A.H. Beard

Foundation Member | Tracking Since October 2022

A.H. Beard Sustainability Actions

Australia's First Fully Recyclable Mattress

Launched in 2021, A.H. Beard Origins is for people who want to contribute to a sustainable future while enjoying the best sleep of their lives. Hand-made by our team of highly skilled craftspeople, every component, fabric and fibre in an Origins mattress is chosen for its sleep-enhancing qualities, the sustainable of its source, and end-of-life recyclability. Wool sourced from Australian family farms. Fabrics are made from organic cotton and the pulp of sustainably grown eucalypts. And the world’s first 100% recyclable pocket spring support system, EvoCoil. Origins mattresses are free of GMOs and synthetic foams. And because they are made without glue, the components can be disassembled for recycling at the end of the mattress’s life. A.H. Beard Origins has been rated one of the healthiest and least toxic products by Global Green Tag, the world’s most rigorous sustainability certification body. It is the first mattress globally to achieve a Platinum HealthRATE and Platinum Asthma & Allergy rating.

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Mission Australia

In 2009, Mission Australia established a mattress recycling social enterprise, Soft Landing, in Bellambi, NSW. The program provided jobs to disadvantaged jobseekers and recycled thousands of mattresses and bases from hotels, retailers, councils and the community throughout Sydney and the Illawarra. In 2012, the initiative won the Premier's Award for Environmental Excellence in the NSW Green Globe Awards. A.H. Beard joined forces with Mission Australia in 2012, and by June 2022, had redirected over 500,000 beds from landfill. Mission Australia is committed to reducing its ecological footprint and advocating for action on climate change.

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Founding Member of Australian Bedding Stewardship Council

A.H. Beard is a proud supporter of Australian Bedding Stewardship Council (ABSC) and Recycle My Mattress. The ABSC was established to work with supply chains, manufacturers and retailers alike, to utilise inputs that work towards a circular economy for mattresses and bedding recycling.  With our very own Chairman, Garry Beard, as Deputy Chair of ABSC, A.H. Beard has been a key driver for creating better environmental and social outcomes from end-of-life mattresses. 

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Sustainable Forestry

A.H. Beard are a proud member of The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), who works with businesses and manufacturers to ensure that any timber used in products are sourced sustainably, and works towards preventing deforestations, preserve biodiversity, and protect human rights in the process. The FSC are committed to upholding a common set of responsible forestry standards that support:  zero deforestation  safeguarding of ancient and endangered forests  fair wage and work environment  biodiversity preservation  community rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples

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Sleep Wellness Centre

Sustainable Development Goal 3, regarding "Good Health and Well-being", is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. The official wording is: "To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.“ A.H. Beard believe that sleep is a key factor for well-being. Poor sleep quality is a very real public health issue. It affects around 7.4 million people in Australia* and manifests itself in every aspect of daily life: from our moods, relationships and general happiness to our productivity and safety at work. In recent years, medical research has shown a strong link between insufficient sleep and the increased risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, type II diabetes, obesity, and depression. A.H. Beard’s Sleep Wellness Centre is a source of information to inspire and motivate people who want to improve their lives through better sleep. The Sleep Wellness Centre aims to: Actively engage sleep-deprived individuals Provide Practical Advice Create awareness Promote all pillars of Health and Wellness. *Deloitte Access Economics report commissioned by the Sleep Health Foundation and published for the 2016-2017 financial year.

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Preserving Nature

At A.H. Beard, we care deeply about creating a sustainable business that gives back to nature. As part of A.H. Beard’s commitment to sustainability, we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted, a non-profit organisation focused on combating the damaging effects of climate change by rebuilding forests and restoring biodiversity.  We’ve pledged to plant 20,000 trees across Australia yearly. Planting trees is one of the best ways to combat the damaging effects of climate change, as trees clean our air and water, create habitats for biodiversity, and contribute to our health and wellbeing. We care deeply about the planet and creating a business that gives back to nature for future generations to enjoy. Our contributions have been directed at the following projects within Australia:  Bushfire recovery – with One Tree Planted we work to restore forests and bushland impacted by the 2019/20 summer bushfires in QLD, SA, VIC & NSW.  TreeProjects Victoria - this is a community-centric project in 79 different locations in Victoria, where volunteer tree growers are matched with landholders who want to plant trees to restore degraded areas of their land or expand remnants of indigenous vegetation.  Ecological Restoration in Southwest Western Australia – due to broad–acre agriculture, much of the internationally recognised biodiversity and ecosystems of Western Australia are fragmented and are struggling to expand. The goals of this project are to restore habitat, conserve biodiversity, and buffer/extend important wildlife corridors in a biodiversity hotspot. Through the re-establishment of species-rich native vegetation, primarily alongside riparian areas, we will capture atmospheric carbon while supporting

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Soft Landing

A.H. Beard is a proud partner of Soft-Landing mattress recycling. Soft Landing is a social enterprise currently operating in NSW (Sydney and the Illawarra), VIC (Melbourne), ACT (Hume and surrounds) and WA (Wangara and surrounds). They divert waste mattresses from landfill and recover the components for recycling and reuse. SoftLanding can dispose of your mattress, or base, from $40 to $77 per item (depending on where you reside).  If you reside in an area apart from the above, contact your local council as many councils are trying their own recycling programs for mattresses and bases.

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Beyond Blue Partnership

A.H. Beard has proudly partnered with Beyond Blue to bring awareness to the link between quality sleep and mental health. Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live. As A.H. Beard are alinged withe the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, regarding "Good Health and Well-being", with the official mission statement as: "To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.“, A.H. Beard will be donating a minimum of $100,000 to Beyond Blue to fund the Beyond Blue Support Service, where people in Australia can seek support from trained mental health professionals whenever they need it.

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Sensitive Choice Partnership

A healthy sleep environment is crucial for a restful sleep. A.H. Beard mattresses are the only ones approved by the National Asthma Council to carry the Sensitive Choice blue butterfly symbol. That’s because they provide long-term protection against dust mites and their allergens, mould and bacteria, so you can breathe and sleep easy.

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Partnership with Cloven Hills

A.H. Beard has partnered with like-minded businesses who are committed to sustainable sources and practices and using Australian growers and suppliers wherever possible to support local jobs and communities. For example, the wool sourced for Origins mattresses comes from Australian farms such as Cloven Hills in Victoria, where sheep are farmed to the highest environmental and ethical standards, and the wool can be recycled for future use!

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OEKO-TEX

OEKO- TEX is a standard that tests for harmful substances. Our fabric suppliers have Oektex 100 certification on the yarns that they use in fabrics. OEKO-TEX® standards enable everyone to make responsible decisions and protect natural resources. Driven by sustainability and a dedication to transparency, our work is grounded in proven science.

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