Specialty Sleep Association doing away with green-washing
This month the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) is meeting in Bonita Springs, Fl in an attempt to wrestle down green and organic terms. Other than chemicals added for fire retardants, there are no regulations on what goes into a mattress or what must be disclosed.
Greenwashing is a fairly new term, but one that’s easily understandable. Make a product sound greener than it is and you’ve just greenwashed your consumer.
The SSA hopes to change that though by bringing manufacturers together on an equal playing field. Like many other industries, third party regulation is on the horizon. Getting manufacturers to comply ahead of time benefits everyone in the long run.
“The SSA is proud that Simmons, Serta, and Sealy have now joined our organization as we step forward and lead our industry and our customers into an eco-friendly future,” said Dale Read, president of the SSA and publisher of Bedroom Magazine. “We need to operate from a common set of terms and definitions so our customers can make knowledgeable comparisons and buying decisions about ‘green’ bedding products.”
The SSA Board of Directors unanimously support 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.
“When you buy a mattress or a pillow or a duvet, it shouldn’t be a battle to find out exactly what it’s made of,” said Ralph Rossdeutscher Head Honcho of Natura and member of the SSA. “That’s why we support the SSA and why we label Natura mattress on showroom floors with an ingredient list. We can tell you what you’re sleeping on – from the top to the bottom.”
If you’re curious about Greenwashing and how it can affect other products in your life, check out these resources:
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So within how much time there will be unique international standrards for mattress manufacturing? Are there any standards for green (eco friendly) mattress currently?
- Vincent
Thanks for leaving a comment, Vincent. There are no international standards that mandate what can go into a mattress – or what must disclosed about the contents. Even within countries, it’s a fuzzy area. Hopefullly as consumers demand more information, the industry as whole will join together and make it easier to find that information. Hope that answers your question a bit – even if it’s not the answer you were hoping for.