Environmental Impact Statement

Button & Sprung “Second Sleep” Initiative

In a world of mass production and mass consumption, we now more than ever need to be aware of the fate of our household items at the end of their useful life. That’s why, when purchasing a new mattress from us, we will collect your old sprung mattress free of charge (see restrictions)*, so that it can be properly recycled. This entails taking the mattress apart so that the springs it contains can be melted down and sent for recycling, and that the fabric elements can be reused in new mattresses.

We’re proudly foam-aphobic!

We do not sell memory foam mattresses – and for good reason. Foam mattresses are made from polyester, polyurethane foam and viscoelastic (memory foam), and take thousands of years to break down in landfill. Of the whopping 7 million mattresses that are disposed of in the UK each year, only 14% are fully recycled, making them a huge environmental hazard.

Not only that – since foam mattresses contain known carcinogens such as TDI and Melamine, they are also a health hazard. Toxic chemicals used during the manufacturing process are emitted when foam mattresses are first taken out of their packaging. This occurrence – known as off gassing – is recognizable by an unpleasant smell released into the air. Given that we each spend about a third of our life in bed, this ought to give us serious pause for thought.

Our partner suppliers

Unlike many of our competitors, we have a small number of select partners who we work with to make our beds and mattresses, which gives us genuine visibility throughout our supply chain. Working with fewer suppliers also means fewer deliveries to our warehouse and showrooms, resulting in a much reduced carbon footprint.

Beds

All of the wood used in the production of our beds, either the upholstered beds or the solid oak beds, is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), and comes from forests approved by PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), which promotes sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.

The plastic film in which the beds are wrapped for protection is made from 100% recycled low-density polyethylene, and is completely recyclable after use. The cardboard packaging in which your bed is delivered is made from recycled materials that contain a minimum of 60% post-consumer waste.

Moreover, all processes in our supplier’s factory conform to ISO 9001:2015, a globally recognized standard for quality management.

Mattresses

Our mattresses (always pocket sprung, never foam!) are produced in the UK to the highest quality, ethical and environmental standards. Every aspect of their production has been designed to maximize recyclability and circularity (so that each component can be used again and again), and to minimize waste, energy consumption and the use of virgin materials.

The fire retardant fabric comprising the outer cover of our mattresses – known as ticking – is chemical free and certified by OEKO-TEX.

All of the pocket springs contained within the structure are manufactured without the use of glue, eliminating the use of unnecessary chemicals, and making the steel springs much easier to recycle.

Another important element of sprung mattresses is the materials that are used to fill them. Our mattresses are made from layered blends of responsibly sourced natural fillings, including British wool, hemp, flax, cotton, peace silk and recycled cashmere.

All components – fabrics, fillings and springs – are designed to be repurposed at the end of a mattress’s useful life, and all are 100% recyclable.

At Button & Sprung, we are proud to partner with companies that are at the forefront of innovation, and that set the bar for responsible sourcing and manufacturing.

*For a mattress to qualify for free collection it must be of pocket sprung construction and have natural fillings.