All Simmons foams earns CertiPUR-US seal
A free from potentially harmful materials
David Perry -- Furniture Today, May 17, 2010
ATLANTA — Bedding major Simmons says that all of the polyurethane foams in its mattress lines have earned the CertiPUR-US certification seal, verifying that the foams are free from ozone-depleting CFCs and other potentially harmful materials.
Officials said that Simmons is the first major mattress manufacturer to meet that standard for all of its foams.
The CertiPUR-US certification means that the foam products are made without PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury, formaldehyde and other potentially harmful materials.
Simmons said it facilitated the CertiPUR-US certification process for each of its foam suppliers, encouraging them to achieve the certification as a way to address growing consumer concerns about the safety of polyurethane foams.
"Consumers today are paying very close attention to what's inside the products they purchase - whether it's food, toys, paint, furniture or bedding," said Anne Kozel, brand director of Simmons' specialty sleep division. "They are aware of previous issues with synthetic materials and are especially concerned about foams in mattresses because of the close contact people have with their beds during the night. The CertiPUR-US seal helps provide peace of mind by certifying that the polyurethane-based foams in all Simmons mattresses meet strict health and safety requirements, so consumers can feel confident about buying Simmons products."
In a consumer survey, Simmons found that almost two-thirds of respondents were "very" or "extremely" concerned about the health and safety of the products they buy, and that a large number of consumers were specifically concerned about the contents of their mattresses.
A team of industry leaders, scientists and environmental experts helped develop the CertiPUR-US program for the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, a foam industry trade organization. Eleven foam suppliers have met the CertiPUR-US guidelines and 12 additional foam products are under review.
"Simmons' passion for safety has definitely helped promote the CertiPUR-US seal among foam suppliers and motivated many of them to apply for certification," said Robert Luedeka, executive director of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam. "As the first major mattress manufacturer to use all CertiPUR-US-certified polyurethane foams in their products, Simmons has really set an example for other bedding and furniture producers. Ideally, all foam suppliers will soon meet CertiPUR-US standards."
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More sources offering CertiPUR-US foams
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CertPUR-US unveils educational website
Jan 18, 2012 -
Hickory Springs adding CertiPUR-US foams
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