Editor’s Note: For the December Beds by Design feature titled, “The Path to Sustainable Design,” we asked industry leaders to fill out a questionnaire about their creative process. Turns out, they are so passionate about the topic that we couldn’t use all their sage insights in the print feature. So, we’ve decided to post the entirety of their Q&A’s online, allowing you, our valued audience, to read all their good answers. This interview with Sheri McGuire, Vice President of Innovation Sourcing, Serta Simmons Bedding, is the sixth of a seven-part, online-only series that we will post weekly throughout the month of December. Most of all, our sincerest thanks to the executives who participated in the sustainable design feature to help educate the industry about a future defined by a circular economy.
What does sustainable design mean for your company?
At Serta Simmons Bedding, we are on a journey focused to create and design mattress products within our manufacturing processes where our goal is zero waste to landfill. … The majority of plant-generated waste is recycled. We are also improving the energy efficiency of our facilities and transportation network. Our fleet of trucks is among the most efficient in the industry, which saves an enormous amount of fossil fuels. … Annually in the U.S., we recycle millions of pounds of cardboard, plastic and foam materials to not only divert them from the landfill but also to leverage these materials to be upcycled into alternative materials. We serve on the Mattress Recycling Council’s Board of Directors and our Moreno Valley, California, manufacturing facility recently completed the Sleep Products Sustainability Program facility certification process. In addition to improving Scope 1 and 2 emissions, we are also starting to address Scope 3 emissions. … Additionally, we are partnering with our suppliers to create innovative ways to increase sustainable content with the long-term goal of achieving a 100% sustainable and circular supply chain for SSB.
What are your greatest obstacles or challenges when it comes to sustainable design?
Our passion and our focus is our consumer. SSB is committed to being responsible corporate partners within our communities and to drive positive impact. We will continue to lead communications focused on improving people’s lives through our efforts in design and creation of sustainable, safe and comfortable products.
What sustainable products does your company offer?
SSB introduced Serta iComfort Eco at the winter 2023 Las Vegas Market. Serta iComfort Eco builds on the comfort, support and cooling that the line has built its reputation on while adding more sustainability materials. Each queen mattress includes recycled plastics equivalent to more than 120 recycled plastic water bottles. The Serta iComfort Eco mattress CoolTemp cover is made, in part, with Repreve performance fiber, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. Separately, recycled plastics have also been integrated into the bottom support layer of the mattress. … The new coil found in the hybrid models also leverages a glueless design and is made from 85% recycled steel. The Terra Fusion memory foam, which can be found toward the top of the mattress, is made of 30% plant-based content that has USDA BioPreferred certification. SSB also introduced BR Harmony and Harmony Lux at the summer 2023 Las Vegas Market. The BR Harmony and Harmony Lux collections are the second generation of the BR Harmony collection introduced and predicated on using more sustainable materials. All have lush sleep surfaces made using plastic bottles diverted from the ocean. Each queen mattress is made with up to 100 plastic bottles hand-collected from coastlines and ocean-bound waterways. BR Harmony collection aids in keeping the sleeper cool and comfortable using plant-based PCM materials.
What is your ultimate goal when it comes to sustainability?
At Serta Simmons Bedding, our mission is to help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives. As part of this mission, we are on a journey to reduce our impact on the environment, both in the products we sell and the ways we operate.
