PRESS RELEASE                                                                                             
 
 
UK’s First Plastic Free Mattress Launched:
My Kind Mattress, by The French Bedroom Company
 
 
The French Bedroom Company has launched the UK’s first Plastic Free Mattress to mark this year’s National Recycling Week, 23-29^th September. 
 
Made from naturally flame retardant organic materials, the mattresses are 100% recyclable, 100% biodegradable, 100% chemical free and made from sustainable materials, reducing the pressure on already over-capacity landfill sites across the UK. 
 
Reducing Landfill
The average mattress is made from 60% plastic-based materials which means it can take up to 120 years to biodegrade.
 
The National Bed Federation recommend consumers change their mattress every 7 years.  Mattress mountains are an all too familiar sight on the UK’s landscape; between 5.9 and 6.2 million mattresses are sent to landfill each year*, weighing an estimated 167,000 tonnes, the equivalent to 92,800 cars.  They take up 3.6 million cubic metres of landmass, the equivalent of 32,000 double decker buses every year. 
 
Out of all mattresses disposed of, an average of 16% are recycled, 73% are sent to landfill, and the remaining 11% are incinerated.
 
The French Bedroom Company’s My Kind Mattress is 99.87% plastic free**, meaning it will biodegrade entirely within 1-3 years.
 
 
Chemical Free
Britons are being exposed to harmful chemicals from birth, with UK mothers' breast milk containing the highest concentration of flame retardants in Europe.
 
A Commons environment audit committee has issued a report raising concerns about flame-retardant chemicals used on home furnishings.  Committee chairwoman Mary Creagh said: "Most people assume that they aren't at risk from toxic chemicals but the reality is different. Mums in the UK have some of the world's highest concentrations of flame retardants in their breast milk, some of which have now been banned. Chemical flame retardants are still being widely used in our furnishings from children's mattresses to sofas. We want consumers to make an informed choice when choosing their mattress, knowing the health risks associated with FR chemicals.”
 
The French Bedroom Company’s My Kind Mattress is 100% chemical free as it contains NO fire retardant chemicals; the wool layer nestled just beneath the cotton surface is naturally fire retardant.  So, each night you and your children can sleep knowing you are not breathing directly next to a layer of toxic chemicals.
 
 
The Sustainable Layers
The My Kind Mattress is made from layers of organic natural materials: flax, cotton, and wool, with draw steel metal springs, all 100% biodegradable. 
 
Wool is used because it is sustainable, sourced from a regulated industry, produced globally, durable, breathable, moisture-wicking and temperature regulating, in addition to this, wool is a natural barrier to fire, eliminating the need for harmful chemicals in order to meet the UK requirements for fire and flame retardancy.***

 
Commenting on the launch of the UK’s first Plastic Free Mattress, Georgia Metcalfe, Founder of The French Bedroom Company said:
“We are delighted to be launching the UK’s first Plastic Free Biodegradable Mattress and excited about what this means for reducing the burden on landfill sites across the UK.  In addition, we’re pleased to be doing our bit towards making mattresses chemical free.  As a mother, I want my home as chemical-free as possible, knowing my children aren’t breathing in toxic chemicals as they sleep each night, and I know I speak for every mother in the UK.” 
 
 
From Glad Rags to Sleeping Bags
The French Bedroom Company is working with clothing recycling centres to create bags for protecting the mattresses during delivery.  These bags are made from recycled clothing, which are then be donated to charities and used as sleeping bags for the homeless.
 
 
* 300 mattresses a week are sent to council landfill sites.  There are 408 UK councils
 
** The only man-made components are the fire label, and the nylon twine.  Natural cotton or flax twine doesn’t have the durability to sustain 150+kg of weight for 8 hours a night over 10 years.
The Nylon twine is used on the tuft & poppin end caps and the spring encasement stitching.  The total overall weight of the nylon used is 120 grams per 90kg mattress, amounting to 0.13%, making the mattress 99.87% plastic free
 
*** UK domestic standard for beds is BS7177.  The regulations state that all mattresses must have either a flame & match retardant interliner, or be backed with a chemical-heavy fire retardant. 
For more information:https://www.fira.co.uk/images/FIRA-Flammability-Guide-PDF-with-links.pdf
Europe has less stringent regulations; furniture and mattresses in Europe don’t require a flame or fire retardant
 
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The mattresses are handmade in the UK
The mattresses will be launched by The French Bedroom Company online on Friday 20^th September.
The My Kind Mattress is available with 1350 and also 2700 spring counts, in sizes: Single (£1130), Double (£1595), King (£1775), Superking (£1998), and Emperor (£3275).
The French Bedroom Company is based in Sussex and has sold luxury furniture, lighting and accessories since 2006.
They have been named an official ‘Cool brand’ for 5 consecutive years.