ATLANTA—Simmons Bedding Company announced that all of the polyurethane foams in the company’s mattress lines have earned the CertiPUR-US certification seal, verifying that the foams are low-VOC and free from ozone-depleting CFCs. The certified foam products are made without PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, prohibited phthalates and other potentially harmful materials. Simmons played an instrumental role in facilitating 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 recent 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. To provide consumers with assurance that the polyurethane-based foams in Simmons mattresses are nontoxic and of the highest quality, the company has required all of its foam suppliers to obtain CertiPUR-US certification.
Meeting Quality Expectations
“We felt it crucial to ensure all foam components utilized in a Simmons mattress demonstrate environmental and durability compliance as part of Simmons’ quality expectations and commitment to consumer safety,” said Sheri McGuire, Simmons’ director of supplier quality. “Simmons is proud of the joint commitment our foam suppliers have made to ensure Simmons’ polyurethane foam products meet the CertiPUR-US program requirements.”
To achieve the CertiPUR-US certification seal, petitioning foams are sent to an independent, third-party laboratory for rigorous durability and indoor air quality emissions testing as well as a content analysis. The examination must demonstrate that the foams meet the environmental, health and safety standards described in the U.S. Voluntary Physical Performance and Environmental Certification Guidelines for Flexible Polyurethane Foam for Use in Furniture and Bedding Items to qualify for the certification. A team of industry leaders, scientists and environmental experts contributed to the creation of these standards while developing the CertiPUR-US program for the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, a leading foam industry trade organization. So far, 11 foam suppliers have met the CertiPUR-US guidelines, and 12 additional foam products are currently 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.”
Go to Simmons and CertiPUR-US.
