Simmons Hospitality Institutes New Mattress Recycling Initiative

ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Simmons Bedding Company and its Hospitality Division ("Simmons Hospitality") announce today the implementation of a new mattress recycling program. The company recently partnered with Global Sustainability Solutions ("GSS") to handle recycling services for hospitality sales. This initiative marks one of the most significant milestones in Simmons' sustainability efforts. 

The new Simmons Hospitality/GSS program will provide mattress installation, removal and recycling services, including delivery coordination and installation of the new product, as well as removal and transportation of the old bed sets ­– including bedframes – to a designated recycling plant.

Under this new program, hospitality clientele purchasing new product from Simmons, such as the new Simmons Hospitality Beautyrest® Recharge® line, are offered the option of recycling their old mattresses through purchasing GSS' services. The company offers complete turnkey service (including installation, removal and recycling), as well as removal and recycling services only. 

"Simmons' partnership with GSS gives our hospitality clients a cost-effective, hassle-free recycling option that dually streamlines the replacement process and battles landfill waste," says Steve Tipton, Vice President of Simmons Hospitality. "Through this partnership, we are proudly taking an active role in developing viable solutions to the mattress disposal dilemma."

Mattress recycling has gained traction in recent months, with states working with the International Sleep Products Association to find green solutions for mattress disposal. Earlier this summer, Connecticut passed the nation's first recycling bill, requiring industry-led nonprofit organizations to develop a mattress-recycling plan by July 2014. The California State Senate also approved a bill, which, if passed by the California Assembly, creates a state-run nonprofit organization that would coordinate mattress recycling statewide.  

"Old mattresses are nearly 100 percent recyclable, which essentially means that our industry produces one of the most sustainable products in the marketplace. The new state-sponsored programs and legislation lay a great foundation for industry-wide policy change, and we hope sustainability initiatives like Simmons' encourage other bedding manufacturers to pick up the torch as well. Through our new hospitality recycling program, Simmons is doing its part to give hotel owners and brands an environmentally-friendly option for mattress disposal and ultimately further the fight for more sustainable industry conventions," says Tipton.

For more information, please visit www.simmonshospitality.com.

About Simmons Bedding Company
Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company ("Simmons") is one of the world's largest mattress producers and the maker of Beautyrest®. Simmons manufactures and markets a broad range of products including Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®, ComforPedic® from Beautyrest®, Beautyrest TruEnergy® and BeautySleep®. Simmons operates 19 conventional 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, helping ensure consumers around the world are LIVING LIFE FULLY CHARGED™. For more information, visit www.Beautyrest.com, or follow Beautyrest on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and are expressed in good faith. However, these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Simmons's expectations, including, but not limited to, operational pressures, including our ability to launch new products on a timely basis, the success of our new products and costs related thereto; our product liability, intellectual property and other litigation claims; and strategic decisions, including potential acquisitions and personnel realignments. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, either to reflect new developments or for any other reason.

FOR INFORMATION
Christina Schrempp
404.835.4521
cschrempp@3atlanta.com

SOURCE Simmons Bedding Company