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Luxury furniture company Coco-Mat is based in Greece, handcrafting mattresses, furniture, and more using 100% natural materials such as coconut fiber, natural latex, horsehair and even seaweed!
About Chez Laurence:
Designer Laurence Carr meets manufacturers and brands who are employing circular, regenerative, and sustainable practices. See how they're seeking to change the end-of-life concept with eco-friendly techniques.
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EarthX is a media company dedicated to inspiring people to care about the planet. We take an omni channel approach to reach audiences of every age through its robust 24/7 linear channel distributed across cable and FAST outlets, along with dynamic, solution oriented short form content on social and digital platforms. EarthX is home to original series, documentaries and snackable content that offer sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. EarthX is the only network that delivers entertaining and inspiring topics that impact and inspire our lives on climate and sustainability.
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Luxury furniture company Coco-Mat is based in Greece, handcrafting mattresses, furniture, and more using 100% natural materials such as coconut fiber, natural latex, horsehair and even seaweed!
About Chez Laurence:
Designer Laurence Carr meets manufacturers and brands who are employing circular, regenerative, and sustainable practices. See how they're seeking to change the end-of-life concept with eco-friendly techniques.
EarthX
Love Our Planet.
The Official Network of Earth Day.
About Us:
At EarthX, we believe our planet is a pretty special place. The people, landscapes, and critters are likely unique to the entire universe, so we consider ourselves lucky to be here. We are committed to protecting the environment by inspiring conservation and sustainability, and our programming along with our range of expert hosts support this mission. We’re glad you’re with us.
EarthX is a media company dedicated to inspiring people to care about the planet. We take an omni channel approach to reach audiences of every age through its robust 24/7 linear channel distributed across cable and FAST outlets, along with dynamic, solution oriented short form content on social and digital platforms. EarthX is home to original series, documentaries and snackable content that offer sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. EarthX is the only network that delivers entertaining and inspiring topics that impact and inspire our lives on climate and sustainability.
EarthX Website: https://earthxmedia.com/
Follow Us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthxmedia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earthxmedia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthXMedia/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earthxmedia
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EarthXMedia
How to watch:
United States:
- Spectrum
- AT&T U-verse (1267)
- DIRECTV (267)
- Philo
- FuboTV
- Plex
- Fire TV
#EarthDay #Environment #Sustainability #Ecofriendly #Conservation #EarthX
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00🎵
00:29Cocomot is a luxury furniture and bed systems company based in Greece.
00:34Founded in 1989, they've been green since before it started becoming trendy,
00:40handcrafting their mattresses, furniture and more using 100% natural materials
00:45such as coconut fiber, natural latex, even horse hair and seaweed.
00:51Cocomot boosts many sustainability standards certification
00:54and has used nature's wisdom as a guide and source of inspiration,
00:59leading them to become industry leaders in the quest towards circularity.
01:04Let's chat with Cocomot executive Pavlos to learn more.
01:09Hello, Pavlos.
01:11Welcome to our series.
01:12It's great to have you here.
01:14Hi, Laurence. Thank you for having us.
01:16Would you please briefly introduce yourself?
01:19My name is Pavlos Mourfides.
01:21I work for the International Department here at Cocomot.
01:24We are a luxury furniture and bed systems company
01:28which we use 100% natural materials for all of our products.
01:33So can you tell me, how did Cocomot get started?
01:36Cocomot was founded back in 1989.
01:39So we are a 30 year old company.
01:41And when the company started, what we had was a common dream.
01:46So that dream was to offer blissful sleep to every person who sleeps on our beds.
01:53The idea came from using nature's wisdom
01:58as a guide and source of inspiration and motivation to do the things that we do.
02:03So we have created innovative products and home furniture
02:08out of 100% natural materials.
02:10So all of our raw resources come from things like natural fiber,
02:17cactus to horsehair and seaweed.
02:21Our company has grown to become a global brand with 17 stores worldwide.
02:26In our motherland, where the company was founded in Greece,
02:30we have become a household name
02:32which is synonymous with that of quality and that of wellness.
02:38So we are very proud to be associated with things that we strived for to do anyhow.
02:43Many things have changed, but our core dreams do remain the same.
02:48So our mission statement has never wavered from what it originally was.
02:54And that is that every time you wake up happy after a deep, restful sleep,
03:00we make our dreams come true as well.
03:04Tell us about your orthosomatic principle
03:07and how it informs your approach and products.
03:10The principle of orthosomatic is following what is right for your own body.
03:16The soma, which is the Greek word for body, naturally knows what is right,
03:22which right in Greek is translated into ortho.
03:26So we have, through that concept, developed very highly elastic mattresses
03:31that can perfectly adapt to any shape and form,
03:34which is the natural way to do so anyway.
03:37So what we do is that we have multiple layers of natural materials
03:41that are stacked inside each product.
03:44There are no metal springs used or anything that is heavily processed
03:48through a production line.
03:49After the elastic layers, we infuse it with harder layers,
03:53such as the coconut fiber, which provide the support for the body weight itself.
03:58Whereas the most elastic ones that are made out of natural latex layers
04:03follow the body shape, gently hugging every one of those curves.
04:08So instead of making your body adapt
04:11to the ways that metal spring mattresses tend to push your body
04:15into a certain position,
04:16we have made a mattress that surrenders itself to your body.
04:21So that's the essence of the orthosomatic principle.
04:25Our Ergobase consists of bendy eucalyptus wood slats,
04:31which rest on three or four rows of natural latex.
04:35That Ergobase makes the bed mattress virtually bottomless.
04:40By responding to every movement and gently absorbing the weight,
04:45it offers maximum elasticity, allowing for perfect air circulation.
04:49And of course, in the end, that perfect support and weight distribution.
04:54That's such an ingenious use of engineering and materials.
04:59Cocomalt hosted a book signing for Arianna Huffington's book,
05:03The Sleep Revolution. Tell me about it.
05:05At the time, Arianna Huffington was
05:09working on that project and we thought, why not
05:14reach out to her, tell her that this is exactly what we are about.
05:17And since then, we have been inseparable.
05:19And she, to this day, toots us as one of her
05:23favorite brands for sleep and home furniture.
05:28The Sleep Revolution is Miss Huffington's journey
05:33to the realization of how important sleep is.
05:38As a company, we want to change people's lives.
05:41It's what makes us really proud.
05:43So the quality of how we do that is that through the quality of one's sleep,
05:47that can be a very determining factor for someone's day.
05:51It's something that Miss Huffington brought to the public's attention
05:57by talking about her own experience, which was typical New York
06:01go-getter lifestyle, always working,
06:04never having a minute to yourself or to rest to the point of absolute exhaustion
06:10and in the end collapse, which is what happened to her.
06:14And then she came to the realization of what is essentially missing
06:20in her life and in the lives of many, many people.
06:22And that is the power of sleep.
06:26So the power of the regenerative power of sleep,
06:30which is one of the main and core things of our philosophy.
06:34So abstaining from the crutches of fast solutions like pills
06:41or whatever other form of fast-consumed products
06:45capitalism has to offer us nowadays.
06:46So the mystery of sleep is still something very unknown to us,
06:50but it is progressively disrespected, let's say, by our modern society.
06:57Great story. Thank you for sharing.
07:00Tell me more about Cocomat's commitment to sustainability.
07:04Cocomat's core values rely on its commitment to sustainability and well-being.
07:09We are nothing without it.
07:12So it isn't something we conform to or something that we,
07:16through the years, evolved into, but rather something that we felt we started off with.
07:21So since the company's inception at the very foundation of our business model,
07:26you can find the essence of sustainability present,
07:30be it from the production of our products or their sourcing,
07:32all the way to retail space environments that we try to create,
07:37to our interprofessional relationship with our colleagues.
07:41So it's not something that we find ourselves,
07:45oh, when did we start being curious about
07:50circular economic models of production,
07:53or why is it important to keep your workspace fully recyclable or whatever?
08:00No, it was always something that we did.
08:03What circular practices are you most proud to have adopted at Cocomat?
08:07Can you share our success story?
08:09Primarily, we are mattress manufacturers,
08:12so we are very proud that our product is something that we just handmade.
08:16So we always found very little use for machinery.
08:21Our production line is not one of those factories with the big chimneys
08:26and busting out tons and tons of a carbon footprint.
08:30Actually, we have practically zero effect on the environment.
08:35And that is purely because of our commitment to reducing our carbon output.
08:40And that is done by minimizing the use of a machinery that we have,
08:45as well as the energy that we consume when creating our mattresses.
08:50Beyond that, the Cocomat brand includes our hotels.
08:53We have four running hotels here in the city center of Athens.
08:57And something that we try to adopt within our hotel operations
09:01is the promotion of less water use
09:05that we try to, in a way, educate the client on.
09:09You can do that by simply placing some instructions on,
09:14you know, if you do you want this towel washed, do you not want this towel washed?
09:18Even all the way to the way that
09:20you handle the process of the water within the actual hotel.
09:26Beyond that, we also try to ban as much plastic as we possibly can to.
09:32I mean, we're talking about we don't allow any plastic water bottles,
09:37be it clients or be it clients or employees alike.
09:44We try to move on to glass or to reusable cups.
09:48Beyond that, I think, especially in Cocomat,
09:52we try to take the idea of being ecological
09:57and doing something to be part of the circular economy
10:01is down to the person.
10:03And in the way that we try to communicate that here is that in our companies,
10:06we include sometimes financial incentives to employees so they can,
10:11for example, use their bikes instead of their car to get to work.
10:16Beyond that, also to quit smoking.
10:19We have provided in the past, it was about a five percent
10:24pay raise to anyone who seriously committed
10:28to quitting their smoking habit, which, you know,
10:33we feel that it works both ways for everyone.
10:36And it's something that that creates conversation
10:39and it creates a certain environment in which someone has the opportunity
10:43to do something better with their lives.
10:45Whilst also not feeling like they are giving something away.
10:51It's always about giving someone else the idea that they have done
10:56something very good about themselves and for the environment and such.
11:00Beyond sustainability, let's talk about circularity at Cocomat.
11:04What materials do you use for your mattresses and bedding products?
11:08We don't have to look very far away in order to to create something
11:13which is very, very natural.
11:16So we don't so we actually just had to look around us.
11:21The founder of the company, Paul,
11:24came up with the idea of the company when he one day slept on a huge
11:29floor bedded beach, which was filled with
11:35with seaweed that was left after the tide had fell back.
11:39That gave him the idea of, oh, look at how we can apply
11:44something which is just naturally there and bring it inside everybody's home.
11:48So every one of the natural materials that we use,
11:53like the coconut fiber, the natural latex, the horsehair, the seaweed,
11:59they're all things that we know are bathed
12:03in the rainwater and kissed by the sun.
12:05And it's the magic of bringing all these things collectively
12:09and creating something for someone that can buy it from a store.
12:14And when it comes to quality of the raw materials that we use,
12:19here's something which can simply be found on the
12:22longitude of certifications that we have.
12:25So one of them being the Woolmark.
12:27The Woolmark is a certification, which is the representation of quality,
12:31ensuring that all wool products are 100 percent pure new wool products,
12:39which, of course, all coconut products are.
12:42There is also the RDS, which is the Responsible Down Standard.
12:46This particular certification ensures that the down feathers come from ducks
12:51and geese that have been treated well.
12:53And there's also the Forest Tourship Council,
12:56which is the certification that protects forest
13:00for future generations and promotes
13:03environmentally sound and socially beneficial
13:07management of the world's reserves of forests.
13:12So Cocomats wooden frames and furniture are sourced from responsibly
13:16managed forests that meet this certification's ten principles.
13:20Also, there's the Sustainable Furnishing Council.
13:23That's the leading certification regarding the industry
13:27in developing awareness for eco-friendly practices
13:31through their supply chain.
13:33So the council promotes sustainable practices
13:36amongst furniture manufacturers such as ourselves.
13:41And Cocomat is a proud and active member of the SFC
13:46and supports the triple bottom line of people,
13:50planet and profits.
13:52And we are glad that you are part of this wonderful organization.
13:57How much of your waste is reused and upcycled
14:00and what percentage actually goes to waste?
14:03So a lot of the products that we make actually come from the remnants
14:07of our production.
14:08So the leftovers of the raw materials that we use
14:11is a big part of our line of production.
14:16So when it comes to our recycled materials,
14:19we find ourselves reaching up to 96% of the leftovers
14:25from, let's say, creating a mattress will then go into creating a pillow.
14:31So let me give you a specific example.
14:34We have leftover sheets of natural latex
14:39that will be chopped up into a lot smaller surface area
14:44and then inserted into natural latex pillows.
14:48These sort of practices come down to 96% use of the leftover material.
14:54So we have about 4% of natural material
14:59that is just considered absolutely unusable
15:04and we therefore cannot safely use it.
15:07So we're very proud of that particular one.
15:10Another one would be taking coco fiber leftovers
15:14and making them into soles for our slippers,
15:18getting wood chips and turning them into plastered business cards,
15:25reed straws that are of no use to anyone being made into pens.
15:31So this is just a leftover bamboo that we have collected
15:36and we have made into our own pens, which we can personalize
15:40and make it into something which, beyond it being just a mode of a circular economy,
15:49it's also something which is fun.
15:50It's exciting and new and the new world demands for it anyways.
15:56And in this way, not only do we upcycle our own materials,
16:00but we also find use in things that progressively require
16:05less and less process by a production unit.
16:09Another number that I can throw at you is that our carbon footprint
16:12at our production line is practically zero.
16:15So great to hear.
16:17What further circular practices are you hoping to include in the future?
16:21We've always imagined the future where we are now.
16:25We started off feeling that this is how the future is going to be anyway,
16:31so let's do it now.
16:32And we find ourselves at a bit of a standstill of
16:37what more can we do?
16:39And I think that's just a testament to the fact that
16:45we are doing what we always wanted to do.
16:49I think it's the hope of becoming the pioneering force behind
16:55what will propel Greece into this new era
17:02as far as respecting the environment, turning green
17:06and practicing this newly conceptualized model of the circular economy.
17:13I am particularly interested in the Pillow Positive Project.
17:17Can you share a little bit about it?
17:20So the Pillow Positive Project is something that we started in 2012
17:24and is our way of supporting women
17:28who have undergone breast cancer related surgery.
17:32The shape of the pillow itself allows women to keep it below the arm,
17:36therefore alleviating any pain that helps reduce swelling.
17:41And it also protects the intersection where the the surgery had taken place.
17:47It has shown to decrease the use of painkillers
17:51and it generally improves the psychology of the patients as a whole.
17:55The pillow itself is made in good coconut fashion,
17:59100% out of natural materials.
18:01The inside is pure wool filling, which is exactly that kind of supportive,
18:06hygienic and washable material that you would need for such a product.
18:11We have helped over 8000 women, so it encourages us to continue
18:16what we feel is a very important social movement
18:19and something that people should be aware of.
18:21What are some applications of your product that you feel most proud of?
18:26What really makes us proud is taking something which appears so simple
18:31and taking out its complexity
18:33and giving it to someone for them to really, really enjoy.
18:36And we're very proud to, you know, hear from our clients saying,
18:41you know, you changed my life.
18:43It's you. I can sleep.
18:45And, you know, I wake up and I'm happy or I wake up and I'm full of energy.
18:49I wake up and I think it's and I think when it comes to Cocomot,
18:53it's beyond just the effect of the product itself,
18:56which is this incredible sensation of sleep and support.
18:59It's also knowing that you've done so
19:02through something which is natural, through nature.
19:06What developments do you foresee in the industry at large
19:10as we move into the future?
19:11Having had the blessing of having the success that we have as a company,
19:16we see the market itself shifting towards where the profit is now,
19:23which is towards consumers that are mindful and being green and inclusive.
19:30People are shifting to the circular economy model,
19:34to the model of ecology and inclusivity.
19:39And, you know, we as a company, we say, well, finally.
19:43And you are definitely a leader in that movement.
19:46What do you wish Cocomot's legacy to be?
19:49When it comes to Cocomot, I think
19:52we would like to be remembered as the beginners of the way
19:58and the benchmark for the future.
20:02So providing our clients with more than just products,
20:06but the opportunity to do more for the things that they really care about.
20:10Corporations can only do so much for a customer,
20:14but we find the capacity to do a lot more.
20:18For example, we are looking to now include our flagship store
20:24portion of our garden estate to
20:28making individual little plots of land for our clients
20:33to be able to grow their own greens, vegetables and fruits,
20:38which is in a way encouraging a lifestyle of well-being.
20:43So it's about making a model of subscription
20:48to a service rather than just attaching an idea
20:54or a branding concept to a certain product.
20:58It's about really taking that to the next level.
21:03Thank you for sharing.
21:04Wonderful to hear about Cocomot's initiative.
21:08And thank you, Pavlos.
21:10It's been a great conversation and I enjoyed learning more about Cocomot.
21:15Thank you so much for for having us on your wonderful show.
21:20You know, we think what you are doing is
21:23part of that very important work to to to make
21:28to make professionals gear up and and finally make that big step
21:33towards the mode of circular economies and and being really green
21:40and and and inclusive for others.
21:43And no matter who they are.
21:45So it's we're very, very happy to be to be part of it with you.
21:50Going beyond sustainability, Cocomot is a wellness company
21:55from their 100% natural materials to innovations in sleep quality
22:00to their company incentives for greener lifestyles,
22:0496% recycling rate, pillow positive project and gardens for their clients.
22:10Cocomot truly lives their mission.
22:13And thanks to their multiple certifications,
22:15consumers can rest even more easily, knowing that by choosing Cocomot,
22:20they're supporting practices that impact the earth's health
22:23and wellness just as much as their own.
22:27Let's hope that Pavlos is correct and that Cocomot's legacy
22:31is one that celebrates the pioneering wisdom of adopting
22:35such circular practices and encouraging others to follow suit.
22:40I have a feeling he is.