With the potential to bring about meaningful change in the advancement of eco-friendly mattresses and upholstery, Enkev’s new fibre range, certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile standard), the leading certification body for organic textiles, was the deserving recipient of Component Product of the Year in 2020's NBF Bed Industry Awards. We asked Enkev (UK) MD Dan Porter to outline the product and its potential applications …
How did it feel to win the award?
We’re incredibly proud. The recognition from the NBF and the judges made all the hard work from our team worthwhile, and was high praise in such a challenging year. This was the second consecutive year we’ve been finalists, and to be awarded the Component Product of the Year award with such a new team is exceptional.
How does GOTS Fibre meet the needs of today’s market?
Our GOTS Fibre content is 100% natural and recyclable, and offers our customers a truly certified organic product for today’s demanding consumers – and these certified organic fibres are also completely FR chemical-free. Utilising our speciality fibres, skilfully blended then thermally bonded using PLA (polylactic acid) results in a product that is 100% plastic-free.
How did you work with bedmaker Hypnos on its development?
Firstly, any development starts with a great partnership – both Hypnos and Enkev have had a long relationship, and share a common goal to provide the most innovative and best product possible, and to create sustainable, traceable and accredited product.
Hypnos’ design team visited our production facilities with their brief, and worked alongside our manufacturing processes to see the endless opportunities available, whilst understanding the steps required to meet and exceed their requirements. This process allowed for sampling to take place almost immediately at the plant, before further enhancing the solution to meet the high-quality result both parties required.
How do you plan to roll out the offer this year?
Demand for organic material is only increasing – with the homewares market quickly one of the fastest-growing sectors, with a 20% market share. We have some long-established customers that continue to use our growing organic range, and with our extended scope these products can be used for multiple applications. This award has allowed us to showcase our products before a wider audience, and adds further credibility to our work.
Is the range equally applicable to the upholstery sector?
More than ever, the upholstery sector is taking notice of the growing use of natural materials, driven by a combination of the sector’s typical supply chain constraints and growing demand from customers to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to foam. We are experiencing significant growth in this market, and offer support to our customers so they too can benefit from our extensive knowledge and products.
How are you helping your customers share this message with the end-consumer?
All our organic material is supplied with a Soil Association – Global Organic Textile Standard transaction certificate, which demonstrates the traceability and integrity of the product.
However, our promotional and support material doesn’t stop with the sale – we feel we can influence and educate using alternative methods, whether this is via our social media platforms, sales brochures, our extensive knowledge and library of products, or our trade show presence (we’ll see you at this year’s NBF Bed Show!).
What are Enkev’s more general strengths?
Enkev has been turning natural fibres into quality products for more than 80 years. Since our foundation in 1932, we have become one of the world’s leading processors of natural fibres. Enkev Group is proud to be a leading provider of GOTS-certified fibres, and currently holds certification for over 15 different fibres or blends, plus Vegan Society accreditation, ISO 9001:2015 and British standards for FR and cleanliness.
We have immense pride and passion for our position as a supplier of high-quality, high-integrity filling solutions, and our partnership with the Global Textile Standards and UK Soil Association and NBF helps us take our ethical and traceable supply chain to unique levels.
In terms of ‘green’ manufacturing solutions, how does yours stand out?
We echo the NBF’s own ethos – to provide transparent, sustainable products, that are good for not only the industry, but the consumer and the planet – and our new GOTS product range ticks all those boxes.
The demands being made by manufacturers and consumers have never influenced our products more than they do today. Ethical sourcing, traceability, carbon footprint, end-of-life stories and fully biodegradable materials are all key features. “Integrity, innovation, sustainability, transparency, people- and planet-friendly” are not just taglines, they’re something we all truly believe in, and we deliver those values through our products.
