Mattress Circularity: Natural Solutions

Join the British Institute of Interior Design for an enlightening evening webinar that explores the future of sustainability in mattress manufacturing.

Humans spend on average 8 hours a day asleep, which equates to around a third of our lives. So how is the industry producing mattresses that meet our physical needs, as well as contributing to our health and well-being?

WHAT TO EXPECT

As we await new Furniture Fire Safety regulations, we'll explore how mattresses can serve as a model for sustainability, circularity, recycling, waste management, and the use of chemical fire retardants. 
Featuring a panel of experts, this one-hour online discussion will cover the industry’s move towards natural solutions and its impact on indoor air quality and social factors. Participants will also receive a comprehensive mattress fact sheet and a guide to help interior designers make informed, eco-friendly choices. 

Topics will include:

• Brief history of the mattress - materials and processes used. 
• Why did we move away from natural solutions?
• How do modern manufacturing techniques affect the environment?
• Recycling / end of life / circular design / regenerative design / disposal of waste
• Health and wellbeing - CFR’s / off gassing / fumes / how does this affect our health?
• What options do we have?
• Moving from a lateral economy to a circular one
• Utilising natural materials in place of fossil-based, man-made materials and environmental impact

WHAT YOU WILL LEAVE WITH

• Insight into how designers and clients can make the best choices within their budgets
• Understand why designers and clients should care about mattress production and materials, and what to do when a mattress reaches the end of its life
• Understand what ‘forever chemicals’ are and how they are detrimental to our health and harmful to the environment
• Insight into the industry’s ‘next steps’ and what future developments are hoped for

Resources: 

• Supporting documents before the webinar to support your learning
• Links to further reading
• Mattress fact sheet for clients to assist them in making informed decisions for a mattress’s life cycle
• BIID Sustainable Specifying Guide

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This webinar is open to all. Free for BIID members and £8 for non-members.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Chair

Mathew Freeman, Past President, BIID

Mathew Freeman is the former President of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID). He studied Interior Architecture at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, before starting his career at HLM, where he became Creative Director of their luxury residential brand, 33 Interiors. In 2018, he joined Goddard Littlefair before founding his own practice, Freeman Studio. Matt has been actively involved with the BIID since 2015, serving on both the Professional Practice and Membership committees. In 2022, he was appointed President of the BIID. He also represents the institute on the Business Panel of the Construction Industry Council.

Freeman Studio

Panel

Dr Joanna Cloy, Senior Project Manager, Fidra

Dr Joanna Cloy is a Senior Project Manager at the environmental charity Fidra. She is an experienced environmental scientist and is keen to help find solutions for tackling chemical and plastic pollution. She has a PhD in environmental geochemistry and joined Fidra after 16 years working as a soil researcher. She currently leads Fidra’s Sustainable Fire Safety project that seeks to reduce the use of harmful chemical flame retardants in furniture. She also leads Fidra’s Sewage free Soils project, protecting agricultural soil health from the use of contaminated sewage sludge. Her key areas of interest are environmental pollution, persistent organic chemicals, circular economy, agricultural soil health and nutrient dynamics, soil carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

Fidra

Jacob ‘Jake’ Lane, MChem, PhD, Material Research and Knowledge Manager, Silentnight Ltd
 

Jake is the Material Research and Knowledge Manager at Silentnight Ltd. 

Silentnight

Nick Oettinger, CEO of The Furniture Recycling Group (TFR Group) 

Nick Oettinger, CEO of The Furniture Recycling Group (TFR Group), has over 15 years of experience transforming the recycling industry. Since founding TFR Group in 2012, the company has recycled over 3.5 million mattresses, achieving a 100% landfill diversion rate. TFR Group partners with major retailers like John Lewis and Simba, recycling 16,000 mattresses weekly. Nick, a recognized authority on the circular economy, speaks globally on sustainability and has been honoured by the Global Recycling Foundation. His leadership drives TFR Group’s innovation, shaping industry practices and sustainability initiatives. Prior to TFR, Nick led a construction company and consulted on waste management and product recycling.

TFR Group

Ellen Percival, Circular Economy Consultant, 3Keel

Ellen Percival, Circular Economy Consultant at 3Keel, has 4 years’ experience working in sustainability consulting. During this time, she has successfully worked with a variety of clients, including the mattress, packaging, and biobased materials sectors to implement circular economy initiatives. With a background in Chemistry, and expertise in policy and waste management, she has been heavily involved in understanding the circularity impacts of using chemical flame retardants in furniture with her fellow panellists - and how the industry can ensure a safe and sustainable future. 

3Keel

Additional Information

Once you have registered for this event on Eventbrite you will receive the link to the event in a reminder email before the event starts.

Attendance to this event is worth 1 hour of structured CPD hours and will be recorded.

If this event is fully booked, please join the waiting list. If you are no longer able to attend, please inform the office so that we can give your spot to someone else.

The advertised price does not include VAT. 

BIID member rate is open to Registered Interior Designers, Associate members, Provisional Associate members, Student members, Affiliate members, Retired members, Dual International members, and Registered Design Practice employees. Go to the BIID Member Area to secure your promo code to add at the Eventbrite Checkout. 

If you have any queries, please email the office at info@biid.org.uk or call 020 7628 0255.

By purchasing a ticket to this event, you are agreeing to the BIID event terms and conditions

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