Are Air Mattresses Eco-Friendly & Sustainable? A Life-Cycle Assessment
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Air mattresses are inflatable and often foldable sleep surfaces that can be used for camping outdoors or hosting guests in your home. In short, they’re very useful when the occasion arises. Yet, what are the ecological costs of making and landfilling these kinds of mattresses? So, we had to ask: How sustainable are air mattresses?
Air mattresses are generally unsustainable. They are constructed from fossil-based plastics, most commonly PVC. Plastic production requires a lot of energy, exacerbates the climate crisis, and causes environmental pollution. Also, air mattresses are not durable and don’t biodegrade in landfills.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the life-cycle of air mattresses. Then, we will evaluate their sustainability, potential, and shortfalls. And in the end, we’ll show you some tips for buying sustainable mattresses made with air mattresses.
Here’s How We Assessed the Sustainability of Air Mattresses
The sustainability of air mattresses depends largely on the plastic used for the exterior.
Air mattresses are often temporary inflatable and portable sleep surfaces. They are typically made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or similar materials.
The term “air mattress” is sometimes used interchangeably with “airbed mattress.” However, there’s an important distinction here. While an air mattress tends to be compact, light, and temporary, an airbed mattress is generally a permanent sleeping surface with more space, better support systems, and a longer lifespan. What we’re talking about here is the former.
“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”
Oxford Dictionary
To understand the sustainability of air mattresses, we must assess their life-cycle and each stage’s sustainability. This life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of products and materials. Over the years, companies have strategically used LCAs to research and create more sustainable products. So, let’s have a look at the LCA of air mattresses!
| The life-cycle stages of air mattresses | Each stage’s sustainability |
| Sourcing of air mattresses | Sourcing synthetic plastics from virgin fossil fuels for air mattresses is highly unsustainable due to the nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels. The extraction and refining of these fuels not only creates a significant energy demand but also contributes to the climate crisis and environmental pollution. |
| Manufacturing of air mattresses | Manufacturing air mattresses is generally unsustainable because of the intensive use of energy and chemicals. |
| Transporting of air mattresses | Transporting can be a carbon-intensive stage in the life-cycle of air mattresses because of the emissions associated with transportation and delivery vehicles. Air mattresses typically travel from mines where fossil fuels are extracted to processing factories and then to sorting centers, shops, and consumers’ homes before going to recycling centers or landfills. |
| Usage of air mattresses | The usage of air mattresses is unsustainable because they generally have a short lifespan. |
| End-of-life of air mattresses | The end-of-life stage of air mattresses is unsustainable because, simply put, they don’t biodegrade. |
Overall, we can say that air mattresses are generally unsustainable. However, the actual environmental impact of a particular air mattresses mattress depends on more specific factors, including:
- the sourcing of raw materials
- the type of energy used in manufacturing and usage
- the distance and mode of transportation
Let’s dive deeper into each life-cycle stage and find out how you can buy air mattresses more sustainably.
How Sustainable Is the Sourcing of Raw Materials for Air Mattresses
Sourcing synthetic plastics from virgin fossil fuels for air mattresses is highly unsustainable due to the nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels. The extraction and refining of these fuels not only creates a significant energy demand but also contributes to the climate crisis and environmental pollution.
What Raw Materials Are Used for Latex Mattresses
An air mattress typically has a simple exterior made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The sleep surface of an air mattress is typically flocked with microfibers, such as polyester, nylon, or rayon.
Some air mattresses use innersprings in their base for extra support.
It is important to consider the sustainability of all components in your air mattress to make an informed and responsible choice. You can refer to our relevant articles for more information.
In the next section, we’ll focus on sourcing fossil fuels for the exterior of an air mattress.
How Does Sourcing Fossil Fuels for Making Synthetic Latex Impact the Environment
Sourcing fossil fuels for air bed mattresses is not sustainable because extracting and refining fossil fuels depletes nonrenewable reserves, accelerates the climate crisis, and pollutes the environment.
- Non-renewability: It takes millions of years and certain geological conditions to turn dead plants into fossil fuels, and the current depletion rate means replacement is not realistically feasible.
- Severe adverse environmental impacts: Extracting and refining fossil fuels causes air and water pollution, habitat degradation and destruction, mass deaths of marine species, and several other disruptions to wildlife. Additionally, it demands a lot of energy, exacerbating the climate crisis.
Because sourcing virgin fossil fuels has a significant adverse environmental impact, using recycled plastics—such as recycled polyester or regenerated nylon instead of PVC for the exterior—would greatly reduce the impact of this stage.
Where Are the Raw Materials for Air Mattresses Usually Sourced From
Tracking the origin of the fossil-derived raw materials in a specific air mattress is often very challenging.
There are two reasons for this:
- The supply chain of fossil derivatives is extremely complex.
- A certain type of polymer used in memory foam can be made in many factories using various ingredients, depending on the manufacturer and desired properties.
How Sustainable Is the Manufacturing of Air Mattresses
Manufacturing air mattresses is generally unsustainable because of the intensive use of energy and chemicals.
The typical process of manufacturing air mattresses includes the following steps:
- Construct the exterior from PVC.
- Flock the surface of the mattress:
- Apply specialized adhesive in the flocked area.
- Stick microfibers onto the flocked area.
- Dry, cure, and clean to create a smooth, velvety surface.
Let’s now dive into a few key sustainable issues of this life-cycle stage.
Manufacturing the PVC Exterior Uses a Lot of Energy
PVC is a synthetic polymer made from fossil-based raw materials. Polymerization is a highly energy-intensive process. Manufacturing the starting monomers also requires a lot of energy.
If and when manufacturing relies heavily on fossil fuels, high energy consumption could have serious knock-on ecological impacts. Using renewable energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass) would significantly reduce carbon emissions at this stage.
Manufacturing the PVC Exterior Use a Lot of Chemicals
PVC is a chemical-intensive material with high risks of toxic off-gassing.
- Manufacturing PVC releases toxic phthalates, which are associated with many health problems. Specifically, phthalates have been found to damage the reproductive system in both males and females.
- Dioxin, a by-product of PVC, is the most potent synthetic carcinogen ever tested in laboratory animals and is a known human carcinogen.
- PVC production releases mercury into the environment.
Less chemical-intensive materials for an air mattress’s exterior are thermoplastic urethane (TPU), synthetic fabrics (nylon or polyester), and rubber.
Where Are Air Mattresses Usually Manufactured
The top exporters of inflatable mattresses, including air mattresses, are China, the US, and Vietnam.
According to Our World in Data, Vietnam has the highest renewable energy percentage (22.75%) of all inflatable-mattress-manufacturing countries.
The following is the renewable energy share in primary energy in those countries:
- China: 16.16% renewable energy
- The US: 11.66% renewable energy
- Vietnam: 22.75% renewable energy
How Sustainable Is the Transportation of Latex Mattresses
Transporting can be a carbon-intensive stage in the life-cycle of air mattresses because of the emissions associated with transportation and delivery vehicles. Air mattresses typically travel from mines where fossil fuels are extracted to processing factories and then to sorting centers, shops, and consumers’ homes before going to recycling centers or landfills.
In the life-cycle of air mattresses, transportation typically occurs as follows:
- from mines where raw materials are extracted to the manufacturing locations where the air chambers, the comfort layer and the mattresses are made and put together,
- from the manufacturing location to sorting centers and/or physical shops,
- from sorting centers and/or physical shops to the consumer’s home, and
- from the consumer’s home to the centers for recycling and/or disposal.
Traveling Distances of Latex Mattresses Vary Depending on Their Country of Origin
It is uncommon for air mattresses to have raw materials mined, processed, and sold in one town, country, or even continent.
Here are some scenarios for transporting latex mattresses:
- Fossil fuels are mined in Alberta, Canada, and transported to a factory in Canada to be made into PVC. The PVC materials are then transported to a mattress manufacturer in the US, and the final products are sold across North America.
- Manufacturers source petroleum mined in the Congo Basin and produce PVC exteriors in China before assembling air mattresses at other manufacturers in China. The final products are shipped to the US to be sold to consumers.
You can reduce the transporting carbon footprint by choosing air mattresses that travel a shorter distance from the mines and are made closer to your home.
The Carbon Footprint of Transporting Latex Mattresses Depends Largely on the Vehicle of Transportation
During its life-cycle, air mattresses can be transported using various types of vehicles, including:
- large container ships
- planes
- freight trains
- long-distance trucks
- short-distance delivering vans
And these various types of transportation vehicles have different carbon footprint impacts, as follows:
- Large container ships are generally the most carbon-efficient option for international transportation of goods, while planes are the heaviest carbon emitter.
Large container ships emit, per unit of weight and distance, half as much carbon dioxide as a train and one-fifth and one-fiftieth as much as a truck and a plane (respectively). - Deliveries made by planes—for example, to fulfill fast shipping options—are the mode of transportation with the highest carbon footprint.
To reduce the carbon footprint of your purchase as a consumer, you can choose not to pick a fast delivery option when ordering your air mattress.
How Sustainable Is the Usage of Air Mattresses
The usage of air mattresses is unsustainable because they generally have a short lifespan.
Air mattresses have a relatively short lifespan of 2 years or less, meaning they must be replaced fairly frequently, creating waste and demanding more natural resources.
It is important to also note that using and washing air mattresses could release microplastics as the air chambers are typically made from plastic.
How Sustainable Is the End-of-Life of Air Mattresses
The end-of-life stage of air mattresses is unsustainable because, simpy put, they don’t biodegrade.
The conventional fossil-based PVC used in air mattresses would take hundreds of years to degrade. Consequently, the end-of-life state of waterbed mattresses is not sustainable compared with mattresses made of natural materials (natural latex, organic cotton, hemp, etc.).
How Circular Are Air Mattresses
As a principle, products made with one type of material, such as 100% PVC, are easier to disassemble for recycling than products made with a blend of materials. However, PVC is difficult to recycle.
“The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources.”
Ellen Macarthur Foundation
Mattresses are bulky waste that take up significant space in landfills—often for a long time, too.
Why Is It Important to Buy Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Materials
It is important to buy mattresses made of more sustainable materials because such materials generally have lower carbon footprints, put less pressure on natural resources, and are safer for both consumers and workers.
Buying Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Materials Reduces Toxic Chemicals In Your Sleeping Environment
Many mattresses are made with synthetic materials in chemical-intensive processes, exposing factory workers and end users to health risks, especially regarding the respiratory system. For example, one memory foam model was found to emit 61 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including the known carcinogens benzene and naphthalene.
In contrast, mattresses made of more sustainable materials, such as plant-based latex or organic wool, are generally safer, as they don’t contain toxic chemicals and are produced in more responsible processes.
Buying Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Materials Reduces Your Carbon Footprint
Conventional synthetic materials used in mattresses are fossil-derived and, thus, have a high carbon footprint. On the other hand, mattresses made with more sustainable materials, either organic or recycled, have relatively low carbon footprints.
Buying Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Materials Reduces Demand for Natural Resources and Waste Management
Buying mattresses made with more sustainable materials, such as organic or recycled ones, means that you can avoid fossil-derived mattress foams, which contribute to the depletion of nonrenewable resources.
Additionally, using organic materials for mattresses lessens the pressure on landfill space. On that note, keep the following in mind:
- Mattresses are bulky waste that take up significant space in landfills.
- Over 50,000 mattresses are thrown out every day in the US and about 20 million of those end up in landfills annually.
Considering that synthetic materials don’t break down for hundreds of years, opting for organic mattresses that are biodegradable and recyclable significantly lowers the pressure on landfills.
Buying Mattresses Made of More Sustainable Plant-Based Materials Encourages Sustainable Management of Forests and Ecosystems
Sustainable plant-based mattress materials, such as natural latex, are made with raw materials from forests and plantations that are sustainably managed.
When you buy sustainable plant-based materials, you discourage unsustainable practices like clearing biodiverse forests for cattle raising. Furthermore, you help reduce deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the effects of climate change.
Final Thoughts
Air mattresses are unsustainable. The raw materials for the exterior come from nonrenewable resources, and the manufacturing process is energy- and chemical-intensive.
However, you can make your use of air mattresses more sustainable by following these steps:
- Buy recycled or upcycled air mattresses.
- Keep air mattresses for as long as possible.
- At the end-of-life of your air mattress, upcycle the material to extend its usage and arrange for it to be recycled or properly disposed of.
Stay impactful,
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