Simon Spinks, chairman of Leeds-based mattress and bed manufacturer Harrison Spinks, has been awarded an OBE in this year's New Year Honours List. The recognition honours his significant contributions to the mattress and bed industry, built over a career spanning more than 35 years dedicated to sustainable and high-quality sleep solutions.
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Concerned about the environmental impact of mattress production, Spinks focused on eliminating the use of glues and foams that often result in mattresses ending up in landfill. Over the past two decades, he developed some of the world's finest wire gauge pocket springs, which reduce steel mass by up to 80% compared to traditional springs. Spinks has secured over 100 global patents related to innovations in pocket spring and equipment design, achieving material and energy efficiencies of approximately 60% compared to conventional manufacturing methods.
His invention of the Microcoil, using fine wire to create small, glue-free pocket springs, has paved the way for the development of new categories within the mattress market and reduced reliance on foams. In 2008, Spinks acquired a farm to grow natural, sustainable, and biodegradable mattress fillings, particularly industrial hemp. Today, Harrison Spinks is one of the UK's largest growers of industrial hemp, a carbon-negative material that offsets Scope 1 & 2 emissions. The company also incorporates responsibly sourced materials such as recycled cashmere and Traceable British Wool into its products, ensuring they are free from fire-retardant chemical treatments.
Spinks' vision has also led to significant growth within West Yorkshire, where Harrison Spinks has expanded from 50 employees to over 650, across three businesses. His leadership has earned the company eight Queen's/King's Awards for Enterprise, with accolades in Innovation, Sustainability, and International Trade.
Spinks expressed his surprise and honour at receiving the award, stating, 'To receive the award was a total surprise and an absolute honour. I have been very fortunate to have a career in an industry that I truly love, where I have been able to combine passions such as luxury sustainable sleep and innovation in engineering. It could not have been possible without the support and contributions of my family, colleagues, and peers past and present. I am thrilled and delighted.'
A twice National Bed Federation president, Spinks currently chairs the NBF's Sustainability Forum, demonstrating his continued commitment to driving sustainability within the industry. His work has not only elevated Harrison Spinks but also shaped a more sustainable future for the mattress and bed sector.
Source: furniturenews.net