Seeking to address the camping sector’s global waste issue, Chinese sleep brand MAZZU has called on design studio LAYER to create a modular foam-free camping mattress system
Courtesy of LAYER, The MAZZU Camping Mattress is a modular sleep system for outdoor use, seeking to address the alarming waste levels across the sector
Words by Roddy Clarke
With festivals generating around 25,800 tonnes of waste each year, including an estimated 250,000 tents, the need to address such alarming statistics is critical. Added to the 4.75 million mattresses from both household and camping which are sent to landfill or incinerated each year, it sparks the question of what solutions can be created to counter this? For design studio LAYER and Chinese sleep brand MAZZU, the result is a modular foam-free camping mattress that is designed for disassembly while prioritising comfort and portability.
‘It was born from a desire to rethink outdoor sleep as most camping mats and inflatable beds are uncomfortable, short-lived and difficult to repair,’ explains Benjamin Hubert, the founder of LAYER. ‘Working closely with MAZZU’s engineers, we have developed a modular, foam-free system that delivers the comfort of a home mattress in a portable, sustainable format.’ In creating a system with longevity and repairability in mind, the team hope it can encourage a wider shift away from single-use equipment.
Courtesy of LAYER, While presenting a circular solution for the sector, the design also prioritises comfort and aesthetic
Moving away from conventional foam pad and inflatable designs, the MAZZU Camping Mattress is comprised of isolated spring units that mould independently to the body, enhancing its ergonomic support and increasing the level of comfort. The pre-compressed coils are then wrapped in a ‘jacket’ with a slim topper levelling its top surface. Intuitive snap-fit connectors and paracord lashings hold the components together, while making it easy when it comes to disassembly.
Courtesy of LAYER, All of its components pack down into a cooler sized wheeled unit for easy transportation
With its manual construction making it ideal for off grid camping in the wild, its aesthetic has also been carefully considered to ensure it aligns with the wider vision of the project. A muted palette takes stimulus from the design of outdoor equipment, blending in with foliage tones while incorporating bold accents for visibility. The open structure also displays the engineering of the system and the 72 independent units that adapt in height to follow the contour of the body, making its modular construction and assembly easy to visualise and understand.
‘It brings high performance and modular sustainability to a completely new context,’ continues Hubert. ‘Traditional camping mattresses often compromise comfort for portability, but our goal was to bring both together in one system. It introduces a new way of thinking about outdoor gear – modular, sustainable, repairable and intuitive to use. All while still offering the kind of restorative sleep people expect at home.’
Courtesy of LAYER, the mattress’ 72 spring units adjust independently, allowing the mattress to mould to the form of the body
As with all camping equipment, its convenience has also been meticulously considered. Each of the spring units are designed to ‘nest’ for transportation, reducing the mattress to a fraction of its size, with the foldable base, springs and topper packing neatly into a wheeled case similar in size to that of a cooler.
With the mattress providing a welcome alternative to PU foam, a problematic material used widely in the mattress industry that is not only difficult to recycle but also a cause of concern for our wellbeing, it is a great example of how design can be a positive tool for change. It also follows the success of the MAZZU mattress, a debut design from MAZZU (engineered by LAYER) and the recipient of a Red Dot Design Best of Best Award, acknowledging its inherent circular construction. While the design itself presents a valuable solution to an industry in need of change, it also exhibits the power found in creative collaboration and how, when tackling global issues of sustainability, it is the pooling of resource, ingenuity and time that can help reach solutions at a faster and more effective pace.
The MAZZU Camping Mattress is now available online for €200.
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