How Bad Are Mattresses for the Environment

Whether you’re thinking of getting a new mattress or you’ve already purchased one, you have a problem to face: what are you going to do with your old mattress?

Mattresses may be a pain to get rid of, but they’re also a pain to the environment. If you’re looking to get rid of an old mattress, you should look into mattress recycling. Mattress recycling is an eco-friendly way to get rid of an old mattress.

Keep reading our page to learn about the mattress carbon footprint, and why you should consider mattress recycling next time you have a bed to get rid of. 

Negative Impacts of Traditional Mattresses

By this point, you should be aware that mattresses are bad for the environment; but what exactly makes them so bad? We’ve made a list of some of the negative impacts that mattresses have on our environment. 

Traditional Mattress Materials

Traditional foam and spring mattresses are made from man-made materials like polyurethane and shockingly enough, petroleum.

Polyurethane is in the same family as plastics, and petroleum is a fossil fuel; plastics and fossil fuels are some of the biggest problems to our environment right now.

Using these products and incorporating them into the mass production of mattresses is only contributing to climate change. 

Manufacturing and Transportation 

Fossil fuels are not only used as materials in your mattress but they're also used to help make your mattress. Factories also use up a lot of energy to make mattresses, which results in excess carbon emissions. 

Once mattresses are made, they need to go to warehouses or stores to be sold, and then they're delivered to customers' homes. That's a lot of gas used just to get a mattress from point A to point B. 

Mattress Are Non-Biodegradable

So what happens when you get rid of your mattress? Chances are, it goes into a landfill and then nothing happens. The mattress will sit there forever, taking up space and harming the plants and wildlife around it because it isn't biodegradable. 

Some people don't even have their mattresses taken to the landfill. They'll dump them in an alleyway or in a field, which is even worse. It may seem like an extra chore to bring your mattress to a disposal location, but it’s worth doing to keep your community clean. 

Chemicals in Your New Mattress

Did you know that when you bring a new mattress home, it can release fumes and chemicals into your bedroom that are hazardous to breathe? These chemicals, called volatile organic compounds, come from some of the materials in a traditional mattress, like polyurethane. 

While these fumes may not pose as much of a risk to your health, they’ve been linked to negative health effects later on. They can also pose a much bigger hazard to infants and children who may sleep in the bed too. 

The Truth About Eco-Friendly Mattresses

There are a lot of mattress companies that are claiming to be green, or better for the environment. While some of them offer better alternatives than traditional mattresses, not all of them are great for the environment.

It’s important to do your research on how eco-friendly a company is before buying your mattress from them.

Green Mattress Materials 

Many of the materials used for these eco-friendly mattresses are still harmful to the environment. Latex, a popular replacement for polyurethane, is much better for the environment but it still has its drawbacks. 

The most eco-friendly mattresses being produced right now are made with organic materials, such as bamboo and even wool. Both of these materials are sustainable and natural, so they won't harm the environment, even if they're thrown away. 

Air Mattresses

When you think of an air mattress, you may think of crashing in someone's guest room or even going camping. Air mattresses are popular beds for temporary sleeping arrangements, but did you know that they can be used as a permanent bed too?

One of the reasons why air mattresses make great permanent beds is because they’re much more eco-friendly than a traditional mattress. There are air mattresses that are cheap and meant for temporary use, but you can get higher-quality ones that are meant to last much longer. 

If you’re looking to do your part for the environment, consider getting an air mattress for everyday use. Air mattresses aren’t just good for the environment, they can also provide some sleep and health benefits too.

How You Can Help 

Some mattress companies are going green and trying to use alternative resources to make their mattresses. While this is good news, it isn't enough. Consumers should be aware of the impact that mattresses can have on the environment and do their part to reduce these negative effects. 

Mattress Recycling

If you’re looking to get rid of your old mattress, you should consider recycling it. Mattress recycling is the best way to reuse some of the less eco-friendly materials that made up your mattress.

Mattress recycling centers have the proper machinery to take apart your mattress and make sure that none of it goes to waste.

If you’re into the process of mattress recycling but you don’t have a way to get your mattress to a mattress drop-off center, don’t worry. Many recycling centers will offer mattress pickup services to make the process as easy and convenient for you as possible. 

Do Your Research

Before you invest in a new bed, be sure to do thorough research and check out the reviews of any company you’re planning on buying from. Find out what materials your mattress will be made from, how long it will last, and if it's biodegradable. A little effort on your part can make a big difference for our planet. 

Help Us Save the Earth

At The Mattress Guy, our mission is to save the Earth one mattress at a time, but we can’t do it alone. If you’re in the Bay Area and thinking of getting a new mattress, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for our mattress recycling services!

If you can’t make it to one of our designated mattress drop-off centers, we’ll be happy to come to you. Schedule a mattress pickup with us when you’re ready, and we’ll make the process easy for you while still being a friend to the environment!