Simmons Kids Crib Mattresses Achieve Greenguard Certifications
All Simmons Kids crib mattresses and contour changing pads meet stringent chemical emissions standards set by respected environmental quality monitor
(Vocus) October 14, 2010
Simmons Kids, the children’s mattress division of Simmons Bedding Company, announced today that its complete portfolio of crib mattresses and contour changing pads have received the prestigious GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality and GREENGUARD Children & Schools℠ Certifications from the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting human health and quality of life through improved indoor air quality. GEI is among the most widely respected organizations related to indoor air quality, and products pursuing its certifications must undergo extensive testing for thousands of potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals. Simmons Kids’ achievement of GREENGUARD Certification verifies that all Simmons Kids® crib mattresses and contour changing pads meet GEI’s strict chemical emission standards and helps to reassure parents of the superior safety and high quality of Simmons Kids products.
“Many parents are concerned about their children interacting with products that emit or release chemicals, and crib mattresses are of special concern because of how much time infants spend in their cribs,” said Nancy Villars, director of sales for Simmons Kids. “Parents place a lot of trust in third-party organizations that independently test and confirm the safety of a product, so when consumers see the GREENGUARD Certified mark on our packaging, they’ll feel confident purchasing a Simmons Kids crib mattress because they know it will help contribute to a healthier indoor environment for their baby.”
To qualify for GREENGUARD Certification, products must undergo extensive testing of all components to measure off-gassing of chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene and toluene. The product’s total emission levels are also tested in the product’s fully assembled form. Furthermore, GEI requires products to undergo annual recertification testing and quarterly quality monitoring to ensure ongoing compliance with GEI emissions standards.
The issue of poor indoor air quality has gained a higher profile in recent years as consumers have become aware that many everyday household products can release chemicals into the air that may be inhaled by a room’s occupants. Indoor air pollution can be especially problematic for children since they breathe in more air proportionally to their body size than adults, which could result in a higher level of exposure. While the complete effects of such chemical exposure are unknown, poor indoor air quality can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms as well as cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness. Long-term exposure can cause cancer or damage to the heart, liver, kidneys and nervous system.
“Indoor air pollution can significantly impact a family’s health and the quality of life that they experience in their home,” said Henning Bloech, executive director of GEI. “GREENGUARD Certification helps put parents’ minds at ease by confirming that the products they purchase will not negatively impact the air in their indoor environment. We’re thrilled that Simmons Kids achieved GREENGUARD Certification. In doing so, they’ve demonstrated an industry-leading commitment to healthier living and improving the lives of their customers.”
Aware of the growing concern around the presence of chemicals in products, Simmons has examined its entire product line looking for ways to enhance the safety and eco-friendliness of its products. In addition to obtaining GREENGUARD Certification for Simmons Kids crib mattresses and contour changing pads, all of the polyurethane foams in Simmons® and Simmons Kids mattresses have earned the CertiPUR-US® certification seal, verifying that the foams are low-VOC and free from ozone-depleting CFCs. CertiPUR-US certification also confirms that foam products are made without PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, prohibited phthalates and other potentially harmful materials.
To achieve the CertiPUR-US certification seal, petitioning foams undergo rigorous durability testing and are sent to an independent, third-party laboratory for indoor air quality emissions testing as well as a content analysis. Simmons played an instrumental role in facilitating the CertiPUR-US certification process for each of its foam suppliers, encouraging them to obtain the certification as a way to reassure consumers about the safety of polyurethane foams. For more information about Simmons Kids, please visit http://www. simmonskids. com
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, http://www. simmons. com.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events and financial performance. Words such as "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "intends," "believes," "forecasts" and variations of such words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events, results or trends, or that do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements are expressed in good faith and Simmons believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that the events, results or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Simmons's expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to: (i) compliance with covenants in, and any defaults under, our 11.25% senior secured notes indenture and our asset-based lending (ABL) credit agreement; (ii) the potential adverse impact of our post-bankruptcy structure on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations; (iii) interest rate and credit market risks; (iv) competitive pressures in the bedding industry; (v) general economic and industry conditions; (vi) our ability to launch new products on a timely basis, the success of our new products and the future costs to rollout such products; (vii) legal and regulatory requirements; (viii) our relationships with, exposures to credit risk and viability of our suppliers, significant customers and licensees; (ix) fluctuations in our costs of raw materials and energy prices; (x) our ability to hold or increase prices on our products and the related effect on our unit sales; (xi) an increase in our return rates and warranty claims; (xii) our labor relations; (xiii) encroachments on our intellectual property; (xiv) our product liability, intellectual property and other litigation claims; (xv) our level of indebtedness; (xvi) foreign currency exchange rate risks; (xvii) our future acquisitions; (xviii) our ability to achieve the expected benefits from any personnel realignments; (xix) higher bad debt expense as a result of increased customer bankruptcies due to instability in the economy and slowing consumer spending; and (xx) our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to operate our business. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, either to reflect new developments or for any other reason.
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