how to recycle your mattress
There comes a time when every mattress reaches the end of its lifecycle – maybe it's sagging, uncomfortable or simply doesn’t offer the support it used to. You could be upgrading to a bigger bed or swapping your old mattress for one that better suits your needs. But once you’ve decided to replace it, the question remains: what should you do with your old mattress?
Here’s where responsible disposal comes into play. The last thing we want is to add more waste to landfills. With over 7 million mattresses discarded annually in the UK, only about 25% of those are recycled. Reducing, reusing and recycling is essential to cutting down on landfill waste, and this includes your old mattress.
At Silentnight, we’re committed to sustainability. We not only produce innovative eco-friendly products but also help you dispose of your mattress in a way that’s kinder to the planet.
our sustainability pledge
We have always taken its role in environmental friendliness seriously. We’ve even achieved ‘ESG Excellence’ status, something only a handful of organisations have claimed, highlighting our commitment to environmental, social and governance best practices. Our journey towards Net Zero by 2040, backed by our signature in 2021 to the Climate Pledge, shows our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint.
In fact, we were the first British sleep brand to commit to the Climate Pledge and we’re one of the few brands in the sleep industry to join the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As you can imagine, this marked a profound moment in our Net Zero journey, aligning us with the most ambitious target of the Paris Agreement: the global goal of limiting temperature increases to 1.5ºC. Learn more by reading our sustainability pledge.
eco-friendly manufacturing
We’re leading the way in the UK's sleep industry with innovative solutions to make sure products are made and disposed of responsibly. Waste generated throughout our manufacturing process is recycled – with all food, foam, paper, card, polythene film and metal waste going to local and national recycling companies. Our objective is to divert waste from landfills and reduce the amount of harmful toxins and gases released into the atmosphere. One of our key initiatives to reduce waste is to extend the overall life of products and as such, we educate and encourage our customers to extend the life of their mattresses through mattress care. We introduced our in-house testing laboratory back in 1980 and to this day, to the best of our knowledge, we remain the only UK Bed Manufacturer to operate our own facilities. Our state-of-the-art testing lab carries out detailed tests across all our products to ensure our customers purchase products which are not only of outstanding quality and great value but are designed to last and be recycled. Great progress has also been made to support the recycling of products once they reach end-of-life. We’ve had the pleasure of working with the National Bed Federation and our partners to launch the Mattress Disposal Service, ensuring that your mattress doesn't just end up in a landfill.
how to get rid of a mattress
Our mattress disposal eco-cycle is designed to reduce the environmental impact of our products, conserve resources and support local communities. By choosing to recycle or repurpose your mattress, you're joining Silentnight on our journey toward a sustainable future. Here’s our 3-step eco-process:
1. reduce
Our sustainability efforts start from the ground up. We’re focused on reducing waste, with over 230 tonnes of our manufacturing materials being repurposed every year. These off-cuts, once destined for landfills, are now used to create eco-friendly products, including the products in our Eco Comfort collection. By choosing Silentnight, you’re not just buying a mattress – you’re supporting a sustainable future.
2. reuse
Sometimes, your mattress may no longer be the right fit for you, but it might still be in good enough condition to benefit someone else. In cases like these, donating your mattress is a wonderful way to extend its life while helping those in need. Certain charities, like Zarach, accept good-quality mattresses to provide beds for children and families living in poverty. As part of our mission to give everyone a good night’s sleep, we proudly support Zarach’s initiative. Before donating, ensure your mattress is clean and in good condition. If you’re not sure how to keep your mattress in tip-top shape, check out our mattress cleaning blog for tips.
3. recycle
When a mattress can no longer be used, the last part of our eco-cycle is recycling. Our recycling scheme ensures that every part of the mattress is put to good use. Mattresses collected through our service are stripped down and the materials are repurposed. For further insight, 85% of a mattress has a second life and the remaining 15% is sent for energy recovery. With our recycling programme, you can be confident that your mattress is disposed of responsibly, contributing to a circular economy. All you need to do is:
Add mattress disposal to your basket with your new purchase, or call 0333 123 0892
Pick a date that suits you
We’ll take your old mattress away once we’ve delivered your new one,
At Silentnight, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. By choosing eco-friendly mattresses and recycling your old ones responsibly, you’re taking steps towards a greener future. We’re committed to providing comfortable, environmentally friendly sleep solutions and we encourage you to join us in our pledge to protect the planet. Ready to make the switch? Discover our full range of eco-friendly sleep products, and when it's time to say goodbye to your old mattress, remember that recycling is just as important as buying sustainably.
Find out more about the impact of waste in our blog, what’s the problem with plastic, and how you can make a difference.
