When it comes to recycling and sustainability, some things around the home can be quite easily overlooked. Bulky, everyday textiles like pillows and duvets have a finite lifespan, but what happens to them once we’re done? We might think that by not replacing them as often as we should, we’re helping the environment, but is there a better option out there? The Fine Bedding Company’s Return To Nature eco-bedding range may be just what we’ve been looking for.

The Fine Bedding Company is a family business established in Liverpool in 1912, where it started out producing mattresses for transatlantic cruise liners. Now, more than a hundred years later and in its fourth generation, the company produces a wide range of bedding products and is committed to being as environmentally responsible and sustainable as possible. 

Not only has The Fine Bedding Company developed new materials such as Smartfil — a high-performance fibre used in some of the company’s pillows and duvets made from recycled plastic bottles — it uses sustainably and responsibly sourced cotton, biodegradable materials and plant-based materials wherever possible. All of this takes place in its award-winning eco-factory, which runs on 100% renewable energy, and 100% of the factory’s waste is recycled. It might all sound too good to be true, but in 2022, the company became a Certified B Corporation in recognition of its environmental credentials. 

return to nature eco-bedding duvet and pillows

“At The Fine Bedding Company, sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s woven into the very fabric of our business,” said Claire Watkin, owner and CEO of the company. “As a fourth-generation family company, we’ve always believed in doing things the right way, minimising our impact while creating high-quality bedding designed to last. Becoming a Certified B Corporation in 2022 was a natural step for us, reinforcing our commitment to balancing purpose with profit.”

The Fine Bedding Company: Return To Nature

While making filling from recycled bottles and sourcing materials responsibly is great, it doesn’t solve the problem of what happens to our ditched duvets. Happily, The Fine Bedding Company has a product that addresses the problem head-on. 

“Sustainability doesn’t stop at how a product is made — it extends to what happens at the end of its life. Our long-term ambition is full circularity, ensuring that our bedding can be reused, repurposed or recycled,” said Claire. “We’ve already made great strides by using post-consumer plastic waste to create our recycled fibre fillings, but we’re committed to going further. By investing in research and collaborating with sustainability leaders, we aim to develop industry-wide solutions for closed-loop recycling in bedding.”

The Return To Nature eco-bedding range of pillows and duvets is the result. Every piece in the range is filled with PrimaLoft Bio recycled filling, which, in the right conditions, will break down at an accelerated rate. Don’t worry — those conditions aren’t going to be met while the duvet or pillows are being used or washed at home. The fibres will begin to break down when they come into contact with the naturally occurring microbes found in landfills, oceans or wastewater, eventually leaving natural materials, including water, biomass and CO2. 

The outer covering of these biodegradable products is made from a blend of 100% natural eucalyptus fibres from managed forests in Austria and cotton, all of which will also be biodegradable. 

Eco-bedding: Does it feel different?

Having slept under a Return To Nature eco-bedding duvet over the last few weeks, I can tell you that you won’t have a clue that the duvet or pillows are sustainable. They feel beautifully soft to the touch, as the botanic-based Tencel Lyocell and cotton outer give both the duvet and pillows a luxurious quality.  

The Fine Bedding Company duvet and pillow

The PrimaLoft Bio filling in the pillows makes them wonderfully plump and springy. They are classed as being medium firmness, which feels about right. If you prefer a flatter pillow, or you’ve had your old one so long it’s long since become limp, these might take a little getting used to, but I love them. As a side sleeper, I can get the pillow into the perfect, huggable position for a very comfortable night’s sleep.

The Return To Nature duvet has the same premium feel as the pillows, and the box stitch design ensures that the filling remains evenly spread throughout, even after washing. Our duvet, at 10.5 tog (4.5 tog is also available), is warm yet relatively lightweight. The outer material is designed to aid temperature regulation during sleep with its breathability and moisture-wicking abilities, but this will undoubtedly be more evident during much hotter weather. 

“We know that protecting the planet means continually innovating and holding ourselves to the highest standards,” commented Claire. “From improving the thermal efficiency of our duvets to using ultrasonic stitching to reduce fabric waste, every decision we make is about advancing sustainable bedding without compromising on comfort or performance.”

The Fine Bedding Company Eco-bedding cotton duvet set

A great-feeling duvet and pillow should be wrapped in equally luxurious linen. The Fine Bedding Company’s bed linen is made from sustainably sourced cotton. The company works with Better Cotton, the world’s largest cotton sustainability program. The initiative aims to help cotton-producing communities around the world not only survive but also thrive while simultaneously protecting and restoring the environment. 

The Fine Bedding Company: Our verdict

Duvets, pillows and bedding are things that we use every day. We use them, we wash them, and we eventually discard them. The Fine Bedding Company has created a beautiful range of sustainable eco-bedding that offers quality and luxury that you’ll appreciate every time you relax and drift off to sleep.  

Next time you refresh your bedding, switch to the eco-friendly option. You’ll sleep that little bit more soundly, knowing that you did a good thing for the environment as well as for your comfort. 

Tested: Return To Nature eco-bedding from The Fine Bedding Company
Prices: From £40
Average Joes Rating: ★★★★★

Sam Huff
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