Launch Of BEDFAX Consumer Contents Mattress Label Disclosure Program

Furniture World News Desk on 1/11/2014

Bedfax slogan and header featuring "spokesperson" Goldi Locks.


The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) reported that after 10 months of planning, organizing and spelling out the details of the new BEDFAX mattress contents label program, it will formally offer the third-party contents verification and labeling program to mattress manufacturers and retailers at the Las Vegas market, January 26-30, 2014.

“The BEDFAX program allows mattress manufacturers to submit evidence, paperwork confirming contents verification, testing, percentages of materials and contents make-up of mattresses,” says Dale T. Read, President of the SSA. “This is a voluntary, program, not state or federal law. More and more the consumer wants to know more about the ingredients or materials in a product she is bringing into her home. She wants to be able to look at a contents label, similar to a food ingredients label, and know what is inside the mattress.” Read notes that the BEDFAX does not serve as a law tag or law label, which is required and varies from state to state. BEDFAX is a communications and marketing tool for manufacturers and retailers. It is not a legal requirement. “This BEDFAX program allows manufacturers to place a marketing label declaring the ingredients or contents of mattress, and to say to the consumer that this mattress is offering full disclosure of contents…that there is paperwork on file with the SSA, and that you can access this information through the SSA or at www.BEDFAX.org.” “When you think of buying a car, you think of asking for the CARFAX. When you buy a bed, wouldn’t it be great to get the BEDFAX?” asks SSA Director Tambra Jones.

Read also stated that the BEDFAX.org contents label program is a “what’s inside, contents reveal” program, but does not allow for “green claims.” “Green claims require another level of substantiation. The BEDFAX label program is a broad contents label program that works alongside the SSA Environmental & Safety Program, a Level I through Level IV ‘green claims’ program. If a manufacturer or retailer wants to verify or support their general or specific “green claims,” then they would participate through the SSA Environmental & Safety Program: www.sleepinformation.org / www.BEDFAX.org. . We would advise any manufacturing company wishing to make any kind of “green claim” such as “organic”, “bio-based”, “natural”, “eco-friendly”, etc. to become very familiar with the Federal Trade Commission “Green Guides” for “green claims” marketing, and seriously consider the SSA Environmental & Safety Program Level I –Level IV program.

The BEDFAX program has been actively under development since last March when the Board of Directors held a special planning retreat in Boulder, CO to further shape the program and long-term goals of the SSA. The BEDFAX program is quickly gaining momentum as new tools are made available to consumers, retailers, and manufacturers through the BEDFAX.org website and other media channels.

For more information, contact Dale Read, president of the SSA at (401) 864-4257
daler@marketingarmgrp.com or visit www.BEDFAX.org