Product Focus

The Future Of Sustainable Sleep

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By Elaina Hundley

Sustainable products and initiatives appeal to consumers more and more as the looming threat of climate change grows more apparent. As consumers become more familiar with eco-friendly practices, manufacturers are challenged to demonstrate the authenticity of their products and embody a more holistic approach to sustainability. Luckily, the bedding industry has been creating sustainable products for many years. The industry now has an opportunity to lead the way forward when it comes to waste-reduction, chemical free products and recycling. We’ve highlighted sustainable initiatives, products and organizations that stood out to us this year.

Company Ethos & Internal Initiatives

Pleasant Mattress

In 2022, Pleasant Mattress took a huge step forward in reducing waste by participating in a new training program from the Mattress Recycling Council—The Sleep Products Sustainability Program or SP2. Piloting in California, SP2 is a voluntary program designed to empower mattress manufacturers to implement sustainable practices throughout their organizations. The goal of the program is to enable manufacturers to examine all waste streams from their operations, then measure and systematically reduce the negative environmental impacts of their operations and supply chain. Since starting the program, Pleasant verified a 10% reduction in energy used as well as a 10% reduction in waste generated. The company has also identified future goals for improvement.

Harrison Spinks

Taking a holistic approach to sustainable manufacturing, Harrison Spinks has accomplished several sustainability focused milestones this year. First, it launched a dedicated recycling plant and published its first ever annual sustainability report. On top of these accolades, Harrison Spinks boasts a range of sustainability accreditations and achievements, including a Carbon Neutral + status, two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Sustainable Development and the creation of its award-winning, glue-free Cortec spring system, which can be disassembled and recycled at the end of its lifetime. Finally, the company entered into a unique partnership to utilize leftover hemp dust in Adaptavate’s Breathaplasta, a natural lime plaster.

Suite Sleep

For the last 20 years, Suite Sleep has focused on sustainability both in the materials the company uses and in its manufacturing approach. Serving both the bedding and mattress retail industry as well as the hospitality industry, Suite Sleep takes a unique approach—and has for a long time. By creating high-quality mattresses made with simple, often locally sourced ingredients, the company encourages hotels and consumers alike to make a long-term investment in their mattresses with the understanding that a Suite Sleep mattress is chemical-free and will last much longer, thus staying out of the landfill. While Suite Sleep incorporates certified organic materials in its products, the brand regularly looks beyond the materials that meet certified organic criteria to seek the option that is most environmentally-friendly— for example, the company would forego importing organic cotton to utilize cotton that can be sourced locally (the local cotton skips the travel, saving energy).

Tempur Sealy International

Setting an ambitious goal for its global operations—a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, Tempur Sealy International is dedicated to expanding its sustainability efforts. In 2020, the company sourced 100% renewable energy for its wholly-own U.S. and European manufacturing operations. It also installed a solar power array at its Albuquerque, New Mexico manufacturing facility, with the goal of generating enough solar energy to power all of the plant’s assembly lines. Additionally, Tempur Sealy continues to drive zero-landfill waste initiatives across its global operations.

Products

Nest Bedding

Specifically designed to increase the lifespan of the brand’s offerings, Nest Bedding’s innovative Lifetime Renewal Exchange program introduces products and policies with the overarching goals of reducing mattress waste in landfills and creating more eco-friendly options for consumers. With the new program and product updates, Nest Bedding’s mattresses are engineered to last longer than typical mattresses, as customers will be given the opportunity to redeem a new, free feel layer within their 365-night trial or any time after purchase. The new feel layer breathes new life into the mattress, extending its lifespan.

Spaldin

Driven by a philosophy of a circular economy, Spaldin aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits with its products. The company will introduce Möebius, the latest addition to its Circular Collection, at the winter Las Vegas Market. Recognizing that mattresses are one of the main contributors to global landfill waste, the company joined efforts with Niaga, part of the German Covestro group, to develop an alternative mattress manufacturing process that ensures that all of the mattresses can be remade into new mattresses at the end of their lives. This includes using a modular design made up exclusively of iron and polyester raw materials and connecting the mattress layers in a reversible manner. The Moebius also promotes transparency by allowing the consumer to scan the Niaga tag on the mattress with their smart phone to receive more information about where the product’s raw materials come from and how the mattress will be recycled. The brand is inspired by the famous mathematician August Möbius who discovered the “Möbius strip,” while the mattresses’ aesthetic design is inspired by the artwork of Dutch optical illusion artist, M.C. Escher.

HARRISON SPINKS TEMPUR SEALY INTERNATIONAL

Organizations Driving Category Transformation

Mattress Recycling Council

The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) is a nonprofit organization that operates recycling programs in states that have passed mattress recycling laws: California, Connecticut and Rhode Island. MRC was founded by the bedding industry and recycles more than 1.7 million mattresses each year.

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Sustainable Furnishing Council

The Sustainable Furnishings Council (501c6) is a coalition of manufacturers, retailers and designers dedicated to raising awareness and expanding the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices across the home furnishings industry. Its mission is to help companies reduce environmental footprint, and to help consumers find healthier products and design services.