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ISPA Joins Product Management Alliance
November 8,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on November 9, 2011
The International Sleep Products Association is a founding member of the Product Management Alliance, a group promoting free-market solutions to product stewardship.
Product manufacturers and trade associations from a wide range of industries joined to launch group, and ISPA participated because its advocacy efforts will support the interests of the mattress industry. Alliance members share a common belief that all parties in the supply chain share responsibility to effectively manage a product throughout its life cycle. The group will advocate for voluntary, market-based solutions to these issues and incentives for increased recycling and sustainable design.
Product Management Alliance founding members represent the mattress, carpet, electronics, toys, paper, packaging and transportation materials, plastics, personal goods and pharmaceuticals industries. Christopher Hudgins, ISPA vice president of government relations and policy, will serve on the board of directors.
"As more states consider policies to address the disposal of mattresses, we will work with decision makers to educate them on the benefits of product management systems that recognize voluntary programs and spread responsibility among all parts of the manufacturing and distribution process," Hudgins said. "Inefficient and costly mandatory programs for product disposal should be avoided, and flexible market-based systems that will achieve more economical results should be encouraged."
The Product Management Alliance will monitor and examine the economic and commercial impact of public policy initiatives that mandate so-called "extended producer responsibility"programs that shift the costs of product collection and recycling solely to the manufacturer. The Alliance will also work with experts in industry and government to develop consistent policies for recovery, take-back programs and other extended producer responsibility models.