Major sustainability plans have been put well into action at the Products of Change member and licensed bedding specialist Dreamtex who has secured its spot among the returning sponsors of the Sustainability in Licensing Conference this year.
From the inside out, the Dreamtex team has been implementing steps ranging from early engagement with and exploration of new natural fibres such as bamboo for bedding to Scope 1 and 2 data collection and Scope 3 mapping, as the business continues to ‘move the needle’ of industry sustainability.
Among the measures being taken, Dreamtex has too been vocal on the importance of industry collaboration powered by the creation of open forums in which to share knowledge and insight, specifically the industry’s own Sustainability in Licensing Conference (SiLC).
Speaking with Products of Change, Andy Downie, commercial director at Dreamtex said: “Conferences such as SiLC drive the voice of the industry and amplify the need for change across every scope. We are very proud to be part of such a significant driver of change.”
With many across the industry now acting upon foundations laid over the last to implement sustainable measures within their operations and as the industry begins to look to SiLC 23 – returning to the Royal Geographical Society in London on 8th November this year – Products of Change catches up with event sponsor Dreamtex to learn all about its latest strides.
Hi Andy, thanks for catching up with us. The last time we did, we spoke about Dreamtex’s relationship with sustainability and how it’s reflected in the innovation you are driving forward. How has your journey of sustainable development progressed since?
We have been busy developing our strategy and working closely with retailers to move our sustainable journey forward. Most recently, all our in-store product has been stripped of single-use plastic in most retailers and we have developed our current cushion fillings to now be made from 100% recycled polyester. This is something we already do with our successful coverless duvet range.
Since the launch of our National Geographic range using Repreve, we have moved towards natural fibres such as BCI Cotton as this fabric is 100% recyclable and better for the environment long term. We have also looked into other natural fibres such as bamboo and are in the sampling stage of these products. We have plans to add more collections to our portfolio using these natural fibres in the near future.
This is fantastic to hear! So, how do you think industry conversation around sustainability has since evolved and how is this reflected in the way you’re progressing your journey?
It’s clear that the conversation continues to evolve. Factories are more engaged with the need for change and we are currently working with them on Scope 3 mapping. Conferences such as the Sustainability in Licensing Conference drive the voice of the industry and amplify the need for change across every scope. We are proud to be part of such a significant driver of change.
Given the calls for ‘drastic and swift action’ from the latest IPCC report, do you think the industry is moving the needle fast enough when it comes to sustainability?
This industry moves at a rapid pace and as such should be well-equipped to move at speed when it comes to sustainability. At Dreamtex, we have set specific goals for the short, medium, and long-term, with some already achieved!
Ah yes, so you previously listed company energy-saving initiatives, staff training, internal policies, reducing plastic in packaging and looking at carbon footprint as the next steps for Dreamtex to take. How are we looking on this front?
Oh, our internal changes have boomed since we last spoke! We have recently taken advantage of the North West Chambers of Commerce Green Rose programme which offers training sessions on sustainability and environmental management in small businesses. These sessions have helped us drive toward a more sustainable future, beginning within.
We have set up procurement policies by implementing small changes that make big differences such as soft plastics recycling points, mixed recycling points, switching to recycled paper, and paper packing tape. These are just a few examples of how we are changing the way we work by making small changes on a daily basis.
We were also able to benchmark our sustainability plans against other small businesses at the ECO-I North West training summit earlier this year. This symposium allowed us to discuss ideas in an open forum in order to construct our 2023 sustainability objectives.
Massive congratulations on the amazing strides you are taking! We’d love to hear of any further developments on emissions measuring and reporting…
Well, we are currently in the process of evaluating carbon accounting software products. Having the right software in place is vital as it allows us to gain insight by benchmarking and tracking Greenhouse Gas emissions produces as a consequence of our and our supply chain’s activities.
This data forms the foundation of our plan on how to reduce emissions in line with the Science Based Targets initiative framework and will be a way to measure if these plans are working. Having a robust carbon accounting platform allows us to report our progress in a reliable and transparent way.
Data has already been collected for Scope 1 and 2 emissions with an aim to start sharing reports soon, Scope 3 is vast in scale but by breaking it into downstream and upstream categories, we hope to make the collection, reporting, and reducing of these emissions manageable.
Fantastic! Thanks so much Andy for sharing your insight with us. Before we let you get back to it, tell us what new launches we can look forward to seeing from you guys?
We are launching a brand-new core range for Bluey home décor products with seasonal ranges such as Christmas and Halloween in development. All our card used in these products is FSC certified. It is also 100% recyclable with no single-use plastic. We are also reviewing more near-shore factories to source our product from in order to reduce the carbon created in our supply chain.
Thanks Andy, any last thoughts you’d like to leave us with?
Yes, we strive to do our best by the environment and are always looking for new ways to improve. We cannot wait for SiLC 2023 and are proud to be supporting such an amazing voice of the industry.
