I discovered Naturalmat last year when I was sourcing a natural and sustainable mattress for a client in Cornwall, and instantly loved their story and sustainability credentials.

The company was started in 1999 when the owners were searching for a mattress that was supportive, made from natural fibres & biodegradable, but really struggled to find something suitable.

I was intrigued to find out more about this sustainable business, how they got to where they are today and where they see the business heading.

What was your vision for the company when you first started?

I grew up around the marine industry through my family’s business, and one thing that always puzzled me was owners spending a small fortune on their yachts, but finishing them off with cheap foam mattresses. This prompted the initial vision - to make genuinely comfortable and durable mattresses for boats. I quickly realised that the breathability of natural fibres made them far better suited to the damp, moist environment of a boat than the typical slabs of polyurethane, and far more comfortable to boot.

The business evolved with the birth of my son. I discovered that the world of cot mattresses was just as dependent on unhealthy, uncomfortable synthetic foams and plastics. We set about making the first 100% natural baby mattress to pass all British standards, from a building in the same Devon boatyard you can still find us in 20 years later.

Naturalmat grew rapidly from there, and we went on to develop “grown-up” mattresses for the hotel and retail market, later followed by a range of handcrafted beds, all inspired by the same belief that when it comes to where you sleep, natural fibres are simply better.

How long did it take to create your first product?

Once I had the right materials to play with it was probably a period of about 3 to 4 months, with a lot of testing, layering, and of course, setting things on fire.

What were the main challenges you faced?

I suppose the first one was becoming a mattress maker! When it came to production in the early days it was just me - so things like learning to sew the covers, and working out how to cut the new materials.

Of course the act of sourcing the, at that time fairly unique materials, was also challenging. Our organic coconut fibre pads, for example, were not easy to get hold of. Finding the right producers, to provide the right size and shape, was often a tricky process.

What are the key things that make your product unique?

Well firstly, absolutely every bed and mattress is made by hand under one roof in our Devon workshop. We are obsessive when it comes to quality control, and have always believed in people, rather than machines. This attention to detail ensures our almost non-existent returns rate - something that is especially unique in today’s mattress industry.

We are equally as meticulous when it comes to sourcing our all-natural raw materials. From the smallest duvet cover buttons - we get ours from an artisan button maker, crafted from tagua nuts - to our organic lambswool sourced directly from local Soil Association certified farmers, we go to great lengths to find the finest sustainable, renewable and recycled materials.

If I had to pick one thing though, it’s our sustainability that really sets us apart.

What makes your products truly sustainable?

Whilst the rest of the industry is scrambling to jump on the sustainability bandwagon, we’re in the fortunate position of having had an eco-friendly approach from day one.

As an example - most mattresses on the market are comprised of unrecyclable, synthetic materials, treated with chemicals and made cheaply in high quantities. It’s these low-quality mattresses that are a major contributor to the 5 million that go to landfill in the UK alone each year - which is simply unacceptable. Our mattresses are designed to last, but when they do reach the end of their life, the natural fibres can be disassembled, recycled, or - as part of our new Mattress for Life initiative the mattress itself can be entirely refurbished and refreshed for many more years of great sleep.

Away from our products, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. From our solar-powered workshop, to our now entirely compostable, recyclable or reusable packaging, we are constantly innovating and refining our eco-conscious approach.

We’re not standing still, and from our advantageous starting position, we are continuing to raise the bar. We’ve recently launched our first Impact Report with the boldest sustainability strategy in our industry that will challenge us to do even more between now and 2025 - including cutting our direct emissions to zero without the use of offsets. We’re also excitedly awaiting our B-Corp certification, which we are expecting this year.

What are you most proud of as a business?

As a Devonian I am immensely proud of our hand-making of exceptional quality products that are shipped all around the world. Supporting the local community and economy is important to me as an owner, and a big part of who we are as a business.

What are the next steps for the business and where do you see Natural mat in 5 years time?

Expanding our brick and mortar retail offering is on the agenda for us - we currently have showrooms in Devon and London, as well as Iceland, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands, but when it comes to buying a bed or mattress, there is simply no substitute for trying them for yourself, so the more places you can do that, the better.