Education and Research For an increasing number of consumers, knowing what is inside a mattress adds to sleep comfort.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 9 out of 10 people now recognize that a comfortable mattress is key to a good night’s sleep. But a growing number of consumers are also looking for another kind of comfort when they buy a new mattress—confidence in knowing the contents of one of the most important products they will bring into their home.
Amidst confusing and often inaccurate information in the media and on the internet, concerns related to indoor air emissions, chemicals—particularly flame retardants—can make shopping for a mattress a perplexing process.
A not-for-profit organization administers the CertiPUR-US foam certification program to help mattress buyers make better decisions using information based on scientific data, content analysis and laboratory testing of mattress foams.
“The number of calls we get from consumers has risen dramatically during the past few months,” explains Mike Crowell, executive director. “There are a number of people making decisions about whether to buy a mattress based on whether the foam is certified. It’s not unusual for a caller to thank us for the service we are providing. It’s very gratifying.”
The program was established a number of years ago to address an influx of substandard foams coming into the U.S. In some cases, these substandard foams contained chemicals that were restricted. In response, a group of foam manufacturers worked in conjunction with environmentalists, academics, industry and consumer groups, and chemists to develop a testing, analysis, and certification program specifically for the flexible polyurethane foam used in bedding products and upholstered furniture.
Certified foams are made without ozone depleters, mercury, lead, and heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants. The foams are also tested to be low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality.
“The integrity of our program is paramount,” says Crowell. “This is not an easy standard to pass. Foam producers have to re-certify every year and we conduct random verification testing just to keep everyone on their toes.”
CRaVE Mattress is proud to have the CertiPUR-US certification in all of our mattresses.