Are you already familiar with Koala Hug? Sleep under sustainable bedding made of TENCEL!

What started as a search for sustainable bedding to make short work of a house dust mite allergy ended in a beautiful luxury bedding brand. This is Sandie Chan's story. When she couldn't find it in shops, she started making it herself. So sustainable, fair and hypoallergenic is Koala Hug. The secret: bedding made of 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell, i.e. sustainable eucalyptus wood. We tested it! And its promise is true: it is indeed silky smooth. In short, a green hotel experience in your own bedroom!

Koala Hug is for sleep lover with green heart

In collaboration with Koala Hug

If you start looking into sustainable bedding, you have a number of choices. There are bedding made of organic cotton, linen or bamboo and, of course, you can also look second-hand. Sandie started looking for more sustainable bedding, but could never quite find it due to her house dust mite allergy. Either the material turned out not to be so sustainable after all (as in the production of bamboo fabrics) and/or it didn't solve the allergy problem. While a good night's sleep is super important for a healthy lifestyle. And so she went in search of the best bedding that met her wish list herself. The result is Koala Hug, bedding made of TENCEL™ Lyocell, a beautiful sustainable material, produced fairly in cooperation with fibre specialist Lenzing AG in Austria and with a luxurious feel, as tencel is silky soft.

Meanwhile, Koala Hug is more than bedding. Besides duvet covers and pillowcases, you can also find duvets, fitted sheets and bath textiles, all made of tencel and fairly made. Because of course, sustainability goes much further than just the choice of materials.

Transform your bedroom into a green oasis

Sleeping under bedding made of the eco-friendly material tencel fits the green list perfectly. So if you are looking for bedding or a duvet soon, this Dutch company is definitely one to remember. But what makes tencel so special and unlike anything else? Tencel is the brand name for Lyocell produced by Austrian firm LENZING. Lyocell is considered a ‘natural synthetic fibre’ because it has wood pulp as its natural base, but is converted into usable fibre using chemicals. Tencel is made from sustainably grown eucalyptus trees that require less water and pesticides than cotton. The harmless chemicals used to soften the wood pulp are filtered out of the water and reused. Tencel is a soft, supple and temperature-regulating material that is nice to wear and to sleep under so. It looks a bit like silk.

My experience with Koala Hug

This review is truly a treat and that is because every detail has been thought of. Normally, making the bed is not my favourite job, but with one surprise after another, the job is squeaky clean. I am curious for more! It starts with the packaging of the bedding. It is beautifully and plastic-free packaged. It comes in fabric covers of the same material as the bedding. That already has an immediate luxurious feel. But in the end, of course, it's all about what's inside. The fabric is soft and shiny, which is of course immediately noticeable. But when you unfold the duvet cover, there is more to discover. Two holes at the tips of the duvet cover? Do they belong? Absolutely! Nothing is more irritating than sleeping under such an empty (cold) bag because the duvet has sunk all the way down. With these handy openings that fit exactly one hand, you can pull the duvet back up in no time without having to crawl into your bedding like a caterpillar. Now that's clever thinking!

The fitted sheet, usually little exciting about it, also has a nice surprise. How often do you fiddle with that big piece of fabric. Which side is the wide side and which side is the long side? With Koala Hug you don't have that hassle. A handy little label tells you which is the long side.

My experience with Tencel bedding.

Sandie Chan: ‘I am often told by customers that once they have used Tencel bedding, they don't want anything else.’

Washing tencel bed linen

We sleep like a rose for a few days under the bedding when I wonder: what about washing? I wash my ‘standard’ (organic) cotton bedding at 60°C (eco programme). But what about tencel, really? Because with all that sheen and softness, that's obviously a totally different material. Doesn't that cause hassle? Because washing is not necessarily a hobby either. Luckily, your purchase comes with washing instructions that reassure me.

• Tencel is made from soft, natural fibres which provides the luxurious sheen. This shine will fade slightly with use. After washing, the material may become slightly stiff, but when drying, the fabric becomes soft and supple again (this is also the case with tencel clothing, I know from personal experience).
• Preferably wash the bedding inside out and use the laundry bag that comes with it.
• Choose a short washing programme, a sixty-minute programme at 30°C is sufficient. The tencel fibre is very smooth, preventing bacteria and dust mites from settling in it.
• Use mild, liquid detergent. Do not use too much detergent. It's not good for the material or your washing machine. We use liquid detergent from Marcel's Green Soap. Find more tips on sustainable washing here.
• Wash coloured and white laundry separately.
• It is best to air dry the bedding. Do you prefer to use the dryer anyway? Then do choose a low temperature.
• Do not wring out the fabric, or the fibre may break and the fabric will become less attractive and less smooth.
  
  

Want to know more about Koala Hug and discount code?

Want to know more about Koala Hug's sustainable bedding? Or maybe you're looking for a new duvet or bath textiles? View all products in the webshop koalahug.eu and read more about this beautiful sustainable brand that definitely belongs in the sustainable list as far as we are concerned. Extra nice: with the discount code GREENLIST10, you'll get 10% off your order.

More sustainable tips from thegreenlist.nl

• Also see: which clothing materials are sustainable and which are not?
• Also see: Shorter showers and other sustainable shower tips!
• Also see: DIY recipe to make your own laundry detergent!
  
  

Photo credits: Koala Hug, thegreenlist.nl.