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Specialty Sleep Association Announces 'Green Initiative' to Establish First 'Green' Standards in Bedding Industry

Posted on: Wednesday, 11 March 2009, 11:19 CDT

FRIANT, Calif., March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) announced today it is launching the first mattress/bedding industry "Green Initiative." This is a step-by-step process designed to identify, define and set standards for how mattress manufacturers and retailers label "green" for 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 American national mattress products industry group has created a standard.

"While we laud the overall movement towards green sleep products, we are aware that there is a green washing at retail, with every manufacturer and supplier using its own definitions of what is green 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 publisher of BEDROOM Magazine.

The SSA green standards initiative which kicks-off with an industry wide conference on May 8 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 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 SSA chose to commit to a process of defining critical terms and standards for the sleep industry, rather than wait for the government or 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 to define such terms as "green," "natural," "all-natural" and "organic."

With debates in the mattress industry over what constitutes "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 on May 8, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs, FL. Thought leaders in the sleep and home furnishings industry will offer presentations on "green" bedding and will 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.

Companies interested in attending the SSA "Green Initiative" meeting, please contact tambra@sleepinformation.org. For additional information, visit www.SleepInformation.org.

Press interviews, please contact Andrea Pass, 201-204-4223, apass@scompr.com

SOURCE The Specialty Sleep Association

Source: PR Newswire

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