British design studio Layer has joined forces with the innovative Chinese start-up Mazzu to revolutionize mattress design with a sustainable twist. Together, they have crafted a remarkable modular mattress that ditches traditional foam and instead utilizes textile-covered springs for a truly eco-friendly sleep experience.
The MAZZU mattress is created by assembling “modular pocket springs”, comprised of an hour-glass spring wrapped in a seamless, two-tone, 3D-knit textile that creates a beautiful melange sleeve, and a recyclable connecting system. The modular pocket springs are available in three different tensions – Firm, Medium, and Soft – allowing users to intuitively build a mattress to suit their sleeping position. This also allows the two sides of the mattress to be individually configured to suit the different needs of couples.
The individual spring modules are attached together with a secure “snap-fit” connection and combined with a Base Matrix and comfortable Cushion Topper to create a versatile mattress that can be configured and repaired as needed to fit all frame sizes in every country. Once assembled, the mattress has an open structure that proudly displays the spring system to create a distinctive and ownable identity when desired.
The MAZZU mattress is made from skin-friendly and sustainable materials – including organic wool, recycled polyester, natural latex and recyclable polymer – which provides enhanced comfort and support while eliminating the use of glue and foam.
The mattress industry’s reliance on PU foam has become a significant worry, both for the environment and our well-being. Recent studies conducted in 2018 and 2020 have revealed that a staggering 60 million metric tons of mattresses are discarded globally each year, with over 90% of their components being non-recyclable. Furthermore, research has demonstrated that the production of PU foam not only consumes a substantial amount of energy but also releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that pose a threat to our health and overall wellness. In light of these concerns, the MAZZU mattress has been designed to address these issues by adopting a foam-free and glue-free construction.
Compress to impress The MAZZU spring modules can be compressed from a height of 250 mm to just 50 mm, allowing for efficient shipping and convenient storage in a compact, reusable packaging system, also designed by LAYER. A small double mattress, for example, can be compressed from a volume of 0.6m3 to just 0.12m3 – an impressive reduction of 80%.
The modular nature of the MAZZU mattress not only means it can be disassembled for storage, easy cleaning, and replacing of individual modules. New modules can also be combined with existing modules so that the mattress can grow as needed.
“We’ve been working with MAZZU for the last three years, and have been so impressed with their commitment to driving a groundbreaking, sustainable system for sleep,” explains Benjamin Hubert – Founder of LAYER. “The bedding industry needs step changes in the way it thinks about delivering high-performance products whilst being mindful of the planet and MAZZU are leading the way in contributing to that dialogue.”