Mid‑year update on Fossflakes’ sustainability efforts 2023

It has now been two years since we formalised Fossflakes’ sustainability efforts – and we continue to make progress. Here are some of this year’s preliminary highlights:

Product life cycles

Within pillows and duvets, it is the filling that makes the primary difference between products. For us, that filling is our unique Fossflakes blend; for others, it may be down, polyester or foam. Yet there is very little publicly available data on how these materials impact the environment.

That is why we have initiated a project to collect environmental data on these materials and develop a life‑cycle analysis, making it possible to compare different types of filling. Our goal is to create the most accurate picture possible, without any bias in favour of our patented filling – and we are very much looking forward to sharing the results.

Product durability

Long‑lasting products are an important factor in reducing our environmental impact. That is why we always test Fossflakes products to ensure we have data that confirms their durability.

The leading research institute, the Danish Technological Institute, is currently testing four types of pillows to analyse how well they retain their elasticity under repeated pressure corresponding to the weight of a human head.

Our goal is for the results to help our customers choose the right pillow – for both their comfort and for the sake of the environment.

Reducing waste

Cotton is the material that contributes the most to the CO2 emissions of a Fossflakes pillow (see the 2022 Sustainability Report for details). In our efforts to reduce excess cotton waste, we look not only at our own factory but also at our overseas cotton suppliers. In addition to quality‑controlling the finished covers before they are shipped to us, we now also inspect the cotton before it is sewn into Fossflakes covers. Our goal is to preserve cotton as the valuable resource it is.

Launching Better Cotton pillows

Another way we hope to reduce the environmental impact of our products is through our transition to Better Cotton. Better Cotton trains farmers in more environmentally friendly practices and reports lower water usage and reduced pesticide use compared with conventional farmers. Better Cotton also offers a social benefit by increasing farmers’ incomes.

This year, we have purchased 32 tonnes of Better Cotton, and in October we were excited to ship the first versions of our best‑selling product made with Better Cotton.

The search for better materials

To follow up on our transition to Better Cotton, we are ready to take the next step and introduce organic cotton once we are confident that our customers are willing to pay the higher prices.

When it comes to polyester, we have so far ruled out regenerated fibres due to insufficient quality, but we see potential in PLA – a polyester made from renewable sources such as corn and sugarcane.

With respect to polyethylene, we are awaiting test results on a new flake material that is expected to break down much faster than conventional polyethylene.

Reducing social risks

At Fossflakes, we have also worked this year to reduce social risks within our cotton supply chain. This effort has led two of our largest suppliers to agree to undergo audits in accordance with international standards for social responsibility.

As a result of these agreements, we are pleased to note that 100% of the Chinese cotton covers we purchase are now supplied by manufacturers who comply with BSCI or Sedex. This means they are committed to producing Fossflakes covers with respect for workers’ rights, working conditions and wages.

Efficient energy use

Compared with Fossflakes’ use of materials, the energy consumption at our Danish factory is fortunately a relatively small contributor to our climate emissions (see the 2022 Sustainability Report for details). Nevertheless, we continue to work on reducing our energy use. This year, we upgraded the roof ventilation so it can be closed during winter, and we added sealing around the loading bay gate to reduce heat loss when loading trucks.

Investing in employees

As part of our skills development programme, we have begun training all non‑factory employees in project management. This two‑day course provides staff with a wide range of new competencies – strengthening their career opportunities.

Inspiration for the industry

When we began our sustainability efforts, we certainly did not expect to become a source of inspiration for other companies — but it appears that this has happened nonetheless. Our 2022 Sustainability Report, published earlier this year, has received praise from the business community.

As a result, Fossflakes was invited to be a case study at a series of events hosted by Copenhagen Business Hub (Erhvervshus Hovedstaden), Helsingør Municipality and the Knowledge Centre for Digital Commerce. We need hardly say that we are very proud to be recognised by such respected organisations.

Next report coming this spring

We look forward to presenting a full overview of our sustainability efforts in the 2023 report – which will be ready next spring.

If you have any questions or feedback before then, we would be happy to hear from you.

Kind regards,
Adam Foss
Founder, Fossflakes