Interview with Laure Bisson, Materials & Substances Innovation Manager at Ecomaison
Ten years ago, France had a mattress problem. Millions of end-of-life mattresses were discarded every year, with all of them ending up in landfill. Today, around 4.7 million mattresses are collected annually. More than half are recycled, most of the remainder is used for energy recovery, and only a very small fraction still ends up in landfill. Along the way, an entire ecosystem of collectors, dismantlers, recyclers and manufacturers has emerged.
Ecomaison, the French producer responsibility organization behind the country’s mattress collection and recycling system, has supported that transformation step by step along the years… and there are still some challenges, as witnessed by Laure Bisson. As Materials & Substances Innovation Manager at Ecomaisonshe helps drive innovation programmes around collection schemes, recycling technologies, ecodesign and new circular applications for recovered materials.
“We keep on focusing a lot on foam and textile-based products. Mattresses, upholstered furniture, pillows, quilts, curtains …. The objective is always to improve how materials are collected, sorted, recycled and returned into the economy.”
Looking back, Laure sees the evolution of mattress recycling as one of the most significant circular economy success stories France has achieved so far.
What changed over the last 10 years?
“It was all made possible with the introduction of the French Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for furniture, which was unique in Europe at that time, together with the eco-fee (a mandatory contribution paid by producers and importers which finances the end-of-life collection, sorting, and recycling of products).
This system created a stable source of funding that allowed collection networks and recycling facilities to emerge. But what really made the difference were a few individuals who wanted to start these businesses and genuinely believed in the circular economy. I admire those entrepreneurs who entered the mattress recycling market before ithad proven itself commercially.
Of course, the legislation provided the framework. But if you don’t have people willing to take risks and build something from scratch, nothing happens.”
France today:
6 million mattresses placed on the market annually
4.7 million mattresses collected annually
More than 50% recycled
Only 2% landfilled
Building a circular ecosystem
“Today, we are working on increasing the efficiency of the entire value chain. Ecomaison continuously works on collection systems, logistics and dismantling processes to reduce contamination and maximise the recovery of valuable materials.
In France, the collection system collects mattresses alongside other furniture items. . That causes more exposure to dust, humidity and contamination. Our teams work hard on limiting those factors and improving the quality of the recycled product.
We also collaborate closely with dismantlers and recyclers to improve recycling performance. Companies such as RetourMat play an important role in that effort. They transform end-of-life mattresses into valuable secondary raw materials. We supply them mattresses, but also more recently, sofa cushions, because we want to explore whether similar recycling routes can be developed for other furniture products as well.
Collaboration is very important for us to strengthen the system. Whenever we see a partner that needs something, we try to connect people. Any new development in foam or textile recycling is interesting for the whole ecosystem.”
France has shown that mattress recycling works.
What happens after recycling?
“Collection and recycling have made a lot of progress, but our biggest challenge today is that the market is not so ready to use large volumes of recycled materials.
What we dream of is a situation where businesses can become more viable using recycled materials than virgin ones. This is why with Ecomaison we increasingly focus on stimulating demand as well as supply. Financial incentives, legislation and communication all have a role to play. In the end we want a market that is more interested in recycled materials. Obligations for recycled content are key to have the market involved.”
What would you advise starting countries?
“Of course, we do not only look at France. We exchange with other countries who already have an EPR scheme on Mattresses like Belgium and the Netherlands, and hope that the rest of Europe will follow, because it would benefit the entire industry: greater material volumes and faster progress in technologies. Spain, Portugal and Germany are also discussing or developing mattress EPR systems and recycling legislation
What I would advise starting countries and their producer responsibility organisatons is to diversify. Don’t rely on too little recycling outlet players. We experienced that with latex foam and this creates too much dependency”
What lies ahead?
“France has shown that mattress recycling works. The next step is making recycled materials the preferred choice for manufacturers, bringing the market closer to a circular mattress chain.”
