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.
The Zero-Waste Goal
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.
Creative Reuse
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.
No Plastic Please
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 (just give us a call). 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.
What About Plastic That Comes To Us?
Being a manufacturer, we can't control the entire supply chain and avoid plastic completely. 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 premium eco wool batting is delivered in heavy-duty plastic bags. The majority of these bags are returned to the mill to be reused. Once their useful life has expired, they're recycled. We also hold a few back to reuse when shipping our quilted 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. We're working with the wool mill and our team to develop alternative reusable packaging with the goal of eliminating the need for plastic wrap altogether.
When shipping our wool & latex toppers, mattresses, and shikibutons, we use plastic upcycled from our latex supply chain to provide that extra level of protection. All the plastic we upcycle for these purposes is fully recyclable.
Any thinner film plastics that find their way to us via the supply chain and aren't repurposed are recycled up the road at a waste reduction facility in Tacoma. With many cities no longer accepting thinner plastic items in curbside recycling bins, we're fortunate to have such a facility nearby.
What's Next?
We're always on the lookout for new ways to reduce the amount of plastics and disposable materials that come to our facility and creative and practical methods to utilize everything that comes in the door. Through conscious partnerships with our suppliers and thoughtful, innovative design, we continue to uphold the goal of being 100% zero waste.
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