
mattress division of
Simmons Bedding Company, announced
today that its complete portfolio of crib mattresses and
contour changing pads have received the prestigious GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality and GREENGUARD Children &
Schools Certifications from the GREENGUARD
Environmental Institute (GEI), a not-for-profit
organization dedicated to protecting human health and
quality of life through improved indoor air quality. GEI
is among the most widely respected organizations related
to indoor air quality, and products pursuing its
certifications must undergo extensive testing for
thousands of potentially harmful volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals. Simmons Kids’
achievement of GREENGUARD Certification verifies that
all Simmons Kids crib mattresses and contour changing
pads meet GEI’s strict chemical emission standards and
helps to reassure parents of the superior safety and
high quality of Simmons Kids products.
“Many parents are concerned about their children
interacting with products that emit or release
chemicals, and crib mattresses are of special concern
because of how much time infants spend in their cribs,”
said Nancy Villars, director of sales for Simmons Kids.
“Parents place a lot of trust in third-party
organizations that independently test and confirm the
safety of a product, so when consumers see the
GREENGUARD Certified mark on our packaging, they’ll feel
confident purchasing a Simmons Kids crib mattress
because they know it will help contribute to a healthier
indoor environment for their baby.”
To qualify for GREENGUARD Certification, products
must undergo extensive testing of all components to
measure off-gassing of chemicals such as formaldehyde,
benzene and toluene. The product’s total emission levels
are also tested in the product’s fully assembled form.
Furthermore, GEI requires products to undergo annual
recertification testing and quarterly quality monitoring
to ensure ongoing compliance with GEI emissions
standards.
The issue of poor indoor air quality has gained a
higher profile in recent years as consumers have become
aware that many everyday household products can release
chemicals into the air that may be inhaled by a room’s
occupants. Indoor air pollution can be especially
problematic for children since they breathe in more air
proportionally to their body size than adults, which
could result in a higher level of exposure. While the
complete effects of such chemical exposure are unknown,
poor indoor air quality can aggravate allergy and asthma
symptoms as well as cause eye, nose and throat
irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness. Long-term
exposure can cause cancer or damage to the heart, liver,
kidneys and nervous system.
“Indoor air pollution can significantly impact a
family’s health and the quality of life that they
experience in their home,” said Henning Bloech,
executive director of GEI. “GREENGUARD Certification
helps put parents’ minds at ease by confirming that the
products they purchase will not negatively impact the
air in their indoor environment. We’re thrilled that
Simmons Kids achieved GREENGUARD Certification. In doing
so, they’ve demonstrated an industry-leading commitment
to healthier living and improving the lives of their
customers.”
Aware of the growing concern around the presence of
chemicals in products, Simmons has examined its entire
product line looking for ways to enhance the safety and
eco-friendliness of its products. In addition to
obtaining GREENGUARD Certification for Simmons Kids crib
mattresses and contour changing pads, all of the
polyurethane foams in Simmons and Simmons Kids
mattresses have earned the CertiPUR-US® certification
seal, verifying that the foams are low-VOC and free from
ozone-depleting CFCs. CertiPUR-US certification also
confirms that foam products are made without PBDE fire
retardants, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, prohibited
phthalates and other potentially harmful materials.
To achieve the CertiPUR-US certification seal,
petitioning foams undergo rigorous durability testing
and are sent to an independent, third-party laboratory
for indoor air quality emissions testing as well as a
content analysis. Simmons played an instrumental role in
facilitating the CertiPUR-US certification process for
each of its foam suppliers, encouraging them to obtain
the certification as a way to reassure consumers about
the safety of polyurethane foams.
Simmons Kids® has just concluded displaying its
GREENGUARD Certified products with CertiPUR-US-certified
foams at the All Baby and Child (ABC) Kids Expo, an
industry trade show that runs from October 10 through 13
in Las Vegas.
About Simmons Bedding Company Atlanta-based Simmons
Bedding Company is one of the world's largest mattress
manufacturers, manufacturing and marketing a broad range
of products including Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®,
Beautyrest® NxG®, Beautyrest Studio™, BeautySleep®,
ComforPedic by Simmons™, Natural Care® and Beautyrest
Beginnings®. Simmons Bedding operates 19 conventional
bedding manufacturing facilities and one juvenile
bedding manufacturing facility across the United States,
Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding also serves as a
key supplier of beds to many of the world’s leading
hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons Bedding is
committed to developing superior mattresses and
promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around
the world.
For more information about Simmons Kids, please visit
www.simmonskids.com.
For more information, visit Simmons Bedding’s Web
site,
www.simmons.com.
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