Europe: a changing landscape for end-of-life mattresses

摘要

Sustainability means more than merely including a few percent of biopolyol in a flexible polyurethane formulation.Increasingly,it means that products should be designed at the outset for disassembly,with formulations kept simple to facilitate recycling.Perhaps the most important issue facing European mattress makers is to be ready for extended producer responsibility(EPR)in the EU.Changing market demands and EU time limits for sustainability improvements will hit the mattress industry,according to Frederik Lauwaert,managing director of the European Bedding Industry Association(EBIA).’It will change the world for the bedding industry quite significantly,’he said.’The EU is imposing increased recycling rates,and landfill will fall.’There is enormous political pressure in the current e-waste legislation.’The EC has put a lot of focus on EPR schemes,’he said.While only one country,France,is has such a scheme up and running already,discussions are ongoing in the UK,the Netherlands and Belgium,he added.’Like it or not,political pressure is rising,and industry will not be able to delay discussions.’