Since 1924, British bed maker Sleepeezee has been helping the nation get a good night’s sleep. A lot has changed in 96 years, both in terms of the company’s growth and climate conditions. Though its time-honoured craft remains traditional, its innovative thinking continues to prioritise the future of our planet.
Having been awarded a Carbon Neutral status in 2017 and achieving a pas2060 Carbon Neutral status in 2020, the manufacturer is committed to integrating greener strategies across the industry. Ethically sourced materials and forward-thinking production processes aid in maintaining its sustainability-focused corporate goals, as well as its contributions to environmental projects at both a local and international level, from planting 695 trees at schools and green spaces in Kent and the South East of England, to supporting fossil fuel reduction schemes in Indonesia and India, and protecting 695 trees in the Amazon rainforest.
These eco-friendly initiatives, along with offsetting over 1,388 tonnes of CO2 (equivalent to 30 homes) between 2017-2019 and sending no waste to landfill since 2012, have seen the company recognised as the first UK mattress manufacturer to receive the Planet Mark certification for two consecutive years.
To get an inside look at its practices and explore whether Covid-19 has made us all more climate-conscious, we spoke to Divisional Contracts & Export Director, Andrew Thorpe, and Compliance Officer, Andrew Reene.
How important is sustainability to Sleepeezee’s philosophy?
AT: Sustainability is at the forefront of our philosophy, from the earliest stages of product development processes onwards, including careful consideration of design for sustainability principles, use of ethically sourced natural materials and forward-thinking manufacturing processes. This position is underlined by our membership with the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP), which demonstrates our commitment and sustainable excellence in environmental and corporate social responsibility.
Can you tell us about some of the other sustainable practices you have in place?
AT: All of our timber is sourced under European Timber Regulations, ensuring the timber we use is from responsible suppliers, while British wool is also a component in many of our mattresses as we support the Campaign for Wool, which promotes sustainable practices in sheep farming. In addition, the energy usage in our factory has been reduced through a programme of replacing all fluorescent lighting with LED alternatives, and we recently installed destratification fans too, which force warm air back down to reduce the amount of energy required to keep the production facility heated.
How does the Planet Mark accreditation set you apart?
AT: The Planet Mark has undoubtedly enabled us to develop and maintain a leading position in sustainable best practice by providing an independent, credible reporting system, which encourages our teams to continually focus on new objectives and communicate to our stakeholders while enabling the business to grow without compromising our ultimate responsibility – to safeguard the planet for future generations.
Has Covid-19 has made manufacturers think more sustainably?
AR: The pandemic has brought sustainability to the forefront of everyone’s thinking. When the world ‘stopped’, everybody was able to see with clarity the impact we all have on the environment. It is important that businesses recover from the pandemic in the most sustainable way possible. Sleepeezee has always been thinking about sustainability and we are ready to capitalise on the growing demand to act responsibly.
Do you see sustainability becoming a driving force in hospitality going forward?
AT: We are privileged to work in long-term partnerships with a wide range of hospitality businesses, including international hotel brands, nationally active hotel groups, independent and boutique hoteliers, many of whom operate increasingly sustainable business models and are taking leadership roles in developing and maintaining environmentally responsible practices in the industry.
We’re very proud to play our part in supporting their sustainable development activities, including the product removal and recycling services we provide with our partners to ensure that the components in old beds and mattresses are given a new purpose at the end of the respective product life-cycle. We will continue to develop our proposition to ensure that our activities do not have a detrimental impact on the planet.
