Yumeko

Yumeko focuses on ethical working conditions in their supply chain by collaborating with certified production partners. The brand holds the Fairtrade certificate, ensuring that cotton farmers are paid fairly. Additionally, working conditions in the production chain are monitored by the GOTS certificate (Global Organic Textile Standard).

Since 2022, Yumeko has joined the ranks of B‑Corporation, an esteemed organization evaluating brand sustainability, including social aspects in production. Committed to reviving Dutch textile craftsmanship, the brand has launched a collection in partnership with The Knitwit Stable, an innovative farm and knitting studio in Baambrugge, Utrecht, showcasing the rich heritage of Dutch textiles.

The brand is also committed to promoting the social economy in the Netherlands and is a member of the SocialEnterprise NL network.

Most Yumeko products are made from cotton, specifically choosing GOTS-certified, organic cotton. This ensures the production adheres to stringent social and environmental standards, significantly reducing environmental impact. Cultivation is free from harmful chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers, with rigorous regulations extending to dyeing and packaging.

The cotton is predominantly sourced from India and processed across countries like Pakistan, Turkey, Portugal, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands.

For duvet and pillow fillings, Yumeko certified down (holding a Downpass certification) from ducks or geese, exclusively partnering with certified suppliers to prioritize animal welfare. The brand also incorporates recycled down, holding a GRS certification (Global Recycling Standard).

Their bedding, blankets, and plaids include a significant amount of GOTS-certified, chemical-free wool. Their duvets carry the GOTS seal, only our duvets. The woollen blankets and plaids are kbT certified organic. Yumeko ensures mulesing-free and animal-friendly practices by thoroughly vetting small-scale producers.

In addition, Yumeko’s bedding features linen, with the flax originating from France and processed in Portugal and Germany. Although not certified, flax cultivation is known for minimal use of pesticides or insecticides.

A segment of their collection also embraces Tencel, derived from Eucalyptus tree wood pulp. The Austrian producer Lenzing employs a closed-loop process to prevent the release of harmful chemicals.

Finally, Yumeko integrates other sustainable materials like natural latex from Malaysia for mattress fillings and Indonesian kapok for pillows, offering eco-friendlier alternatives to synthetic materials like polyester filling or plastic foam.

Yumeko deeply values circularity and demonstrates a strong commitment to it. The brand leads in utilizing recycled down, with 38% of the down in their 2022 collection being recycled. In a collaborative effort with Conscious Hotels, Yumeko has initiated a project to recycle down pillows into new ones. Additionally, customers can return their old down pillows or duvets to Yumeko for recycling into new products.

Beyond down recycling, Yumeko offers a mattress recycling service. When purchasing a new mattress, they’ll take your old one at no cost, ensuring its materials are recycled responsibly. In partnership with RetourMatras, the foamy filling from old mattresses is repurposed as filling or insulation material.

Yumeko is continually exploring new ways to enhance its focus on circularity. A notable initiative is their clothing line with designer Sjaak Hullekens, transforming returned bedding or production remnants into fresh, new garments.

While Yumeko strives to localize the final stages of production in European nations like the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Portugal, the brand operates with an extended supply chain. Many materials, including wool from the Netherlands, Germany and Austria, or linen from French flax, originate within the European Union.

However, Yumeko’s collaboration extends globally with production partners in distant countries. Cotton is sourced from Turkey, Pakistan, and India, latex from Malaysia, and kapok from Indonesia. These expansive transport routes contribute to the brand’s larger ecological footprint.

Despite using down and wool, Yumeko performs well in terms of animal welfare. 

They conscientiously produce these materials in the most animal-friendly manner. For instance, the Dutch brand sources down from farms adhering to strict welfare standards, ensuring ducks and geese have ample free space. Importantly, Yumeko strictly forbids live-plucked down. Furthermore, they’ve initiated several recycling projects to reduce the need for new raw materials.

The wool used in Yumeko’s products also aligns with animal welfare standards, possessing the GOTS and kbT certification that bans chemicals on animals. The brand actively prohibits mulesing, a detrimental practice, among its suppliers.

In a collaborative effort with The Knitwit Stable, Yumeko has introduced several wool items made in the Netherlands. This wool, harvested from Kempische heath sheep used in nature management, is creatively repurposed by The Knitwit Stable into unique accessories, invigorating local knitting traditions and preventing waste.

The home textiles brand adheres to slow fashion principles, eschewing fleeting fashion trends. While Yumeko occasionally introduces new bedding designs, they primarily focus on fixed collections, ensuring there’s an ideal duvet for every season.

Beyond products, Yumeko is dedicated to helping customers make informed choices about their mattress, pillow, or duvet. Their website is a valuable resource, offering guidance on sleeping positions, tips for a good night’s sleep, and insights into the various materials used in their products.

Since 2012, Yumeko has shown a strong commitment to transparency, exemplified by their annual impact report. This report details the brand’s yearly social efforts, the materials they use, and the countries of production. It also lists various certifications, often including the certificate number for easy verification.

However, when it comes to production partners in their supply chain, Yumeko has room for improvement. Although the report specifies the countries where the final production steps occur, it lacks information on the specific producers or the earlier stages of the chain.