Trend Forum Textile & Maschinerie
Trend Forum Mattress Recycling – From Linear to Circular
Every year, 35 MILLION mattresses are thrown away in Europe, but effectively only a small fraction can be recycled. It is time to change that! The mattress industry still functions largely in a linear fashion. For the production of mattresses, valuable raw materials are extracted and processed to be disposed of later after use. This leads to a loss of economic value, a shortage of raw materials and a environmental pollution. This is in contrast to the closed-loop principle, which aims to maintain the quality of the raw materials used so that they can be returned to the cycle after use at the same value back into the cycle after use. The path the industry is taking to make the waste-free mattress a reality is shown by the Trend Forum Textile & Machinery.
Commerce & Consumption
Consumers apprecate sutainability More and more companies are committed to a sustainable future. Acting sustainable is key and affects both the environment and the relationship with consumers. Consumers’ attitudes towards sustainability have changed in recent years. Besides price and product value being the main factors when it comes to choosing products, sustainability aspects are playing an increasingly important role as well.
An innovative circular economy mattress solution for the European hotel industry
Watch the video to find out more about MATR, a startup from Vienna who provides hotels with a circular economy mattress solution that saves them time, money and CO2, and helps to put mattress waste to bed.
How sustainable consumption is changing
Global crises and socio-political challenges are causing consumer restraint in Germany. This is also reflected in the willingness to buy sustainably. Accordingly, the GfK Sustainability Index is declining and stood at 93.3 points in January 2023 - a decline of 6.7 points compared to 2022.Do to rising prices, consumers are less willing to spend big on larger sustainable purchases such as furniture. Only 71 percent of those who are planning sustainable major purchases are willing to spend more money on them. In October 2022 it was still 75 percent. However, sustainability remains a relevant topic for German consumers. 70 percent see climate change as a serious problem and 65 percent expect companies to act environmentally friendly, for example by using sustainable materials and ingredients. While the GfK Sustainability Index shows a decline in Germany, only slight changes can be seen in France and Italy. In France, the index falls slightly to 99.2 points in January 2023. In Italy, on the other hand, the index increases slightly to 100.9 points. The increase in Italy is driven by a higher percentage of consumers who want to focus on sustainability aspects when making major purchases in the future. In France, an opposite trend is emerging. Here, the proportion of consumers who are planning or have already made major sustainable purchases is falling.(Source: GfK Sustainability Index, January 2023)Find out more: GfK Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung [www.gfk.de](http://www.gfk.de)
Labels create trust
Labels create trust According to recent surveys, consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for mattresses that are more sustainable. However, they often lack the information to evaluate whether a mattress is truly sustainable. The introduction of a sustainability label, similar to the energy label for houses, where label A is the most sustainable, could help. A survey in the Netherlands has shown that 72 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for an A label mattress with a long product service life. One in five respondents is even willing to pay a surcharge of more than 10 percent. 31 percent of the respondents said that a label could play an important to decisive role in their purchase decision. (Source: ABN AMRO, 2019) Digital product passports enhancing transparency Customers have the right to know what is inside their mattress. So do repairers, refurbishers, dismantlers and recyclers. The digital product passport is to provide transparency in that consumers can view ingredients. They can scan the tag with a smartphone and check what the mattress is made of. Each and every ingredient is listed. Recyclers can check if and how a product can be recycled. Scannable tags provide a future-proof infrastructure that by creating transparency and trust and enabling return and recycling.
new Tag
Circular system „faircollect“Upcycling 100% PES mattress covers/ recycled mixed fabric mattress covers Mattes & Ammann has dealt intensively with the loss of raw materials through mattress incineration and therefore created a „faircollect“ system in partnership with Glaeser Textil. The system enables mattress covers made of 100% polyester to be returned to the cycle. As a fact, there are not only mattress covers with a composition of 100% polyester on the market, there are also numerous products that are not made exclusively of polyester.In 2022, Mattes & Ammann and the company Glaeser Textile were working intensively together to further develop the „faircollect“ system. Until now, the faircollect system was only available to recycle 100% polyester mattress covers. Thru the further development of „faircollect-mix“ we added a second cycle to the classic system. In the future, mattress covers made of mixed fabric can also be returned at the end of life via „faircollect-mix“. This material is used to create fibers that can be used as a raw material for fleece. Fleece is then returned to industry as painters fleece, furniture back walls and parts in the automotive industry or carpet underlays.As part of a pilot project, 100 used mattress covers made from mixed fabrics have already been collected and reprocessed into fleece. Other components or finished textile products can also be recycled with „faircollect-mix“.Find out more: Mattes & Ammann [www.mattesammann.de](http://www.mattesammann.de )
Adhesive, the game changer forsustainable mattress recycling
During the life cycle of a mattress, the type and quality of adhesive used plays a decisive role right from the very outset. Our specialised adhesive enables successful bonding of the individual components and residue-free de-bonding of the individual and valuable materials at the end of their life cycle. That enables each mattress to be transformed into a new one again and again without wasting any resources.Find out more: SIMALFA® - ALFA Klebstoffe AG
What happens to used mattresses?
It’s time we took advantage of opportunities to reuse mattresses and their valuable raw materials in a practical way.Mechanical Recycling When it comes to mechanical recycling, the mattresses are “just” cut up, shredded, and the foam residues are reused, for example, in the packaging industry, carpet production, or for insulation. If all mattresses worldwide were only disposed of in this way, we would no longer be able to deal with the sheer mass of foam. Besides, this is merely down-cycling, meaning that the recycled material is of lower quality and function than the original.Chemical Recycling Chemical recycling makes it possible to reuse the different PU foams at the end of a mattress’ life cycle - in other words, a way to truly recycle the raw materials. Adhesive is the game changer for sustainable mattress recycling. After all, the most important prerequisite is that the various polyurethane foam layers of the mattress can be separated again at the end of the life cycle without leaving any residue. Recyclable adhesives from SIMALFA® even offer the possibility of upcycling the raw materials here. In the coming years, we will see more and more mattress manufacturers successfully reusing recycled polyol.Find out more: SIMALFA® - ALFA Klebstoffe AG
The straight path to circular
Covestro is making innovative recycling a priority. The first initiative, Evocycle® CQ Mattress transforms end-of-life mattress foam directly back into renewed-alike PUR main building blocks giving them new life within a streamlined circular eco-system. For the first time, both, polyether and toluene diamine (TDA) get a new life by being recovered directly from old mattresses through chemical recycling and being brought back into the value chain for renewed top-performing quality PUR foam. Instead of doing it alone, Covestro is rather collaborating with partners from all fields of recollecting, recycling and reuse to multiply the impact from joint expertise across the circular value chain. That’s how Covestro transforms the industry turning waste into valuable resources, reducing the use of fossil fuels and aiming to reduce significantly CO2 emissions. Evocycle® CQ Mattress, the straight path to circular.Find out more: Evocycle® CQ by Covestro®
Technology to empower circularity
Masias provides a new solution for the mattress industry and all the manufacturers who consume waddings and foam sheets in their products. Flexipad empowers the circularity by manufacturing foam replacers from industrial scraps. The innovative line reduces the carbon footprint and saves external raw material consumption. With a compact design it gives the capacity to produce a wide range of foam replacers and comfort layers in a unique and flexible line.Find out more: Masias Maquinaria, S.L. [www.masiasmaquinaria.com](http://www.masiasmaquinaria.com)
Probably the world’s most sustainable PU-mattress-concept
80 percent repolyol foam – 100 percent comfort: By combining repolyol foam and bio-massbalance foam without adhesives, NEVEON achieves a milestone in end-of-life mattress recycling. NEVEON has succeeded in producing high-quality foam blocks with 80 percent recycled content in the polyol component in the regular production and then transforming them into fully-fledged mattresses. The base material for this achievement is a repolyol that BASF has produced entirely from old mattresses using their newly developed recycling method.NEVEON is REDcert² certified and thus an industry pioneer. NEVEON offers fossil resource saving products by using sustainably certified renewable raw materials and recycled materials. By using the mass balance approach in line with REDcert², NEVEON contributes to the decarbonization of PU value chains.Find out more: NEVEON
Design to use again
Mattresses are one of the big contributors to landfill and incineration waste today. Niaga® is committed to design out waste. Together with partners, Niaga® designs mattresses that meet the industry’s highest quality requirements, as well as offering a perfect night’s sleep. Mattresses that are made for circularity, making mattress-to-mattress recycling possible. So that all the valuable materials – inside and outside – can be used again. And again.Find out more: Covestro Niaga B.V. [www.niaga.world](http://www.niaga.world)
#SleepTheChange
Schlaraffia´s GELTEX® Quantum Pure Plus 220 TFK combines sleeping comfort with the benefits of a sustainable circular economy.Following the motto: What goes well together should also be easy to separate, the mattress is produced according to improved durability features as part of the sustainability campaign “mission pure”. Using the inhouse “ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN” guideline, the production focuses on fully preparing the product for the circular economy. This includes the reduction of unnecessary materials and the use of easily separable individual components, all of which are recyclable. This makes it possible to easily disassemble the modular mattress into its individual parts at the end of its life and recycle it. The mattress core is not additionally encased, as is usually the case, but is supported by an outer edge of smaller and firmer barrel pocket springs. Also easier to separate are the two minimally glued GELTEX® Next foam plates, while the cover is made of already recycled polyester materials. But less material in this case does not mean less comfort: the GELTEX® Quantum Pure Plus 220 TFK continues to offer the usual high level of ergonomic body support and pressure relief. Thanks to differently firm lying sides, all body andlying types can recover sustainably – sleep the change. Find out more: Schlaraffia Aquinos Bedding Germany GmbH [www.schlaraffia.de](http://www.schlaraffia.de)
Recycling through product designs
Every year, millions of mattresses are incinerated or end up in landfill. In order to create a healthier environment, this growing pile of textile waste needs to be taken care of. Creating a fully circular product is one of the biggest challenges our industry is facing today, and several steps still have to be taken to achieve this. The design of the products BekaertDeslee releases, is a first step where we can impact the move to a more circular model.Mattress covers typically face recyclability challenges due to the presence of different components, which causes only one percent of mattress textiles to be effectively recycled. BekaertDeslee counters these challenges by designing new products ready for disassembly. When designing the covers for disassembly, BekaertDeslee makes sure these covers can be split into several different components, which can then each in turn follow their dedicated waste stream. One fabric might be composed of one single material, but often things like labels or zippers disable the cover from being recycled directly. The recent partnership with Resortecs ensures the stitches in the covers break down through heating up, further ensuring recyclability of materials.Another option is to directly recycle a 100 percent mono-material cover. For example, BekaertDeslee cuts a metal zipper from the cover design or makes sure the fabrics used are 100 percent polyester. By providing covers consisting of only one material, they can directly be taken up in the recycling loop and help reduce carbon emissions. One of the major challenges of the recycling process is the lack of transparency. This is why BekaertDeslee integrates a digital passport into certain covers, to allow every interested stakeholder to engage in the process. The digital tag enables identification of the cover and its materials, allowing the sorting of its components in the most efficient way!Find out more: BekaertDeslee [www.bekaertdeslee.com](http://www.bekaertdeslee.com)
Ecological Mattress Design
Each year in the EU up to 35 million mattresses are sent for disposal, none of which are re-used. ECOMADE has the vision of transforming the mattress industry into one that is a sustainable part of the circular production cycle. A large portion of the mattress industry’s ecological footprint is due to the materials used; this is exactly what ECOMADE plans to change by exploring new materials and processes with other industrial suppliers. This has resulted in the emergence of practical design principles for the mattress industry, so product design can become more sustainable and customer-friendly. The design principles are intended as a general guide in product and business-development.Find out more: Ecomade [www.ecomade.ch](http://www.ecomade.ch)
Innerspring Design for the Circular Economy
Initially, there are three material components in pocket innersprings: steel springs (fully recyclable), PP nonwoven fabric and EVA / Polyolefine adhesive. The basic idea for the circular economy is based on minimizing the material components.Two options: 1. Developing new types of bonding between the pockets / strings2. Using new innovative adhesives while maintaining the classic setupMaintaining the basic structure preserves quality and durability and ensures customer´s acceptance.The AGRO Uni principle is based on the unification of nonwoven fabric and adhesive on either PP or PES basis. After separation from the wire, the nonwoven and adhesive can be melted down together and returned into the cycle. Use of wire and nonwoven with up to 100% recycled content is possible. Find out more: AGRO International GmbH & Co. KG [www.agro.eu](http://www.agro.eu)
Infinite materials enable product-to-product recycling
The clean and infinite materials used in the mattress can be recycled at the same quality and capacity at end of use. For instance, to make new mattresses. This is why these clean and infinite materials keep their value even when a customer is done with it. Nothing has to end up as waste if the mattress is returned correctly for repair, refurbishment and recycling. Why not use natural raw materials? Yes, there have been many developments in the field of natural materials. But these materials do not yet meet the standards required to make mattresses as healthy, comfortable and circular as possible.Which materials are clean and infite? - Steel meets the requirements of the circular economy like no other industrial material. - Cellulose is 100% biologically recyclable. The great advantage of cellulose is that it can be composted in composting plants. - Wood is a perfect fit for manufacturing according to ‘Cradle to Cradle’ principles. Forests and wood are part of a natural cycle. - Polyester is often causing problems for the environment. Chemical recycling can help making plastics circular.Why polyester beats foam Polyester is a clean and infinite material with proven market value for mattresses. It is a simple molecule with very high-quality recovery potential keeping its value at end-of-life. Its soft and comfortable touch is one of foam’s positive values. Polyester turned out to be a better, healthier and cleaner alternative. It ventilates very well when knit into an open 3D structure. Mattress hygiene and climate (thus the sleep quality) are improved. In addition, all plastics contain VOCs. These are volatile organic compounds (a type of gas) emitted in small quantities. Polyester emits over ten times fewer VOCs than foam.Finally, conventional materials are flammable. That is why you must add chemical additives with a fire-retardant effect to a foam mattress to make it flame retardant. Polyester is a fire-retardant material, so you don’t have to add chemicals. You’ll sleep healthier that way.(Source: Niaga)
Good for your body, great for the planet
1 Mattress base materials The base materials of the mattress are made from recycled raw materials.2 Mattress production The mattress is produced using Niaga® glue to attach the base materials3 Bedtime 10 years of comfortable and sustainable sleeping on the Revor Circular mattress.4 Returning the mattress The mattress will be returned to the Revor factory. By scanning the mattress’ label consumers can see how the mattress can be returned.5 Dismantling the mattress The mattress is dismantled in which the base materials areseparated after heating.6 Recycling the mattress The base materials for the construction of the mattress are reprocessed into raw materials.Find out more: Revor Bedding N.V/S.A [www.revor.be](http://www.revor.be)
Bio-based adhesive – a strong solution for sustainable mattresses
Mattresses with edge-to-edge pocket coils have become incredibly popular in recent years. In practice, these mattresses can be rather difficult to bond with traditional water-based adhesives. That’s why SABA has developed a water-based and bio-based adhesive specifically for this application: Sababond 3415. With zero dry time in case of thermal activation, first-class bond strength, and excellent recovery after roll packing it is the new standard for water-based rollable adhesives. Plus, it fits within existing production lines that already use water-based rollable adhesives. This means no conversions and thus no additional investments. As consumer demand for sustainable products continues to grow, adhesive suppliers must come up with new solutions to meet this need. Sababond 3415 is a special bio-based adhesive, which reduces the environmental footprint. It shows great adhesion to non-woven materials, a fast initial tack when thermal activated, and exceptional recovery after roll packing.Find out more: [www.saba-adhesives.com](http://www.saba-adhesives.com)
new Tag
Connecting the Physical Product with its Digital Twin TripleR enables the Digital Identification of bedding products, linked to a Cloud Platform keeping all stakeholders connected throughout the lifetime of the product. At the end of its life, every bedding product is being sorted and dismantled into different parts that can be reused or recycled into brand-new products. TripleR enables digital identification of bedding products, which is connected to a cloud platform that connects all stakeholders throughout the life of the product. At the end of its life, each bedding product is sorted and broken down into different parts that can be reused or recycled into new products.Why do mattresses need to be identified? - Labeling supports the Design4Circularity principles that lead to better recyclability and thus avoid incineration or landfilling. - Labeling supports the active Extended Producer Responsibility systems. - The digital product passport will be mandatory in the EU quite soon. - Mattresses that are not recyclable today but have been identified may be recyclable tomorrow.What are the advantages of the digital product passport for retailers and consumers? - The product passport enables forwarding to customer service processes (handling of questions/returns/complaints etc.) and supports upselling and cross-selling. - The retailer can provide information on product composition, origin of components and recyclability. - The customer can read care and maintenance instructions.Find out more TripleR (powered by atma.io) [www.tripler.io](http://www.tripler.io), [www.atma.io](http://www.atma.io)
Bye bye, mattress
Bye Bye Mattress is an American mattress recycling program operating in California, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The program was established by law and is operated by Mattress Recycling Council, a nonprofit that uses a recycling fee collected on each mattress and box spring sold, making recycling easier in our communities.Whether a city picks up your discarded mattress, a retailer takes it back with your new purchase or you drop it off, the Bye Bye Mattress program converts old mattresses from waste to recycling. As a result, landfills and incinerators are less crowded as old mattresses are recycled into new, useful products. The mattresses are placed in MRC-designated storage containers immediately upon acceptance. They are being efficiently stacked to maximize the number of units loaded in each storage container. No other items are stored in the containers. The assigned transporter will pick up full containers and drop off an empty container at the same time.Recyclers under contract with MRC will meet established recycling standards. Per the law, mattress recyclers, renovators, and solid waste facilities must submit an annual report to CalRecycle each year. Annual reports are used by CalRecycle and MRC to assess the program and establish and update the mattress recycling goals for the state.Find out more: Bye Bye Mattress [www.byebyemattress.com](http://www.byebyemattress.com)
Wuppertal (Germany): Pilot project for mattress recycling
To optimize mattress recycling, Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie and Abfallwirtschaftsgesellschaft mbH Wuppertal (AWG) launched a pilot project at the beginning of 2023. In a first step, discarded mattresses are accepted at the recycling yard of AWG and collected separately. No official announcement has been made so far „First we would like to see the quantities and qualities of the mattresses arriving at our site without any given specifications”, explains Olaf Schmidt, AWG operations manager for waste collection and transport.So far, the AWG team at the recycling yard receives about 70 mattresses a month, mainly on weekends. Those involved in the project rate the condition of the delivered mattresses as „good”. „We are positively surprised that we have received almost none completely dirty mattresses that are unusable for recycling,“says Martin Auerbach, managing director of the mattress association. „This is probably due to the fact that citizens are bringing the sleeping pads in their own vehicle. The Wuppertal based association is in talks with authorities and politics on how to bring old mattresses into future material cycles. It also advocates a system of extended producer responsibility for mattresses based on the model of some European neighbours. With its partner associations – the Association of the German Home Textile Industry and the Association of Interior Privacy and Sun Protection – Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie also operates the network ReNewTex. It networks all those involved in the value chain in order to implement solutions for the essential aspects of the circular economy. The findings from the cooperation with AWG in Wuppertal on a „real-laboratory scale are intended to help promote the recycling of mattressesFind out more: Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie e. V. [www.matratzenverband.de](http://www.matratzenverband.de)
Waste management companies leading the way to a circular economy
Renewi, a specialist in European waste-to-product business, is operating large processing plants for mattresses and other waste. Operating mainly in the Benelux area Renewi generates revenue from collecting and recycling waste and selling recyclates and secondary materials. RetourMatras is considered the Dutch number 1 in mattress recycling. In 2019 RetourMatras partnered with Renewi to work towards a new mission: recycle every discarded mattress in Benelux. Renewi’s role in this collaboration is to collect the mattresses in Belgium and the Netherlands, e.g. from environmental centres, hardware stores, bed shops, hotels, nursing homes, cruise ships and government shelters. A RetourMatras container holds 80 to 100 mattresses, which need to be stored dry for the recycling process. At the plant, the containers are unloaded and the mattresses are placed on the dosing unit by using an electric crane. Then take their way across the conveyor belt.A built-in metal detector scans the mattress. Mattresses with and without metal springs each pass through their own recycling line. The mattress is then cut and the cover is removed. The textiles are kept separate, pressed into bales and reused in the textile industry. The metal is disposed of as a separate waste stream in the metal industry. In an innovative process the foam is recycled into secondary materials that are used for sports mats, gymnasium floors, soft playground surfacing and furniture fillings. About 90 per cent of the mattress materials can be recycled, and the remaining 10 per cent is used to generate energy.Fresh of RetourMatras’ opening of its fourth recycling plant in the Netherlands and its first plant in Belgium, Renewi and RetourMatras now save 1.5 million mattresses yearly from incineration in both countries.Find out more: RetourMatras [www.retourmatras.nl](http://www.retourmatras.nl) [www.renewi.com](http://www.renewi.com)
Disposal in line with ‘polluter pays’ principle
National governments in Europe are increasingly enacting legislation mandating the return and disposal of mattresses across the industry. This Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) already exists in Belgium, the Netherlands and France. The ‘polluter pays’ principle applies.Companies are obliged by the EPR to take responsibility for the proper collection, sorting and disposal or recycling of their products and packaging. Old, discarded mattresses can only be returned to approved mattress recycling companies or waste disposal sites. This creates a transparent backflow.Let the communities do the collecting The role of the municipalities will not end with the EPR, which clearly assigns responsibility to the manufacturers. With mattresses, the time of purchase often does not coincide with the time of disposal. An old mattress is regularly kept as a reserve, used for another purpose, sold on online marketplaces or taken to charity. Therefore, it is impossible for the manufacturer to know when the old mattress will be disposed of. If there is no manufacturer at the door to accept the mattress at the time of disposal, there is a high probability that the mattress will end up on the street or in an incinerator.In these cases, one solution could be to collect the mattress from the consumer’s residence. However, this increases the costs for the municipalities, which may then be passed on to the citizens, e.g. in the form of higher rubbish disposal fees.Let the consumer pay Alternatively, by making a disposal contribution when purchasing a mattress, the consumer could be obliged to participate in the recycling scheme. According to a survey in the Netherlands, consumers are open to a disposal fee included in the purchase price of new mattresses. This may be the case due to similar contributions having been the norm for white goods and other electronic devices for many years.On average, a disposal fee of 10 euros is considered appropriate, according to the survey. 47 percent are willing to pay 10 euros or more, while 53 percent would rather pay less.While 59 percent are unwilling to pay extra for returning an old mattres at the recycling center, only 9 percent are unwilling to pay a disposal fee of 1 Euro or less when purchasing the mattress. This shows the importance of when and how consumers are asked to share the recycling costs.A disposal fee of 10 euros on average could be enough to achieve a good distribution of the old mattresses to the recyclers. Recycling costs about 5 euros per mattress, and on top of that, manufacturers have to bear the transport and logistics costs. (Source: Matras recycling 2019, ABN AMRO)
Why old mattresses are poluting the street scene
Dispose of mattresses can be difficult because they are large, bulky items. As a result, many discarded sleeping pads unfortunately still end up in bulky waste on the street. In major cities, twice as many mattresses end up in bulky waste as in landfills every year. Once dumped in the streets for hours or even days, the mattresses are exposed to dirt and rain. They are collected from bulky waste and go straight into the garbage truck, which prevents them from being properly recycled.The preferred route to recycling is through disposal yards or environmental centers, where consumers can drop off their bulky waste. But only few mattresses arrive there. The best example is Amsterdam. In the Dutch metropolis, up to 100,000 mattresses are being disposed in the streets every year. That’s about 270 per day (source: KRO-NCRV).Current research shows that many Dutch people shy away from going to the recycling center. In 26 percent of cases, an old mattress is still put on the street or cut into pieces and thrown into the residual waste. Convenience is one of the main reasons why the Dutch dispose their mattresses in the streets. Of those surveyed 73 percent said that transportation to the recycling center was difficult to organize, while 50 percent said that the drop-off on the street is simply easier. And although dropping off a mattress at the landfill is usually free, 33 percent consider the costs of dropping it off a barrier. That may cause an opportunity for municipalities. If municipalities communicate more clearly that drop-off is free, many mattresses could already be saved from incineration.(Source: Matrasrecycling 2019, ABN AMRO) Find out more: Report: Matrasrecycling
DISPOSAL & COLLECTION
Return is key A product made exclusively of clean infinitely materials is only fully circular if it is being returned for recycling. Return is essential. „Extended Producer Responsibility“ (EPR) schemes hold manufacturers accountable for returning old mattresses. But also consumers and municipal communities can take action to close the loop.
How sustainable consumption is changing
Global crises and socio-political challenges are causing consumer restraint in Germany. This is also reflected in the willingness to buy sustainably. Accordingly, the GfK Sustainability Index is declining and stood at 93.3 points in January 2023 - a decline of 6.7 points compared to 2022. Do to rising prices, consumers are less willing to spend big on larger sustainable purchases such as furniture. Only 71 percent of those who are planning sustainable major purchases are willing to spend more money on them. In October 2022 it was still 75 percent. However, sustainability remains a relevant topic for German consumers. 70 percent see climate change as a serious problem and 65 percent expect companies to act environmentally friendly, for example by using sustainable materials and ingredients. While the GfK Sustainability Index shows a decline in Germany, only slight changes can be seen in France and Italy. In France, the index falls slightly to 99.2 points in January 2023. In Italy, on the other hand, the index increases slightly to 100.9 points. The increase in Italy is driven by a higher percentage of consumers who want to focus on sustainability aspects when making major purchases in the future. In France, an opposite trend is emerging. Here, the proportion of consumers who are planning or have already made major sustainable purchases is falling. (Source: GfK Sustainability Index, January 2023)Find out more: GfK Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung [www.gfk.de](http://www.gfk.de)
Consumer expectations and sustainability
When buying a mattress, the first consideration is a good night’s sleep. Consumers are not on the lookout for an ‘ecological’ mattress, however they do expect that manufacturers should solve environmental problems; 72 percent of German and 73 percent of British purchasers take the view that environmental problems are a matter for business and manufacturers (Source: ‘Consumer Trends in Sustainability’ study, 2022). A similar proportion of consumers in both markets see environmental protection as one of the most important issues of our time. The study indicates that 50 percent of German and 52 percent of British consumers see money as the biggest obstacle to more sustainability. Other difficulties are the poor availability of sustainable products, the lack of information on sustainability, excessive complexity, the cost of more sustainability, and a disinclination to change existing lifestyle. Business can overcome these obstacles by offering products at a competitive price, and by providing consumer information. At present, only about one quarter of consumers derive their information about sustainability through social media. This provides business with a great opportunity to make sustainability activities fully transparent and promote sustainable products via their social channels.Find out more: Niaga B.V. [www.niaga.world](http://www.niaga.world)
DESIGN
Every Zero-Waste Product is based on a good Eco-design. There are a few simple rules when developing mattresses suitable for the circular re-use economy: keep it simple; use as few different materials as possible, only use „clean“ easily recycled materials, and use reversible fixtures between different types of materials, but that nevertheless come apart easily when needed at the end of each recycling-phase.
RECYCLING & REUSE
Game changer chemical recycling Re-use reduces the need for raw materials and is the key to a sustainable future. Not only does consistent recycling considerably reduce the loads at rubbish dumps, but also ensures recycling of valuable materials. The result is a decline in the consumption of raw materials and a reduction of the emissions that are unavoidable during the manufacture of new materials. Current innovative developments associated with chemical recycling have revealed themselves as game changers in the circular economy of mattress materials.
Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) / International Sleep Products Association (ISPA)
Who we are The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), created by the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA), recycles discarded mattresses in California, Connecticut and Rhode Island. MRC also supports research to improve the recycling process and find new and better uses for the reclaimed materials.Strategy and future Each year, 75 million pounds of mattress material reclaimed by MRC’s recyclers are recycled into new products. MRC also spends $1 million annually on research to make mattress collection, transportation and deconstruction more efficient and to identify new uses for the extracted materials. MRC expects to expand its network into Oregon in 2024.ISPA informs the mattress industry about sustainability issues and trends to help companies improve the environmental performance of their plants and products. To support this effort, MRC workgroups facilitate discussions across the mattress value chain about recycling challenges and share information with recyclers.What we can do for you MRC supports research to improve the mattress recycling process and discover new uses for component material.Find out more: Mattress Recycling Council [mattressrecyclingcouncil.org](http://mattressrecyclingcouncil.org) International Sleep Products Association [www.sleepproducts.org](http://www.sleepproducts.org)
European Bedding Industries Association (EBIA)
Who we are EBIA is the European Bedding Industries Association, the leading European trade association representing the interests of the bedding industry, companies who produce or supply mattresses, PU and latex foams, textile and springs. Strategy and future EBIA aims at fostering collaboration throughout the bedding industry and works closely with EBIA members, national associations and European institutions. We aim at representing the bedding market from all European countries. We value their differences while keeping in mind the joint priorities the three European institutions have set up, this include building the Europe of tomorrow, global leadership in fighting climate change, shaping our digital solutions and to making our economy more resilient and robust. What we can do for you The organization closely monitors and contributes to European and national legislation and the policy making process that affects bedding industry. This work helps to ensure that regulations are fair, transparent, and effective, and that they do not unduly burden the industry. By advocating for sensible legislation, EBIA helps create a level playing field for businesses. EBIA serves as a focal point for consultation within and between the European bedding industry. This cooperation helps businesses share best practices, exchange information, and identify common challenges. By working together, the industry can address issues that affect all businesses, and help promote the bedding industry. EBIA organizes technical meetings and congresses that bring together all stakeholders of the bedding industry to share knowledge and best practices, exchange ideas and information, identify common challenges and collaborate on projects. These events help promote innovation and build stronger relationships among industry participantsFind out more: [www.europeanbedding.eu](http://www.europeanbedding.eu)
Royal CBM
Joint action for sustainable manufacturingWho we are Royal CBM is the trade association for the interior design and furniture industry. In total, CBM represents about 550 members. The variety in the membership is great: interior builders, residential furniture manufacturers and suppliers of semi-finished products that perform furniture-related processing are members. The Royal CBM represents the interests of the home furnishings and furniture industry and actively campaigns with its members for a strong and sustainable manufacturing industry to live and work in.Strategy and future As an advocate for furniture and mattress manufacturers, Royal CBM believes it can no longer be explained to society and to our posterity that millions of used mattresses end up in the incinerators every year. Therefore, in 2019, we picked up the gauntlet and developed a large-scale solution with all relevant parties – a voluntary producer responsibility (UPV). All players in the chain are doing their bit to find a sustainable solution to our problem with the disposal of old mattresses. At CBM we believe that the future belongs to entrepreneurs who dare to take risks. The mission statement forms the course and compass for the future. Passion, pride and craftsmanship are the essential key components. What we can do for you Entrepreneurship in the furniture industry is challenging. There are many laws, regulations and obligations that you have to deal with as an entrepreneur. Fortunately, you are not alone and can turn to CBM for help. As a sole trader, you often pay a lot of money for all kinds of business services. CBM helps you save these costs with targeted collective agreements. Also, as a company, you need to participate in the transition to a sustainable and circular society. New legislation is currently being prepared that all companies in Europe will have to comply with in a few years. If you do not comply with it or comply too late, there is a risk that your company will fall behind. CBM is initiating innovative projects to help its members meet these challenges.businesses, and help promote the bedding industry.Find out more: [www.cbm.nl](http://www.cbm.nl)
Who we are
Who we are The National Bed Federation (NBF) is the UK trade association for manufacturers of mattresses, beds and headboards – and their component suppliers. Founded in 1912, the NBF represents more than 50% of all UK based manufacturers and more than 70% of the UK by turnover. We are the bed industry’s conscience. We set the standard by driving ethics,transparency and responsibility. It’s about creating a level playing field that’s fair for everyone. And we never rest, we’re always working towards that goal: » Maintaining high standards through audits and independent testing » Teaching best practice in bed-making and selling » Celebrating and promoting excellence » Providing education and guidance to help people sleep better » Creating a sustainable industry that supports the planet At the heart of everything we do is a simple idea - making sure that, as an industry, we always do the right thing. Let’s Make It Right. Strategy and future Responding to the global environmental crisis we are all facing is critical to every business, large or small. The NBF is helping its members on their sustainability journeys with: » The NBF Pledge for the Planet, a five-point plan to: • Become a more sustainable business • Reduce global warming impact • Reduce waste • Take responsibility • Reduce products’ impact on the environment » Developing ecodesign principles for mattresses and an assessment toolkit and verification process to help put those principles into practice. Our ecodesign focuses on: • Ensuring fitness for purpose and maximising lifespan • Safe chemical use and management • Environmentally oriented material selection • Improved material resource efficiency • Improved end of life management » A policy on the Use and Reuse of Used and Reconditioned mattresses » Developing a new test and test method for assessing the cleanliness of mattress fillings and other materials. » Collaborating with mattress recyclers to develop the Register of Approved Mattress Recyclers (RAMR). » A Business Case for an EPR scheme for mattresses co-created with Zero Waste Scotland. In addition, the NBF has set a goal of diverting from landfill 75% of all mattresses disposed of annually.What we can do for you Our Members benefit from: » Leadership » Support » Intelligence » Guidance » Feedback » Collaboration » Partnerships » Encouragement Together, Let’s Make It Right.Find out more: [www.bedfed.org.uk](http://www.bedfed.org.uk)
The Rummel Matratzen
During the bordering process of mattress covers, cut-offs are produced. These cutoffs are collected homogeneousely, meaning the fabrics are not mixed with different materials.Recycling of cover cuts from mattress covers in new pocket spring core mattressesThe cuts are compressed for transport, and passed on to a local partner company, which shreds the material and uses it to create a fleece fabric. During the bordering process of mattress covers, cut-offs are produced..This fleece fabric is used to make padding supports, which are then reused in the production of our pocket spring mattresses. The fleece is stapled onto the pocket spring core to ensure an optimal ratio of spot elasticity. It also extends the lifespan of the pocket spring core and thus the entire life cycle of the mattres.Find out more: Rummel Matratzen [www.rummel-matratzen.de](http://www.rummel-matratzen.de)
Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie e.V
Acting according to the circular economy „Real circular economy” is the closed system staring from eco-design to production to recycling and reuse of raw materials. This reduces waste and is key to conserving resources and reducing carbon emissions.Who we are The Fachverband Matratzen-Industrie e.V. is Germany’s only trade association for mattress manufacturers and their suppliers. We represent more than two-thirds of the German mattress industry. In addition to supporting our members’ day-to-day business, our focus is on actively shaping the future of the business.Strategy and future Our current most urgent objective is to facilitate the move away from the throwaway production model to the circular recycling of mattress materials. Our members now face the challenge of modifying their business strategy, product development, production and distribution processes. We support members facing these challenges and provide assistance to all those forming part of the value added chain looking for solutions, plus all essential aspects of the circular economy. Not only do we provide members with advice and active support; we also help to shape the overall environment in which they operate such as the pending EPR Extended Producer Responsibility system for mattresses. The fundamental objective is to provide a long-term forward path for our members and underpin their competitive strength. Real added value for the industry We are also co-founders of the ReNewTex network, a unique platform for manufacturers of mattresses, domestic fabrics and solar protection products, currently with some 40 network partners. Why don’t you too join the ReNewTex network?Find out more: [www.matratzenverband.de](http://www.matratzenverband.de)
The world’s first fully circular mattress
Auping Evolve is the world’s first fully circular mattress. The mattress is produced using only two materials: steel and polyester. Not only are these materials endlessly recyclable but they also provide comfort of the highest quality for a good night’s sleep. So that all the valuable materials – inside and outside – can be used again. And again. The various components of the Auping Evolve mattress are held together by a special polyester bonding system: Niaga® adhesive. The beauty of this bonding system is that the heat bonding is reversible, without leaving residual materials behind like with glue. In this way, the mattress is easy to disassemble and recycle, without any loss of quality of the materials. Next stepsThe introduction of Auping Evolve was the first step in promoting a more circular economy. In 2021 Auping added two new premium mattresses to our circular mattress portfolio. Auping is aiming for a fully circular product range by 2030 at the latestFind out more: Royal Auping B.V. [www.auping.com](http://www.auping.com)
The world’s first circular mattresses
Manufacturers of mattresses and their component materials have long been mindful of environmentally friendly production methods and recycling and with good reason. In the European Union, every year some 35 million old mattresses need disposal, six million in Germany alone. Given the shortage of raw materials, there is enormous economic potential in the adoption of sustainable consumer and production methods. A circular economy represents the highest standard of sustainability and the mattress industry is already climbing the mountain; for the ‘circular’ mattress is already with us. It is made of clean, infinitely re-usable materials that – at the end of their initial product life – are fully returned to the cycle of production and re-use.
Find out more: ZTF Company
[www.www.zilliontf.com](http://www.www.zilliontf.com)
