Green Bedding Standards Initiative Announced

Environmental issues are increasingly of importance when we decide which products to buy. Examples of this in the bedroom include organic bed linens, environmentally friendly memory foam, etc. One problem for consumers has been the lack of any clear definition of terms like "green", making it difficult to compare buying choices.

Now the US Specialty Sleep Assoication (SSA) has announced a "green initiative" to introduce industry wide standards for environmental labelling of products such as mattresses, box springs and pillows. The SSA has joined the Sustainable Furnishings Council and plans to such terms as "green", "natural", "all-natural" and "organic".

SSA President Dale T. Read said:

"While we laud the overall movement towards environmentally-friendly sleep products, we are aware that there is a green washing taking place at retail, with every manufacturer and supplier using its own definitions of what is green, sustainable 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"

The final set of standards is expected to be ratified by summer 2009