Simmons Hospitality Bedding (“Simmons”) announced today that all of the polyurethane foam varieties used in the company’s hotel mattress offerings have earned the CertiPUR-US® certification seal, verifying that the foams are low-VOC, free from ozone-depleting CFCs and made without PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, prohibited phthalates and other potentially harmful materials. Simmons’ use of CertiPUR-US-certified foams is a major part of the company’s communications during this week’s Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference in Las Vegas, and Steve Tipton, vice president of Simmons Hospitality Bedding, will discuss the CertiPUR-US certification seal in his opening remarks at today’s Hospitality Design Green Day luncheon. Simmons is the first major mattress manufacturer to use only CertiPUR-US-certified polyurethane foams in its products, and this achievement further demonstrates the company’s growing commitment to environmental sustainability, which is also reflected in its zero-waste manufacturing policy and ongoing efforts to reduce the number of mattresses annually discarded in landfills.
“Today’s hotel guests, like all consumers, want to know that the everyday products they encounter meet strict environmental, health and safety requirements,” said Tipton. “People have complete control over the items they use at home, but they must trust a hotel’s product selections while traveling. When a hotel features mattresses made with CertiPUR-US-certified foams in its rooms, it shows a concern for guest health and well-being that helps visitors rest easier—both literally and figuratively—during their hotel stay.”
To achieve the CertiPUR-US certification seal, foam suppliers must send product samples to an independent, third party laboratory for 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. CertiPUR-US-certified foams also must meet durability-related performance standards, another step toward improved sustainability. 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.
“Because the hospitality industry is well-known for its dedication to sustainability and to creating healthy indoor living environments, we expect that many hotel properties will find the idea of specifying bedding and furniture products containing CertiPUR-US-certified foams appealing,” said Robert Luedeka, executive director of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam. “When it comes to ensuring the quality of its polyurethane foam components, Simmons Hospitality Bedding is ahead of the pack. They’ve really set an example for other hotel mattress and furniture producers.”
For more information about Simmons Hospitality Bedding, visit www.simmonshospitality.com. For more information about the CertiPUR-US certification seal, visit www.certipur.us.
About Simmons Bedding Company
Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company is one of the world's largest mattress manufacturers, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of products including Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®, Beautyrest® NxG®, Beautyrest Studio™, BeautySleep®, ComforPedic by Simmons™, Natural Care® and Beautyrest Beginnings®. Simmons Bedding operates 19 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities and one juvenile bedding manufacturing facility across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding also serves as a key supplier of beds to many of the world’s leading hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons Bedding is committed to developing superior mattresses and promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around the world. For more information, visit Simmons Bedding’s Web site, www.simmons.com.
CertiPUR-US is a registered certification mark of Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc.
