Europe is generating too much waste, and not enough is being recycled. The EU is working to create a more circular economy by preventing waste and improving waste management, among others. At the same time, there are goals to keep valuable resources in the economy. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are one important way of doing that.
What is EPR?
Extended Producer Responsibility makes producers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including disposal and recycling. In practice, this means that manufacturers must contribute to the costs of collecting, sorting and recycling their products.
The case for mattress recycling
Every year, 41 million mattresses are thrown away in Europe – many of which end up in landfills or incinerators. That is a waste, because many of the materials used – from foam to metal and textiles – are perfectly recyclable, and can even be made into new materials such as RePoliol and Rebond foam.
European legislation
At the European level, the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and the Landfill Directive form the backbone of waste legislation. The revised WFD, agreed provisionally in March 2024, sets ambitious targets: preparing for re-use and recycling of municipal waste must reach 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030, and 65% by 2035.
While packaging, electronics and batteries already fall under EU-wide EPR obligations, textiles and mattresses are now being added. From January 1, 2025, Member States must implement EPR for textiles, and by December 31, 2027, mattresses will follow. Because this is a Directive, each Member State must transpose the rules into national law, giving countries some flexibility in how EPR schemes are designed and managed.
National approaches: lessons from early adopters
Some countries have moved early. The Netherlands made mattress EPR mandatory in 2022, with producers paying a fixed fee that finances nationwide collection and recycling via MRN. Belgium followed in 2021 with Valumat, and France integrated mattresses into its furniture EPR scheme back in 2012 — cutting landfill from nearly 100% to under 4% today, though recycling is still around 50%. Spain has recently launched Ecocolchon, while Portugal has already legislated that mattresses must be included in future schemes. In Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria, industry-led pilots are underway, but there is not yet a binding framework.
Why is it uneven? Because EPR for mattresses is not (yet) mandated at EU level. The revised Waste Framework Directive, expected to enter into force in 2025, will make national schemes compulsory. Member States will then have 20 months to transpose the law, and a further 10 months to establish operational schemes. For producers, this means that by December 2027 every EU market will have some form of mattress EPR in place.
Challenges for mattress producers
Recycling mattresses is not without its challenges. They are bulky, complex products and only clean, dry units can be fully recycled. The market for recycled foam is still developing, and many designs make dismantling more difficult than it needs to be. Yet, these are exactly the areas where innovation is happening: smarter logistics such as compaction containers, growing demand for recycled polyols, and eco-design solutions are already changing the game.
Opportunities in EPR for mattresses
Under EPR, all producers and importers pay the same eco-fee for every mattress they place on the market. This eliminates “free riders” who would otherwise avoid recycling costs and undercut competitors on price. Schemes also generate added value in the form of certificates and CO₂ reporting, which producers can use to prove their impact.
In the future, eco-modulated fees may reward companies that design products with recycled content or higher recyclability. Beyond compliance, mattress recycling offers a clear sustainability story that can strengthen brand reputation and meet growing consumer expectations.
Role of recyclers like RetourMatras Group
Certified recyclers are the backbone of any mattress EPR scheme. RetourMatras Group combines automated dismantling with chemical recycling to recover raw materials (RePoliol) for new foam production. Through partnerships with municipalities, retailers, and producers, RetourMatras helps close the loop: for example, IKEA now sells mattresses in France with up to 80% recycled content. This demonstrates that high-volume circularity is already possible when the right infrastructure and partnerships are in place.
The future of EPR mattress schemes
At EU level, further legislation is on the horizon. The proposed Circular Economy Act (2026) could make EPR for mattresses mandatory across all Member States by 2029. For producers, the direction is clear: compliance, reporting, and recycled content requirements will only become stricter. The companies that prepare now — by engaging with Producer Responsibility Organisations, improving eco-design, and securing recycled material supply — will be best positioned to turn obligations into opportunities.
Want to know more about mattress recycling?
RetourMatras Group is a key player in mattress recycling in Europe and has extensive knowledge of EPR mattress schemes. Get in touch with our team, especially if you are a producer navigating new EPR obligations.
