Yumeko and Conscious hotels are taking the next step in making the hotel industry more sustainable
Yumeko and Conscious Hotels have teamed up for an innovative project to recycle old down pillows into new down pillows. The initiative also shows consumers and hotel partners that recycling down is possible, with all the benefits for people, animals and the environment.
"Yumeko recycled 880 pillows with this project"
PURPOSE
From Conscious Hotels and Yumeko, the goal of this project is to use less new material; old products do not always need to be replaced immediately, but can serve as valuable raw materials to make new products again. Yumeko and Conscious Hotels are thus demonstrating to companies and consumers that recycling down is possible and has many advantages for people, the environment and animals. Moreover, the quality of a recycled down product is no less than that of a less sustainable alternative. The fact that Yumeko's recycled down comforter came out as "Best in Test" in 2021 from the Consumers' Association shows this once again.
We believe that society must move toward a circular economy, where high-quality materials can be reused for a better purpose than ending up in a landfill or incinerator. We believe this is a great contribution to making society more sustainable. Good example will follow.
"Good example leads the way."
IMPACT
Recycling down has several advantages:
•In terms of environmental impact, no valuable materials are added to the waste, which would normally disappear into an incinerator that releases a lot of CO₂.
•In addition, no new material needs to be produced. Recycling used down keeps a valuable resource in use, rather than destroying it.
•In addition, recycling ensures that it is not necessary to use down derived from new animals.
•Last but not least, this was an interesting financial business case for Conscious Hotels.
By working together on this down recycling project, Yumeko and Conscious Hotels are having a great, positive impact together. Together, we are contributing to a sustainable, circular model where raw materials are not depleted and residues are reused.
DOWN AND MATTRESS RECYCLING SERVICE
Yumeko has created two recycling services. A down recycling service and a mattress recycling service. Through the down recycling service, customers who make a purchase can ship their used down pillows and comforters free of charge. Yumeko then turns them into new comforters and pillows. Through the mattress recycling service, the different parts of the mattress are separated. For example, the cotton of the tickings and the metal of the pocket springs go to the textile and metal industries respectively. The different types of foam – such as latex and polyether – are separated and reused as padding or insulation material.
PRODUCTION PROCESS
All down that ends up at Yumeko's down recycling service is carefully inspected, selected and washed. It can then be used to make pillows and duvets that are just as beautiful and just as soft and warm to sleep in as products made with new down. Not only is the down recycled, but also the 100% organic cotton cover (or ticking). This goes to a textile processor, who can work with it again.
Want to know more about this production process? Read more in this blog.
LONG-TERM COLLABORATION
Sustainable bed and bathwear brand Yumeko and eco hotel chain Conscious Hotels both have a mission to make the world a more beautiful place. Since 2014, guests at Conscious Hotels' four locations have been using sustainable down comforters and pillows from Yumeko.
Conscious Hotels replaces all down pillows every few years and purchases new ones from Yumeko. Also in 2021, there was a need for new cushions for one of the locations. But what to do with the old ones? Based on their sustainable vision, Conscious Hotels wanted to give the Yumeko pillows that were to be replaced a new use. Therefore, Yumeko came up with the idea of recycling them through our down recycling service.
At Conscious Hotel The Tire Station, new Yumeko pillows made of responsible down were delivered in February 2022. All old pillows from this location were recycled through Yumeko's recycling service. The recycled duck down was then used to make new pillows for Conscious Hotel Westerpark. A total of 880 pillows have already been recycled with this project.
Are you curious about what our pillows and comforters made of recycled down look like? Then take a quick look at our website: www.yumeko.nl
If you are a company interested in the possibilities of recycling down products, please contact Yumeko's customer service via the website: www.yumeko.nl.