You can rest assured when buying a sustainable bed from The Natural Bed Company as it comes with a twelve-year guarantee. They are confident in their products because their skilled team of woodworkers make the beds in-house and to order.
By making the beds in-house, they are keeping local skills alive. They’ve been awarded the Made in Sheffield mark and are part of the Guild of Master Craftsmen. Most of the beds are completed by a single craftsman who works on it from start to finish. This results in a connection between the woodworker and product that is seen in the finish.
As each bed is made to order, orders can take up to twelve weeks when buying a sustainable bed from them.
What makes them sustainable beds?
The company does not use endangered hardwoods. There is still plenty of choice in colours and grains between oak, walnut, ash, beech, cherry, maple and pine woods. They believe that buying timber from managed forests is a way to continue the cycle of planting, growing and harvesting.
All the wood for a sustainable bed from The Natural Bed Company is procured from a certified source and purchased under the EUTR (European Union Timber Regulation). The timber is imported from Scandinavia, the US and northern Europe.
This is important because imported wood for furniture can be ‘logged without regard for the sustainability of the environment or the future of the planet’ The Natural Bed Company says.
China is by far the biggest import partner for the UK furniture industry at 42% (WWF, 2015). But wood from China may not have been grown in China. It may come from forests elsewhere. China is widely regarded as a conduit for timber from south-east Asia and the Russian far east. And it is regarded as a ‘high risk’ partner, with issues around illegal logging and trade.
The EU Timber Regulation doesn’t go far enough, according to the WWF. It focuses on the legality of the wood rather than broader sustainability concerns (biodiversity, human rights, etc).
In the same report, they found that ‘most retailers don’t appear to know or care where the wood in their products comes from or if it is responsibly and sustainably sourced’. But the Natural Bed Company does know and they do care.
Buying a sustainable bed
Buying a sustainable bed from The Natural Bed Company is reassuring in multiple ways. In addition to the quality assurance, buyers can be comforted by knowing that the wood has been ethically sourced. The company is also invested in communities.
Alongside other charities, Peter and Kay, founders of the sustainable brand, also support the Tibetan people through donations. China has occupied Tibet since 1950. The result is the migration of thousands of Tibetans who escape over the Himalayas to settle in northern India and Nepal.
Buying sustainably can be complex. There are many things to take into consideration, such as materials, craftsmanship and wider concerns such as ESG. Businesses that join Blue Patch have shown a commitment to making sure their products are as sustainable as they can be. If you are a like-minded business, join our community today.
