SSA Adopts Oeko-Tex Standard

February 24, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Bedroom on February 25, 2011

The Specialty Sleep Association has adopted the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 as part of SSA's new industry-wide Environmental & Safety Program.

The three-tier label and seal program stipulates Oeko-Tex Standard 100 as a substantiating certification to reassure consumers that their sleep products are free from harmful levels of dangerous substances and safe for people. Oeko-Tex certification is cited for sleep products bearing the Level II seal and the highest Level III seal.
 
SSA's Environmental & Safety Program was developed during the past two years through collaboration with sleep products manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in an effort to define environmental and safety standards for the industry and to communicate clearly and honestly with consumers.

The development process included consumer research and an evaluation of the key standards and certifications available in the industry. In addition to meeting all regulatory mandates, the program also outlines requirements for natural materials and addresses carbon footprint monitoring, VOC emissions assessments, and other environmental and safety measures. The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is referenced in Level II and III for latex foams and the textile components of a mattress.
 
"Consumers are concerned about the environmental and health safety of their sleep products and that they are made in ecologically responsible ways," said SSA President Dale T. Read. "SSA developed this comprehensive, three-level system to allow manufacturers and retailers to clearly convey these critical points through a comprehensive labeling system and easy-to-understand seals that help consumers identify the best product choices for them."
 
The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification ensures that products are tested to be free from unsafe levels of more than 100 chemicals that are believed to be detrimental to human health, substances such as lead, formaldehyde, heavy metals, carcinogenic dye stuffs, and phthalates. In addition, Oeko-Tex tests for color fastness and pH levels, both of which can affect the safety of sleep products. The Oeko-Tex Restricted Substances List is constantly reviewed to confirm that it reflects the strictest global regulatory requirements, the most current textile chemistry and manufacturing processes, and the latest medical knowledge.
 
"We are proud that SSA references the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 in its Environmental & Safety Program," said Dr. Sam Moore, who represents Oeko-Tex in the United States. "We applaud the specialty sleep products industry's initiative to make sleep products safer and to educate consumers so they can make more informed choices for themselves and their families."