Dow Helps Simmons Create Eco-Friendly Sleep Systems

Furniture World Magazine

Looking for ways to live a ‘low-impact’, healthier lifestyle, today, 35 million Americans – or 30 percent of the consumer market – are purchasing products, like organic food and hybrid automobiles, that they consider to be more natural or have a reduced environmental footprint. Consumers continue to look for new products that can meet their growing demand for ‘green’ while at the same time providing the performance they are used to getting from traditional products. In addition, as consumers become more educated as to what makes a product ‘green’, they are paying closer attention to the claims that companies are making and are driving demand for products with ever-increasing levels of renewable content – believing green is ‘good’ but ‘more green’ is better. Going beyond organic sheets and pillows made from natural fibers, consumers can get a ‘greener’ night’s sleep with a new line of mattresses from Simmons Bedding Company. One of the world’s largest mattress manufacturers, Simmons announced that it recently launched a line of Natural Care® mattresses that are endorsed and designed by environmental lifestyle expert Danny Seo and incorporate foam derived from sustainable resources. For this new bedding line, Simmons partnered with Dow Polyurethanes, a business group of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), and selected bio-based foam made with natural oil-based polyols created via RENUVA™ Renewable Resource Technology from Dow. This choice has enabled Simmons to increase the level of renewable content in the mattress without compromising comfort or durability. The bio-based foam, which is used in the base and edge encasement of the Natural Care mattresses, helps enhance the benefits of the latex core, provides a firmer seating edge and maximizes the sleeping surface. The collection made its national retail debut in September 2008 at select retailers as well as on a TV shopping network and has garnered enthusiastic response from consumers who value the combination of comfort, sustainability and style. “We evaluated a number of different foam options before selecting Dow’s bio-based foam with RENUVA Technology for the Natural Care line,” said Anne Kozel, Simmons’ specialty sleep brand director. “RENUVA makes it possible for the Natural Care collection to be even more eco-friendly while allowing us to maintain the quality, comfort and durability that consumers associate with Simmons products. It is wonderful to see that major companies like Dow are recognizing the need for environmentally responsible options, and we look forward to the sustainable solutions Dow will develop in the future.” The bio-based foam used in the Natural Care line is made with natural oil-based polyols (NOPs) produced using RENUVA™ Technology. The technology also helps to eliminate the drawbacks of previous generations of vegetable oil-based foams, such as unpleasant odor and decreased tensile strength, resiliency and increased compression set. Based on foam trial data, Dow scientists demonstrated that its NOPs exceeded Simmons’ high performance requirements for the Natural Care line. RENUVA Technology is a proprietary process that breaks down vegetable oil and functionalizes it to produce a wide range of polyols with high levels of renewable content. The technology is greenhouse-gas neutral and requires 60 percent fewer fossil fuels than the manufacture of traditional petroleum-based materials. “Dow is excited to be collaborating with Simmons. Not only are they an industry leader but their desire to incorporate the highest levels of renewable content in the bio-based foam used for their products showcases the true capabilities of RENUVA Technology,” said Kari Dawson-Ekeland, North America flex slab marketing manager for Dow Polyurethanes. “Dow is leveraging more than 60 years of polyurethane chemistry experience to develop materials that help our customers address consumers’ demand, while also differentiating their products in the marketplace. With RENUVA, Dow and our customers are demonstrating how technology can impact real environmental innovation by helping to create products with higher levels of renewable content that don’t sacrifice performance.” The Natural Care sleep system is currently available through major retailers in the U.S. and Canada, and will become available in select markets internationally in the coming months. For more information about the Natural Care® line, visit www.naturalcarebed.com. About Dow Polyurethanes: Dow is the world's largest producer of propylene oxide (PO), polyether polyols, and is a leading producer of quality aromatic isocyanates, such as MDI and TDI, an essential component of polyether polyols. Dow's polyurethane products and fully formulated polyurethane systems are used for a broad range of applications including construction, automotive, appliance, furniture, bedding, shoe soles, decorative molding, athletic equipment and more. The business manufactures and markets polyurethane products and polyurethane systems that create rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams, adhesives, sealants, coatings, elastomers and binders. Dow also offers the latest in polyol technology with RENUVA™ Renewable Resource Technology and VORANOL™ VORACTIV™ polyols, part of an ongoing initiative by Dow to lead the industry in providing high-performance products. For more information, visit www.dowpolyurethanes.com, www.dowpg.com, www.dowpo.com, www.dowrenuva.com and www.voractiv.com. About Dow: With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com. About Simmons Company: Atlanta-based Simmons Company, through its indirect subsidiary 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 Studio™, ComforPedic by Simmons™, Natural Care®, Beautyrest Beginnings™ and Deep Sleep®. Simmons Bedding Company operates 21 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities and two juvenile bedding manufacturing facilities across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons also serves as a key supplier of beds to many of the world’s leading hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons is committed to developing superior mattresses and promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around the world. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.simmons.com .