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Simmons Bedding Company Joins
the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium (HSPC)
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Simmons® to collaborate with other hospitality-focused organizations
to build an industry-wide sustainability performance index
Simmons Bedding Company Joins the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium (HSPC)

�Our goal in joining the Consortium is to continue as an industry leader in the development of sustainability criteria of most importance to the Hospitality Industry,� said Steve Tipton, Vice President of Simmons® Hospitality Bedding. Our participation allows us to continue to invest in product innovation and provide economic and environmental solutions that meet the needs of guests, owners, and the industry overall.� He concluded, �We have been working with sustainable materials and processes for years to create a careful balance of cost, return on investment, quality and sustainability, and we are happy to be collaborating with other industry leaders to achieve this balance.�

Simmons and the HSPC

The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium (HSPC), created and led by MindClick SGM�, is a collaborative organization to help hotel owners purchase products that both reduce their properties� environmental impact, and contribute to guest comfort, health and well-being.

Simmons Hospitality Bedding, along with other Consortium members, will help establish criteria for creation of a new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI). The Index will include measures of corporate social responsibility, environmental and product sustainability. Product categories covered include furnishings, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), and operating supplies and equipment (OS&E).

With more than 4.5 million hotel rooms in the United States, the hospitality industry contributes at least 650,000 mattresses to American landfills each year. HSPI will help reduce this impact, by recommending performance criteria that encourage mattress recycling programs, the use of recycled, recyclable, and healthy materials, and product innovation that extends the life of a mattress beyond the traditional seven years.

�We are happy to welcome Simmons to the Consortium,� said JoAnna Abrams, CEO of MindClick SGM�. �It is important to the success of the HSP Index that the Consortium reflect the perspective of a broad group of suppliers, as well as brands, and asset owners.� She concluded, �Like other leaders in the industry, Simmons has demonstrated how to balance cost, quality and sustainability. We look forward to their contribution in shaping the HSP Index.�

Simmons Hospitality Bedding joins existing Consortium members Marriott International, Audit Logistics, Aqua Hospitality Carpets, Benjamin West, Contract Decor International, Delta Faucet Company, Innvision, InterfaceFLOR, Majestic Mirror and Frame, PE INTERNATIONAL Inc., Quiltcraft Industries, Richloom Fabrics Group, RTKL, SERA Architects, and Valley Forge Fabrics.

About the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium
Established in June 2011 by MindClick SGM�, the Consortium is comprised of a group of leaders in the hotel industry representing brands, suppliers, architecture and design firms, purchasing companies, owners and sustainability experts. Led by MindClick, Consortium members are working collaboratively to provide the industry with a unified approach to greening the global supply chain. The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI) will set the criteria for sustainable purchasing and create a repository of supplier performance in the areas of corporate social responsibility, product, and environmental sustainability. For more information visit www.hspiconsortium.com.

About MindClick SGM�
MindClick SGM, a leading sustainability research and consulting firm, provides clients with performance measurement tools to develop, implement, improve and promote product and company sustainability. Serving clients ranging from global Fortune 1000 companies in consumer products, automotive, and hospitality, to family owned building products suppliers, to government municipalities, MindClick drives growth through sustainability. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in San Francisco and Seattle, MindClick combines a decade of experience in sustainability with 20+ years of research, product development and marketing expertise. The result is sustainability performance rating services that provide executive decision makers with the knowledge to maximize business success. For more information, visit www.mindclicksgm.com.

About Simmons Bedding Company
Atlanta-based 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® NxG®, ComforPedic by Simmons�, ComforPedic Loft�, Natural Care® and BeautySleep®. Simmons Bedding operates 19 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding also serves as a key supplier of beds to many of the world�s leading hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons Bedding Company is committed to developing superior mattresses and promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around the world. For more information, visit www.simmons.com or follow Simmons Bedding on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About AOT Bedding Super Holdings, LLC
AOT Bedding Super Holdings, LLC owns and manages two of the world�s largest bedding manufacturers, Simmons Bedding Company and National Bedding Company, LLC. Under AOT Bedding�s direction and leadership, the two companies work together where joint activities can achieve efficiencies, enhance results or provide better products and services to customers. In the marketplace, Simmons is responsible for maximizing the success of the Beautyrest®, ComforPedic®, Natural Care® and BeautySleep® brands, while National Bedding is responsible for its competing brands of Serta®, iComfort® and Perfect Sleeper®.
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Media Contact:
Michael Frenkel, MFC PR
212-808-6559
for MindClick/HSPC
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