Sustainable sleep with Auping

Each year, Europeans throw away 35 million mattresses. Laid side to side, they could encircle the globe's circumference, twice over. Unfortunately, current manufacturing processes, in which layers of materials are glued together using artificial adhesives, mean that mattresses are often simply incinerated. And it's not just mattresses – the majority of our household products still end up in landfill.

This model of production, use and disposal is not sustainable. In March 2020, the European Commission adopted its new circular economy action plan, a programme that aims to promote the transition to a greener economy – one where materials and components can be reused in closed loops and waste is eliminated.

Some companies are taking a more active, ambitious approach towards sustainability. Auping, the largest independent mattress and bed manufacturer in the Netherlands, is leading the way in the sleep sector. In 2020, the company launched Auping Evolve, the world's first circular mattress. Evolve consists of only two materials: steel is used for the springs within, and polyester is used for the comfort layer on top.

'These materials can be infinitely recycled on a first-rate and equal level,' says Wouter Dijkman, Manager of Research Innovation and Product Development at Auping. The mattress is held together by a new kind of adhesive which was developed in collaboration with Niaga®. This adhesive can be deactivated, allowing for the various layers to be separated and recycled without producing any harmful waste or byproducts.

In the spring of 2022, Auping took the next step in its circular transition and introduced two new premium sustainable mattresses. The design of the new mattress range taps into the company's decades-long tradition of creating innovative sleep solutions. Established in 1888, the family-owned, design-led company has always placed an emphasis on innovation – its first product was a compact steel mesh base, which allowed for comfort, ventilation and increased hygiene. The mesh base could soon be found everywhere from hospitals to ordinary homes. Even the Dutch Royal Palace has been known to place an order.

Based on ergonomic research, the Dutch company also re-examined the structure and zoning of its products, leading to a complete redesign. The zones in Auping’s new generation of mattresses concentrate on supporting the shoulders, waist and hips to keep the spine in a natural position and provide the right level of support. This enables the body to relax and recover during sleep. The range is developed based on four different main body types. Depending on people’s individual proportions, a customer can order a mattress customised to their body type.

Auping’s commitment to sustainability and comfort is also matched by its commitment to good design. Its heritage comprises multiple Dutch design classics, such as Frans de la Haye’s Auronde bed which has been in production since 1973, with over a million units sold. The Auronde bed is adaptable to any interior due to its bold, curving shapes and bright colours, explaining its popularity over the years.

The company remains true to its design vision to this day. Auping Noa, designed by Danish architect Eva Harlou is characterised by simple shapes, clever details and natural materials. The bed is made of beechwood with oak veneer, features rounded corners, laser-cut headboard and two wheels that allow it to be easily repositioned within people’s bedrooms. Its design has already won design awards in recent years, including the iF Design Award 2022.

The company itself intends to be fully circular by 2030 at the latest and its factory, built in 2012, is an exemplar of sustainable design. It consolidates three previous facilities, conserves water, uses daylight whenever possible, has its own PV array on the roof and uses underground heat storage to ensure an even temperature for its employees year-round. With Europeans increasingly worried about the climate crisis, it will be thanks to innovative companies like Auping pioneering sustainable, well-designed solutions that they can hopefully rest easy in the years to come.

© Architonic