March 29, 2019 3 min read
Spend any time at all on our website and you'll soon come across the term Zero Waste. We work hard to support our zero-waste initiative, committed to keeping waste out of area landfills. Non of our raw materials ever go to a landfill.
It's just what it sounds like! Following a sustainable cradle-to-cradle model that emphasizes eliminating the concept of waste, we find a purpose for every scrap of material involved in the manufacture and distribution of our products.
Whether it's the packaging our raw materials arrive in or the remnants of fabric, wool, and latex used in production, we have in-house solutions to ensure even our tiniest raw materials scrap have their next use planned, keeping them out of landfills. This initiative also informs everything we do, from our choice of suppliers to our shipping methods.
The zero waste philosophy continues even after the bedding has reached the consumer. Your used natural and organic bedding items can be recycled or composted when they reach the end of their useful life.
We engineer our design templates to maximize the efficient use of our raw materials. Everything is mapped out and cut in a way that allows us to make the most of everything with only minimal scrap. Through our Rekindle program, we're able to incorporate scrap raw materials into the construction of smaller items.
We also refrain from using paper throughout our process, and any paper marketing tools that we do use (like our hangtags) are printed on 100% natural and recycled, unbleached paper. Any paper waste is saved and used for scrap paper when possible. What little is left is shredded and used in a worm farm, or recycled.
If you've purchased from us in the past (thank you!), you're already aware that we don't use plastic wrap or synthetic packing materials in our boxes. Our products ship in sturdy cardboard boxes secured with paper tape.
Our packaging does a great job of protecting your purchase all the way to your front door. For customers looking for a little extra protection, we offer the option of tucking your comforter or pillow purchase inside a biodegradable bag (choose this option in your cart, before checkout). This option is also attractive to customers with multiple chemical sensitivities, providing extra insulation from the environment as your package travels to its destination.
When you visit our showroom, you can choose to carry your purchases home in a reusable paper shopping bag!
Being a manufacturer, we can't control the entire supply chain and avoid plastic completely. Even though we source as sustainably as possible, sometimes ending up with plastic is unavoidable. There's a challenge--and an opportunity--when synthetic material comes into our work environment, and we've created best practices for dealing with it.
Our wool batting is delivered in heavy-duty plastic bags. The majority of these bags are returned to the wool mill to be reused. Once their useful life has expired, they're recycled! We also hold a few back to reuse when shipping our mattresses or mattress toppers.
Because of their bulk, it's nice to give these products a little extra protection during shipment and make use of these bags. All the plastic we upcycle for these purposes is fully recyclable. We're working with our wool mill and our team to develop alternative reusable packaging with the goal of eliminating the need for plastic wrap altogether.
Any thinner film plastics that find their way to us via the supply chain and aren't repurposed are properly recycled at a local waste reduction facility. With many cities no longer accepting thinner plastic items in curbside recycling bins, we're fortunate to have such a facility nearby.
We're always on the lookout for new ways to reduce the amount of plastics and disposable materials that come to our facility, and developing creative and practical methods to utilize every scrap. Through conscious partnerships with our suppliers and thoughtful, innovative design, we continue to uphold the goal of being 100% zero waste.
Learn more about our sustainability practices.
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