Lancashire bed manufacturer Silentnight has won The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Sustainability Award for the second year running after successfully demonstrating that it has taken its commitment to the environment to the next level.
Sponsored by waste management specialist Hippo, the Sustainability Award recognises improvements in sustainability in relation to manufacturing of furniture and furnishings. It is based on principles provided by the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme, administered by the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA).
Three companies were shortlisted for the award – Jay-Be, Martek and Silentnight – and these presented to a panel of industry experts, chaired by Ben Burbidge, Manufacturing Guild Mark chairman, at Furniture Makers’ Hall on 15th October.
All three companies gave compelling arguments as to why they should be crowned the sustainability champion, but the breadth of Silentnight’s initiatives ultimately convinced judges that it should take home the award again.
Since winning the award in 2017, Silentnight has continued to make improvements across the business in its pursuit to build a reputation as ‘home of the most trusted bed brands’, including: achieving PAS 2060 carbon neutrality status in July in recognition for its sustainability drive across its manufacturing sites at Barnoldswick and Aspatria and its logistics fleet; achieving absolute zero-to-landfill status at its sites in Barnoldswick and Aspatria from September; planning to eliminate single-use plastic at the business by January; introducing a fully recyclable plastic packaging which is removed and taken away by Silentnight’s delivery team, together with the customer’s old bed, if required; and continuing to improve its fleet management programme which has resulted in saving 400,000l of fuel worth £500,000 and cut CO2 emissions by over 1,000,000kg with BigChange Transport and Delivery Management technology.
On top of this, it launched the Eco Comfort Breathe mattress in August - a completely foam- and chemical treatment-free mattress with advanced breathable fibre technology. Silentnight has continued to promote its sustainability and environmental initiatives through its Eco Comfort story and advertising and PR campaigns.
Silentnight will be officially presented with the award at The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Royal Charter Dinner at Vintners’ Hall, London on 1st November.
Ben Burbidge, Manufacturing Guild Mark chairman, says: “Silentnight showed quite convincingly that sustainability and environmental initiatives now run through the veins of the business, from colleague-driven initiatives to be a single-use plastic-free site by the end of 2018 to new eco product launches and high-profile advertising campaigns.It is a more than worthy winner of the Sustainability Award and an exemplar to the industry.”
Nick Booth, marketing director of Silentnight Group, adds: “We are delighted to win the coveted Sustainability Award for the second year running. We are proud of our achievements on sustainability across all parts of our business. The award is recognition for all the great initiatives our colleagues have delivered to position Silentnight Group as a leading manufacturer on sustainability in the furniture industry.”
Previous winners of the award include Godfrey Syrett, Hypnos Beds, Orangebox, Premiere Kitchens and Senator International.
