Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Gold Bond Touts Cotton As Mattress Fill Alternative
April 3,
2018 by Jane Chero in Mattresses, Product 
In the wake of steep increases in raw materials for mattress manufacturers, family-owned producer Gold Bond Mattress is relying on cotton —one of the oldest natural fibers — as its tried and true alternative.
The use of cotton as a cushioning material in mattresses has declined over the years as companies turned to foam and other fire-retardant (FR) barriers. Gold Bond is not cutting back however, according to Robert Naboicheck, president.
“As the cost of raw materials, especially polyurethane foam, continues to increase, cotton is a fantastic alternative.”
“Not only does it help a manufacturer keep costs under control, it helps meet the consumer’s desire for more sustainable and natural materials in products.”
Gold Bond’s Hartford, Conn., factory has six cotton garneting machines that process more than three million pounds of cotton annually. It is one of very few U.S. companies that still handle their own cotton garneting — a process that removes impurities and other foreign materials from raw cotton — providing Gold Bond with a distinct advantage.
“There aren’t many of us left, but our ability to do our own garneting allows us to respond quickly to consumer demand for natural products, and adjust our product specifications as the price of foam and steel continues to climb,” said Naboicheck.
“It’s a wonderful cushioning material, and with the cost savings it can provide, I think you will see it used more and more,” he said. “And there’s no sacrifice in quality or comfort.”
The company obtains raw cotton from sources in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
“It’s a wonderful cushioning material, and with the cost savings it can provide, I think you will see it used more and more,” he said. “And there’s no sacrifice in quality or comfort.”