IKEA
Furniture company launches mattress recycling programme in North America / Addition to “People and Planet Positive Sustainability” strategy of 2020
Ikea (Leiden / The Netherlands; www.ikea.com) has launched a national mattress recycling programme for the US market. With the aim of reducing landfill waste, this action adds to the company’s existing “People & Planet Positive” 2020 sustainability strategy, which was launched to give more value to natural resources used as raw materials and commit to developing and making products that save energy and reduce waste – see Plasteurope.com of 03.11.2014.
 Recyclable mattress components (Image: Mattress Recycling Council) |
As stated in the company’s sustainability report, the rising energy and raw material costs of the future will put pressure not only on businesses but also on customers. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD, Paris / France; www.oecd.org), by 2030, almost half of the world’s population will live in areas with water scarcity, and Ikea notes that water-reducing policies are imperative.
The group-wide strategy reports that despite increasing recycling rates around the world, the majority of valuable processed materials are still thrown away rather than reused. The latest estimates from the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC, Alexandria, Virginia / USA; www.mattressrecyclingcouncil.org) show that 15-20m mattresses and box springs are disposed of in landfills in the US each year, which breaks down to a whopping 50,000 per day.
The Swedish home furnishings retailer has announced it will be taking back old mattresses regardless of the brand and material, when delivering new ones. In all US states except California, where the service is required by state law to be offered free of charge, the company will charge a USD 25 fee per mattress. Lisa Davis, Ikea’s US sustainability manager, notes that in “keeping up with our … strategy, Ikea has decided to take a lead in turning waste into resources.” The company’s self-declared goal is “zero waste to landfill.”
Mattresses are commonly made of steel, PU foam, cotton and wood, and, according to various sources, can be 80-95% recycled. Steel can be reused in tools and construction materials and wood can be recycled into biofuels and other wood products. Fibres could be employed in oil filters, mat, insulation and furniture stuffing. Less than 5% of old mattresses are recycled annually in the US.
The group-wide strategy reports that despite increasing recycling rates around the world, the majority of valuable processed materials are still thrown away rather than reused. The latest estimates from the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC, Alexandria, Virginia / USA; www.mattressrecyclingcouncil.org) show that 15-20m mattresses and box springs are disposed of in landfills in the US each year, which breaks down to a whopping 50,000 per day.
The Swedish home furnishings retailer has announced it will be taking back old mattresses regardless of the brand and material, when delivering new ones. In all US states except California, where the service is required by state law to be offered free of charge, the company will charge a USD 25 fee per mattress. Lisa Davis, Ikea’s US sustainability manager, notes that in “keeping up with our … strategy, Ikea has decided to take a lead in turning waste into resources.” The company’s self-declared goal is “zero waste to landfill.”
Mattresses are commonly made of steel, PU foam, cotton and wood, and, according to various sources, can be 80-95% recycled. Steel can be reused in tools and construction materials and wood can be recycled into biofuels and other wood products. Fibres could be employed in oil filters, mat, insulation and furniture stuffing. Less than 5% of old mattresses are recycled annually in the US.
09.11.2017 Plasteurope.com [238281-0]
Published on 09.11.2017