2012-2022 : The success story of used mattress recycling
The progress made over the last twelve years in the collection and processing of used mattresses reflects that of the entire furniture waste recovery sector.
Zoom in on this collective success story, driven by innovators supported by Ecomaison, local authorities, manufacturers, distributor members, partner associations and increasingly aware private individuals.
In 2012, 100% of used mattresses went to landfill
Twelve years ago, when it came time to change your mattress, the one you had to get rid of, whether won by a distributor's delivery service or dropped off by its owners at the municipal waste collection center, had every chance of ending up in the landfill among other non-recycled waste.
A regrettable waste, when you consider the volume of material required to manufacture new mattresses made from different materials.
The resource economy: a new destiny for mattresses
Everything had to be invented to enable the second life of these used products, which represent a significant deposit throughout the country.
- Ensure that the foams, fabrics and springs used in mattress manufacture can be recycled;
- Create a network of dismantling units capable of receiving all recovered mattresses;
- Enable mattresses to be transported to these new locations;
- Prepare new materials from dismantling materials that can be used by industry;
- Redistribute this secondary raw material to manufacturers for reuse.
A mattress no longer in use is destined for other lives
Today, less than 4% of used mattresses are landfilled. We know how to separate their components so that they continue their journey towards the right type of recovery.
Today, 54% of the mass of a dismantled mattress is recycled: this is the case for foam, latex and metal springs. The remainder, the mattress's textile materials, will be recycled in the very near future. For the time being, these recovered materials will be recycled as fuel to produce energy.
Stimulating new opportunities in the region
Regions hosting dismantling units or secondary raw material plants see a positive impact on their employment pool and economy: new skills are needed to exploit this new raw material source.
The progress made in twelve years with mattresses bears witness to the vigour of innovation in waste recovery. The loop that has been set up with Ecomaison's partners and members aims to be as closed as possible, with maximum re-use of secondary raw materials in the manufacture of new objects. Constant progress is being made to minimize the environmental impact of bringing new objects to market.
Developed over the space of twelve years, this mattress recycling network is a fine illustration of the virtuous cycle in which a growing proportion of all consumer goods are integrated. By gradually extending its scope to include toys, gardening and DIY items, and soon building materials, Ecomaison is integrating an ever wider range of objects into its recovery cycles.