How Mattress Recycling Helps Businesses Meet ESG Targets
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance has become an essential part of how businesses measure responsible operations. Across the United States, investors and customers expect companies to take real action on sustainability, and not just talk about it.
While many ESG programs focus on reducing emissions or improving energy efficiency, waste management often gets less attention. In industries like hospitality, healthcare, and property management, mattress waste and box springs make up a large portion of landfill waste and carbon emissions.
By working with a trusted partner like The Mattress Guy Co, businesses can integrate a certified mattress recycling program into their ESG strategy. This turns a disposal challenge into measurable progress toward sustainability goals.
How Mattress Recycling fits into ESG
ESG frameworks help businesses manage environmental impact, strengthen community ties, and ensure responsible governance. Mattress recycling supports all three pillars in tangible ways.
| Environmental (E) | Reduce waste and carbon footprint | Diverts mattresses and box springs from landfills, recovers recyclable materials such as steel springs, memory foam, and fabrics, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions |
|---|---|---|
| Social (S) | Support people and communities | Creates jobs at local recycling centers, promotes responsible handling of used mattresses, and supports sustainability efforts in nearby communities |
| Governance (G) | Maintain transparency and compliance | Provides documented proof of mattress disposal, supports reporting under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, and aligns with evolving mattress recycling laws |
Let’s break it down further:
The environmental benefits of mattress recycling
Mattresses and box springs can take decades to decompose, occupying significant landfill space and releasing methane and other gases. Through mattress recycling services, up to 90% of valuable materials can be recovered and reused in new products.
At The Mattress Guy Co, every recycled mattress goes through a careful sorting process.
- Metal springs and scrap metal are melted for manufacturing
- Polyurethane foam becomes carpet padding
- Textiles are repurposed for insulation or cushioning.
- Recovered resources feed directly back into the circular economy, reducing the need for virgin natural resources and helping lower energy costs and carbon footprint.
In states like Rhode Island, the Mattress Recycling Council has led statewide mattress programs that have diverted thousands of units from landfills through local recycling initiatives. This success shows that responsible disposal is achievable with the right recycling solutions and community participation.
By diverting mattress materials through certified recycling, companies help reduce landfill waste and move closer to their recycling goals.
The social benefits of mattress recycling
Sustainability extends beyond the environment. It also creates value for people and communities. Mattress recycling supports local employment in logistics, dismantling, and processing.
We work with local facilities that help create stable jobs and promote ethical waste handling. In some cases, mattresses in good condition are refurbished or reused through community partnerships, giving them a second life while reducing waste.
These practices show a commitment to social responsibility, supporting the “S” in ESG and helping businesses strengthen their community impact.
The governance and accountability benefits of mattress recycling
Good governance is about transparency and compliance. Across the mattress industry, regulations are evolving to encourage responsible waste disposal and discourage landfill dumping through policies such as the Disposal Ban and recycling fee requirements.
With mattress recycling, you receive clear documentation of every recycling process. This transparency not only supports sustainability reporting but also reduces the risk of non-compliance. Companies can include this data in ESG reports, audits, and certifications such as LEED or ISO 14001.
Responsible waste management demonstrates that your business values ethical operations as much as efficiency.
An example of making ESG progress measurable
Mattress recycling turns sustainability into something tangible. The process creates measurable data points that help track waste diversion,
recycling rate, and overall progress.
| Metric | Example data |
|---|---|
| Mattresses recycled | 300 units |
| Landfill diversion rate | 90% |
| Materials recovered | 4,000 kg steel, 2,500 kg foam |
| CO₂ emissions avoided | 1.5 tonnes |
| Local jobs supported | 5–7 |
How to integrate mattress recycling into ESG programs
- Assess your current waste streams and identify opportunities to recycle mattresses and box springs.
- Set measurable targets, such as 100 percent recycling of all new mattress replacements.
- Partner with a certified recycler like The Mattress Guy Co to ensure compliance and proper documentation.
- Train staff on sustainable waste disposal and bulk pick-up scheduling.
- Track progress and publish updates on your official
website or sustainability reports.
Moving sustainability forward
Sustainability is now linked directly to brand reputation, investor trust, and long-term business success. Mattress recycling offers a straightforward, proven way to make progress across all ESG pillars.
By working with The Mattress Guy Co, businesses can meet their sustainability targets, support local communities, and ensure every mattress is handled responsibly from pick-up to recovery.
Contact us today to learn how our recycling programs can align with your company’s ESG goals.
