Chris Dearing, Group Sustainability Director at Coats, shares an insight into its pioneering high-performance solutions for a circular, low-carbon bedding and furniture industry.
At Coats, a global leader in industrial thread manufacturing for over 250 years, we’ve earned the trust of industry leaders by combining innovation, reliability, and performance. As the silent backbone of mattresses, cushions, and sofas, our threads are now central to building a more sustainable future. With operations in 50+ countries, a presence in over 100 markets, and partnerships with 2,000+ global brands, Coats is more than a supplier—we’re a transformation partner. We help redefine how materials are made, used, and reused by embedding sustainability into both innovation and performance. We partner with brands who share the same commitment to sustainability as Coats—together driving a more sustainable future.
We lead the bedding and furniture industry with customised, quality-driven solutions and strong sustainability commitments. From product design to collaboration across the value chain, sustainability is in our DNA. As regulatory and consumer expectations rise, we continue to invest in R&D to deliver high-performance products aligned with evolving environmental benchmarks.
Sustainability isn’t a layer we add—it’s the thread that holds everything together. Our Coats EcoVerde™ range, one of the world’s most extensive collections of 100% recycled, high-performance threads, proves that environmental responsibility and exceptional performance can go hand in hand. Trusted by leading bedding and upholstery manufacturers, Coats EcoVerde delivers strength, durability, and design flexibility—while meeting the highest environmental standards. Its performance is on par with virgin materials, reinforcing our belief that the future of textiles lies in smarter choices, not compromises.
Our diverse sustainable product portfolio also includes Coats EcoCycle™ HTN, a high-tenacity, water-dissolvable thread designed to simplify the disassembly of complex technical textiles, such as mattresses and padded upholstery. It dissolves under industrial wash conditions—typically at around 110 °C—making material separation fast, scalable, and efficient, and supporting seamless end-of-life recycling in industrial facilities.
Since 2022, we have reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 50%, and we are on track to increase our use of non-virgin oil-based materials from 46% today to 60% by 2026. Our teams continue to explore bio-based alternatives, pioneer circular models, and invest in innovative technologies to reduce energy and water consumption across the production process. Every product innovation we deliver is measured not just by performance metrics—but by its environmental impact and contribution to a shared, sustainable future.
At the heart of Coats lies a lasting commitment to trust—built on consistent delivery, forward-looking insight, and a shared sense of purpose. Our customers rely on us for quality without compromise and a deep understanding of evolving markets and regulations. This commitment has earned us global recognition: top-tier sustainability ratings from CDP, MSCI, and Sustainalytics, and designation as a 2024 European Climate Leader by the Financial Times and Statista.
As sustainability continues to shape the future of this sector, Coats is pioneering solutions that bring together circular design, materials science, and decades of expertise. We help transform even the smallest components—like the thread inside a mattress—into tools for a more responsible world.
