Nine bedding executives chosen for Green Initiative's board

Specialty Sleep Association group is developing standards for green bedding

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, July 14, 2009

FRIANT, Calif. — Nine bedding manufacturers and suppliers will serve as the initial governing board of the Specialty Sleep Assn.'s Green Initiative, the SSA has announced.

The Green Initiative is aimed at developing common set of definitions, terms, standards and processes to reduce consumer confusion about the environmental impact of specific bedding products. The goal arose from the first Green Initiative Conference the SSA held in Florida in May.

"This group of nine top industry executives from prominent bedding companies will appoint and direct the recruitment of the working committee to carry out the Green Initiative," said Dale Read, president of the SSA, who will serve as a 10th, ex-officio member. "Our goal is to bring on board at least 40 to 50 top mattress industry manufacturers and suppliers to serve as the real working committee to create these definitions, terms and standards."

Members of the Green Initiative governing board are:

• Ralph Rossdeutscher, president and CEO, Natura World

• Jeff Scorziell, president, Anatomic Global

• Martin Rawls-Meeham, manager, Reverie

• Anne Kozel, specialty sleep brand director, Simmons

• Bart DeHaerne, president, Deslee Textiles, USA

• Jim Wall, general manager, I Care Sleep Products

• Mark Larusso, vice president, Jeffco Fibres

• Gerry Borreggine, president and CEO, Therapedic

• Kevin Stein, vice president marketing/R&D, Latex International

In addition to recruiting the working committee, the board will determine outside sources needed to carry out the mission of the Green Initiative.

Companies interested in learning more about the Green Initiative should contact SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones at tambra@sleepinformation.org. For more information, visit www.sleepinformation.org.