First cardboard beds on sale in Britain

It may sound about as useful as a chocolate fireguard but the Batley firm selling the first cardboard bed in Britain say it is sturdy, comfortable and can be constructed in seconds.

Happy Beds has joined forces with German-based Room in a Box to become the UK’s first and only supplier of the bed, which is made from 100% recyclable cardboard. The frame, which can support a wide variety of mattresses, is made from high quality paper layers bound together with natural, starch-based glue. The concertina design helps its weight-bearing capacity and allows it to be packed away into a box and easily moved and stored.

Happy Beds say it is an "adaptable option for space-stretched properties or landlords needing impermanent sleeping solutions". and has sold well across Europe, particularly in high-rise and multiple-occupation properties

Joy Richards, Sleep Specialist at Happy Beds, said: “This is a product that’s so unique it has the potential to change landlords’ lives forever.

“Its clever concertina-design and lightweight materials have already made it a hit with landlords in Berlin, Munich and Paris and we hope the Room in a Box bed will provide UK sleepers with a truly unique and affordable substitute to the traditional bed.”

Gerald Dissen, co-founder of Room in a Box, added: "Our vision to create eco-friendly and super-portable furniture, and we’ve gone from strength-to-strength. Our customers love our sustainable corrugated cardboard furniture because it helps them live a low-emissions life, while also being extremely durable."