MANUFACTURERS AND TRADE GROUPS JOIN TO LAUNCH
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT ALLIANCE

ISPA to Advocate for Common Sense Product Stewardship Solutions
Alexandria, VA – Product manufacturers and trade associations from a wide range of
industries have joined together to launch the Product Management Alliance, a national
organization that promotes free-market solutions to address product stewardship. The
International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) became a founding member of the group
because its advocacy efforts will support the interests of the mattress industry.
Alliance members share a common belief that all parties in the supply chain share
responsibility to effectively manage a product throughout its life cycle. The group will
advocate for voluntary, market-based solutions to these issues and incentives for
increased recycling and sustainable design.

Product Management Alliance founding members represent the mattress, carpet,
electronics, toys, paper, packaging and transportation materials, plastics, personal goods,
and pharmaceuticals industries. Christopher Hudgins, ISPA Vice President of
Government Relations and Policy, will serve on the board of directors.

“As more states consider policies to address the disposal of mattresses, we will work with
decision makers to educate them on the benefits of product management systems that
recognize voluntary programs and spread responsibility among all parts of the
manufacturing and distribution process,” said Christopher Hudgins. “Inefficient and
costly mandatory programs for product disposal should be avoided, and flexible market costly mandatory programs for product disposal should be avoided, and flexible marketbased
systems that will achieve more economical results should be encouraged.”

The Product Management Alliance will monitor and examine the economic and
commercial impact of public policy initiatives that mandate so-called “extended producer
responsibility” programs that shift the costs of product collection and recycling solely to
the manufacturer. The Alliance will also work with experts in industry and government
to develop consistent policies for recovery, take-back programs and other extended
producer responsibility models.

Additional information about the Product Management Alliance can be found at
www.productmanagementalliance.org.

 

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SLEEP PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION
Established in 1915, the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) is dedicated to
protecting and enhancing the growth, profitability and stature of the mattress industry.
As the industry’s trade organization, ISPA represents over 600 mattress manufacturers
and suppliers throughout the world.

ISPA provides a wide range of member services, including industry surveys and
statistics, advocacy support, educational offerings, the ISPA EXPO trade show, safety
research through its Sleep Products Safety Council, consumer research and education
through its Better Sleep Council, Bed Times and Sleep Savvy publications, and the ISPA
Earth™ Industry Sustainability Initiative.