Because there have been literally a hundred green mattress products in the market, the choices and claims tend to confuse consumers even more. It is in this breath that the Specialty Sleep Association wants to set standards on green labels  to promote uniformity, among other things.

“While we laud the overall movement toward environmentally friendly sleep products, we are aware that there is greenwashing taking place at retail, with every manufacturer and supplier using its own definitions of what is green, sustainable or natural,” said Dale Read, SSA president. “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 SSA said its ultimate goal is to create a certification program based on “existing legitimate standards” and programs as well as sleep industry-specific terms and standards for mattresses and bedding. Among other challenges, the SSA will define terms such as “green,” “natural,” “all-natural” and “organic,” it said.

The group is holding an industry-wide conference on its green initiative May 8 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, Fla. That conference is expected to identify and define a set of standards that could be ratified by this summer, SSA officials said.

More details at Furniture Today and at SSA