British bedmaker Hypnos has announced its new commitment to Textile Exchange’s Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
Hypnos is the first brand in the UK, in any industry sector, to source certified wool from British farms that meets this established and globally recognised standard.
This commitment supports Hypnos’ ongoing mission to create sustainable sleep solutions using materials and fibres that are responsibly sourced providing bona fide reassurance to consumers and retailers alike.
The Responsible Wool Standard is recognised worldwide, but British-grown RWS certified wool is still relatively new to the UK market. It introduces expertise from major wool growing regions worldwide alongside climate strategies for the future. Adhering to this progressive standard means considering the wider impact of the whole supply chain on the environment, animals and community. Hypnos will continue to champion the benefits of wool and fairly support British farmers and communities through its established partnership with The Woolkeepers®, to guarantee transparency and integrity from farm gate to shop floor.
David Baldry, Group Managing Director of Hypnos, commented: “Our investment in supporting this progressive international standard in Britain demonstrates how seriously we take our commitment to credible, sustainable initiatives, which we know are increasingly important to consumers but better yet we know they are the right thing to do. Auditing each business and farm thoroughly, the Responsible Wool Standard will help to ensure a positive impact on the environment and British farming communities alike.
“We’re constantly looking to use more low-impact materials and moving beyond neutralising our carbon footprint to actively helping to regenerate the planet with pioneering initiatives and relationships.”
Jo Dawson, Chairman of The Woolkeepers® adds: “After several months work on this project, we are delighted to see this pioneering launch of RWS certified British wool coming to fruition.”
Anna Heaton, Fibre and Materials Strategy Lead at Textile Exchange, comments: “The commitment of the Responsible Wool Standard is to enhance UK farming standards by harnessing the expertise and perspectives of wool growing regions worldwide.
“Working with The Woolkeepers® initiative we can provide certified, quality wool that’s environmentally and socially mindful, and we are pleased to see Hypnos supporting the standard in its new collections.”
Hypnos presented the new and improved mattress collections including the Pillowtop Collection using British wool at the Bed Show. An ideal fibre for a great night’s sleep, wool is comfortable, temperature regulating and completely natural. Having created the first luxury Pillowtop mattress in 2011, Hypnos has been redefining the collection over the years to ensure its enduring popularity. This latest collection has the benefit of a more medium feel, giving supreme comfort coupled with high-performance ethically sourced fibres.
Hypnos is also celebrating after being recognised at the 2022 National Bed Federation Awards for ‘Component Product of the Year’ for designing a unique and ethical comfort layer made from Himalayan Nettle (otherwise known as allo), cotton and kapok fibres.
Featured within Hypnos’ new Pillowtop Origins collection, which debuted to retailers at The Bed Show this September, this plant- based fibre demonstrates that fillings within a mattress can be sustainably sourced from nature to offer comfort with integrity.
A panel of judges from across the retail and furniture industry praised the sustainable approach that drives value for the communities that produce these special fibres.
Entirely plant-based and therefore suitable for vegan beds, the layer has been developed together with social enterprise in Himalaya, and features Himalayan nettle, tree-grown kapok and cotton fibres from the CottonConnect farmer programme.
The giant Himalayan nettle grows in the environmentally precious foothills of the Himalayas – it has shoots that reach over three metres in height and produce a natural bast fibre ideal for bedding. The Himalaya enterprise is working to create a reliable income for local villagers that wild harvest the stalks, which in turn makes room for new shoots to better absorb CO2 and promote root growth for soil stabilization in the landslide prone mountains., This helps to protect this unique environment as absolutely no fertilisers or pesticides are used, and farmers co-exist in harmony with nature.
David Baldry, Group Managing Director at Hypnos, comments: “Receiving the Component Product of the Year award is an incredibly welcome achievement that further supports and reinforces our ongoing efforts to inspire everyone to sleep sustainably.
“At Hypnos, we believe that sleep shouldn’t cost the Earth, which is why we’re pushing the boundaries of ethical and sustainable bed design for the benefit of the world around us. We’re committed to taking our philosophy of luxurious sleep, sustainability, and decarbonisation to the next level by achieving Net Zero by 2030.
“We live and breathe sustainability and it’s a key consideration to everything we do and every area of the business, whether that’s purchasing right through to the way our master craftsmen operate and the materials we use, so it’s fantastic to have been recognised for this design project.”
