At RetourMat, we’re proud to celebrate Circular Economy Week 2026 – a showcase of the innovation, collaboration and circular thinking needed to drive meaningful environmental change.
The principles behind the circular economy are central to what we do. Rather than treating mattresses as waste, we look at how we can keep the mattress itself – and the valuable materials within it – in circulation for as long as possible.
Through mattress rejuvenation, recycling and circular material solutions, we’re helping organisations across Europe move away from a linear model and towards a more circular future.
Millions of Mattresses Given a Better End-of-Life Solution
Every mattress represents a collection of valuable resources, from steel and foam to textiles and other materials. RetourMat brings together specialist expertise from across Europe to process around 2 million mattresses each year, finding the most appropriate route for mattresses and their component materials.
In the UK, our recycling operations divert 100% of the mattresses we process from landfill, with 92% of recovered materials returned to UK manufacturing. But circularity isn’t simply about recycling more. It’s about retaining as much value as possible for as long as possible – and that means considering whether a mattress can remain in use before it is broken down into its component materials.
Rejuvenation: Keeping Mattresses in Use for Longer
Our Mattress Rejuvenation Service is circularity in action. Returned mattresses, including those from comfort guarantees, can be assessed to determine whether they are suitable for rejuvenation rather than immediately entering the recycling process. Suitable mattresses undergo a specialist process including sanitisation, quality assurance and repackaging, allowing them to be returned to use.
With a 75%+ rejuvenation success rate, less than 1.2% consumer complaints and 100% landfill diversion within our UK operations, rejuvenation can help retailers retain value from returned products while reducing waste and environmental impact. It demonstrates an important principle of the circular economy: wherever possible, keep the product in use before recycling its materials.
From Recovered Materials to New Resources
When a mattress can no longer be reused, its value doesn’t have to end there. Through our specialist recycling operations, mattresses are separated into individual material streams such as foam, textiles and steel. These materials can then be processed and returned to productive use, reducing reliance on virgin resources and keeping valuable materials within the economy.
We’re also continuing to explore new applications and partnerships for recovered mattress materials, helping to create stronger circular supply chains between recycling and manufacturing.
Driving a Circular Future Across Europe
Circularity can’t be achieved by one organisation alone. It requires collaboration across the entire mattress lifecycle – from manufacturers and retailers to logistics providers, hospitality businesses, local authorities, waste management companies and recyclers.
As one European company, RetourMat brings together recycling, rejuvenation and circular material expertise to help create those connections and develop practical solutions at scale.
Circular Economy Week is an opportunity to celebrate the progress being made, but the ambition extends far beyond one week.
Our goal is to help create a future where mattresses are kept in use for as long as possible, materials retain their value and unnecessary waste becomes a thing of the past.
Want to make your mattress operations more circular? Get in touch with the RetourMat team to explore our recycling, rejuvenation and circular material solutions.
