The secret to a great night’s sleep: buying a carbon neutral bed

As one of the bigger purchases we’ll make for our homes, choosing the right bed isn’t something that should be done on a whim. Making sure it’s super comfy (to help you get that elusive eight hours a night) as well as super stylish is obviously key, but sustainability is increasingly important too.  

Not only do natural, eco-friendly materials make for a great night’s sleep (think less restlessness due to overheating on manmade fabrics), but you can also sleep soundly knowing you’re doing your bit for the environment.  

As a luxury British bed manufacturer which has always made its beds in Buckinghamshire, Hypnos only uses natural and ethically sourced materials. At the forefront of sustainability, the company is currently celebrating its seventh year as a carbon neutral company (it was the first carbon neutral bed maker in the world), and it has offset a total of 5,905 tonnes of CO2 since it was awarded that status.  

‘There’s no foam or memory foam in our beds, as these are not only unsustainable fabrics, they can also make you hot and clammy in the night,’ says Chris Ward, Group Marketing Director at Hypnos. Instead, its mattresses are made from sustainable natural wool to help regulate body temperature.  

Sourced from Wools of New Zealand, the material has an incredibly low environmental impact and a 30 per cent lower carbon footprint than UK wool thanks to the fact it meets the highest standards for sustainable and efficient farming practice. 

‘Add to this our special fibre made from recycled polymer-based bottles, which allows air to easily pass through it, and you have a cooler, breathable sleeping surface,’ explains Chris Ward.  

Chris also stresses the importance of considering where the materials used for the base or headboard come from. To ensure the wood is from ecologically sound sources, look out for FSC or PEFC certified timbers, such as those used by Hypnos.

It’s not just your new bed you need to consider though. Have you thought about what happens to your old one when you get rid of it? 

Old mattresses can take more than 10 years to decompose in a landfill site, so choosing a design that can be fully recycled at the end of its life means it will never need to go to landfill. 

‘All Hypnos beds are 100 per cent recyclable,’ adds Chris Ward. ‘We’ve also developed a disposal and recycling service for old beds and mattresses which is available through the retailers we work with.’

So next time you’re settling down for some shut eye, think about whether your choice of bed could help you sleep more soundly.