Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025

The Vita Group, one of Europe’s leading flexible foam suppliers, has received four awards at Interzum 2025.

One of the awards is 'Best of the Best’ which has been given to the innovative Vita Advanced concept mattress, developed in collaboration with Evonik and Covestro.

The award-winning polyurethane foam was developed and created at the technical innovation centre in Accrington.

The Vita Advanced concept mattress features up to 100 per cent recycled polyol and up to 100 per cent mass-balance bio-circular TDI, achieving 65 per cent recycled content and up to 70 per cent reduction in carbon footprint.

The event, held in Cologne, Germany, is the principal exhibition and conference for the furniture supply industry across Europe and award entries are judged by leading industry professionals.

These awards are a testament to The Vita Group's position as innovation and sustainability leaders within the flexible polyurethane foam industry and highlights the mattress's exceptional design and commitment to sustainability.

The Vita Advanced concept mattress was developed in collaboration with Evonik and Covestro and is a game-changer in the world of sleep products.

Designed with sustainability at its core, the mattress incorporates a flexible PU foam which incorporates both recycled materials from Evonik and bio-circular attributed materials via mass balance from Covestro.

These materials help reduce the environmental impact of the mattress, making it a great choice for those looking for future fit solutions.

In addition, the mattress has been developed with the upcoming European regulations for sustainable product design in mind, ensuring it is leading in terms of environmental standards.

Dr Mike Murray, chief innovation officer at The Vita Group, said: "The Vita Advanced Mattress is a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability.

"Collaborating with Evonik and Covestro has allowed us to push the boundaries of what is possible in mattress design, integrating advanced materials from both recycled sources and bio-circular attributed materials via mass-balance.

"This award not only recognises our efforts but also sets the standard for the industry, confirming the circularity of PU foam and demonstrating it is a future fit material.”

The Vita Group has developed the Vita Advanced Mattress in close partnership with Evonik, utilising their recycled polyol, a raw material used in foam production. Evonik’s innovative hydrolysis technology enables the creation of superior quality recycled polyol, which can be incorporated at high levels into new foams.

"This marks the first time that this exciting new technology has been integrated into flexible PU foam for a mattress, transitioning from concept to pilot plant success and representing a pioneering product.

Dr Emily Schweissinger, technology manager at Evonik Comfort and Insulation, said: “It is great to celebrate The Vita Group's success with their innovative, and now officially recognised ‘best of the best’ Vita Advanced Mattress. For Evonik, this achievement exemplifies how our proprietary hydrolysis process enables the complete recovery of polyols from flexible PU foams, which matches the quality of traditional sources to produce new mattresses."

Another important component comes through the partnership with Covestro, by using their Desmodur CQ TDI ms, which replaces conventionally manufactured materials with bio-circular attributed materials via mass-balance and at the same time significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the mattress.

The Vita Advanced Mattress features up to 100 per cent recycled polyol and up to 100 ISCC Plus1) certified mass-balanced bio-circular TDI, achieving an impressive 65% recycled content and up to 70% reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional mattresses. Despite these sustainable features, the mattress does not compromise on comfort, durability, or support.

Patrizia Wegner, the head of sales flexible foam EMEA at Covestro said: “Vita’s award-winning mattress demonstrates how constant collaboration, and innovative chemistry can significantly reduce environmental impact. We’re proud to support Vita with our Desmodur CQ TDI in making more sustainable sleep solutions a choice for the market.”

This award-winning mattress represents a major step forward in the journey towards more sustainable sleep solutions. It is designed for consumers that prioritise environmental sustainability whilst also providing a premium sleep experiences. The Vita Advanced Mattress offers optimal spinal alignment, superior comfort, and modern aesthetics, all while contributing to a more sustainable future.