Simon Spinks was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List in recognition for services to the mattress and bed industry.
20 year ago the Harrison Spinks chairman focussed on ways to replace glues and foams that make mattresses almost impossible to recycle, meaning millions end in landfill each year. He created the finest wire gauge pocket springs available globally, reducing steel mass by up to 80% compared to traditional springs.
Spink now holds 100 patents globally relating mainly to innovations in pocket spring and equipment design, delivering material and energy efficiencies compared to traditional manufacturing methods.
In 2008 a farm was bought to allow the company to grow its own natural, sustainable and biodegradable mattress fillings. Harrison Spinks is now one of the UK’s largest growers of industrial hemp, which is carbon negative with zero waste. It also offsets company Scope 1 and 2 emissions. As well as other responsibly sourced materials such as recycled cashmere, wool from his mattresses feature Traceable British Wool which was another industry first.
The company also weaves its own luxury mattress ticking which, due to its high wool content, is naturally fire retardant.
‘To receive the award was a total surprise and an absolute honour. I have been very fortunate to have a career in an industry that I truly love and where I have been able to combine a number of passions including, luxury sustainable sleep and innovation in engineering. It could not have been possible without the support and contributions of my family, colleagues and peers past and present. I am thrilled and delighted,’ he says.
