Corporate member develops plans for zero-to-landfill recycling plant

Corporate member Harrison Spinks is bolstering its sustainability credentials by developing plans for a dedicated recycling plant and appointing corporate liveryman Ruairi Giles as its head of sustainability to drive green initiatives across the business.

The company’s recycling plant will be located in Scunthorpe and will facilitate the disassembly and recycling of all Harrison Spinks mattresses containing its patented Cortec™ spring systems. The recycled components can be reprocessed into new raw material and put back into the supply chain to make new product, creating a closed loop system, meaning that no Harrison Spinks mattress should end up in landfill.

Harrison Spinks’ commitment to sustainability has also led to the recent appointment of commercial director and board member Ruairi Giles as head of sustainability across the business. Ruairi will ensure that all future actions consider protection of the environment and the business’ carbon footprint of the highest importance, while remaining aligned with the company’s pledge to a glue and foam free future.

The business has also established a sustainability committee, spearheaded by Ruairi, that features representation from all arms of the business, and will launch its first annual sustainability report later this month.

Harrison Spinks boasts a range of sustainability accreditations and achievements, including two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, but most recently the development of its award-winning, glue-free Cortec™ spring system, that when placed at the core of any mattress can be disassembled and recycled at the end of its lifetime.

This month, the company’s achievements have also been recognised by the National Bed Federation. Harrison Spinks has been shortlisted for two categories at the annual NBF awards – Sustainability and Bed of the Year, for its Velocity 8750. Winners will be announced via a virtual ceremony on 26 November.  

Ruairi said: “Our industry often relies upon materials and component products that are fundamentally unsustainable, both in production and also in their end of life recyclability.

“We have a huge responsibility and opportunity to improve this and we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to operate in a sustainable way, whether that be in our logistics, sales or marketing departments.

“Our vision is to be world leaders in sustainable comfort innovation, and recent developments like our glue-free Cortec™ spring systems, our Velocity Collection and the plans for the recycling plant mean we are able to take huge steps in achieving our long term business goals.”