By
Quynh Nguyen

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Ikea, the world-famous Swedish chain well-known for DIY home items, has a wide selection of mattresses at affordable prices. The company has also made some impressive statements about moving toward circularity in mattresses. But what is the reality inside their mattresses? So, we had to ask: How sustainable are Ikea mattresses?

Ikea mattresses are generally unsustainable. Their core material is polyurethane foam, which is typically derived from fossil fuels in polluting and energy-demanding processes and is non-biodegradable. Because of the synthetic foam base, their mattresses tend to have a relatively short life span.

Read on as we walk through the life-cycle of Ikea mattresses. We will evaluate their sustainability, potential, and shortfalls in each life-cycle stage. And in the end, we’ll show you some tips for buying and using Ikea mattresses more sustainably.

Here’s How We Assessed the Sustainability of Ikea Mattresses

The experience of buying an Ikea mattress might be straightforward, thanks to the no-frills nature and the affordable pricing, but what is about the sustainability of these mattresses?

“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 Ikea 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 LCA to research and create more sustainable products. So, let’s have a look at the LCA of Ikea mattresses!

The life-cycle stages of Ikea mattresses	Each stage’s sustainability
Production of Ikea mattresses	Sourcing: Ikea sources primarily fossil-based raw materials for their mattresses. Because of the nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels and the energy-demanding and polluting processes of extracting and refining these fuels, this stage is rather unsustainable, affecting the overall sustainability of Ikea mattresses. However, Ikea reduces their ecological impacts by sourcing some recycled materials (recycled polyester and recycled polyol) for their mattresses. Manufacturing: Manufacturing polyurethane foam, as used in Ikea mattresses, is generally unsustainable because of the intensive use of energy and chemicals. Transporting: Transporting Ikea mattresses can have a relatively high carbon footprint because of the bulky nature of the product. However, Ikea delivers their mattresses rolled up, saving truck space and transporting carbon emissions (per mattress). Certifications: We can’t find any information about certifications that guarantee Ikea mattresses regarding sustainable and social standards.
Usage of Ikea mattresses	Lifespan: Ikea mattresses have a relatively short lifespan because they are based on polyurethane foam. Quality reviews: Ikea mattresses are generally not rated highly for their durability by consumers.
End-of-life of Ikea mattresses	Circularity: There are no circular mattresses in Ikea’s selection. However, Ikea Global has an ambition to make their mattresses circular. Their 2025 target is a minimum of 20% recycled and/or renewable content in the polyols used in foam production for Ikea mattresses. Recycling: Even after thorough research, we couldn’t find any mention of the recyclability of Ikea mattresses on their website. Waste: Ikea mattresses would clog up landfills for a long time because of their synthetic nature and the lack of take-back programs from the company.

To know if Ikea mattresses are sustainable, we need to look at their practices throughout their life-cycle and determine if they are effectively reducing their impact on the planet. To do that, we need to look at the following:

• the information they share,
• data they report to third parties for external review, 
• their ratings and reviews, and 
• what sustainable certification systems they adhere to. 

How Sustainable Is the Production of Ikea Mattresses

The primary materials used for Ikea mattresses (polyurethane foam and steel coil) are rather unsustainable due to their nonrenewable nature. In particular, virgin synthetic foam is made with fossil-based raw materials in energy-intensive and polluting processes, significantly impacting the overall sustainability of the mattresses.

How Sustainable Are the Materials Used for Ikea Mattresses

Ikea sources primarily fossil-based raw materials for their mattresses. Because of the nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels and the energy-demanding and polluting processes of extracting and refining these fuels, this stage is rather unsustainable, affecting the overall sustainability of Ikea mattresses. However, Ikea reduces their ecological impacts by sourcing some recycled materials (recycled polyester and recycled polyol) for their mattresses.

The core material used in most Ikea mattresses is polyurethane foam. 

Specifically, Ikea mattresses consist of a comfort system (the soft top layers) and, in the case of hybrid mattresses (such as VINGELEN and ÅNNELAND models), a support system (the responsive coils that move and respond to pressure changes). 

• A comfort system: This is constructed of one or several layers, including:
  • polyurethane foam
  • memory foam
  • ticking made with synthetic and semi-synthetic fibers (polyester, recycled polyester, polypropylene, viscose) 
• A support system: This is constructed with steel-based pocket coils using polypropylene encashing. 

Ikea mattress covers are made with a synthetic fabric or a mix of synthetic and semi-synthetic fibers (viscose). 

The sustainability of your specific Ikea mattress depends on the materials they use. So, let’s have a look at the sustainability of all their main materials so that you can make a better-informed decision:

• Polyurethane Foam: Polyurethane foam is generally made with fossil-derived polymers. Sourcing fossil fuels is highly unsustainable due to their nonrenewable nature. Extraction and refining of these fuels not only create a significant energy demand but also contribute to the climate crisis and environmental pollution. However, Ikea states that several mattresses in their range have renewable or recycled polyol content in the foam. This means using renewable sources, such as soy, castor oil, rapeseed, or pre-consumer recycled foam, to make part of their polyurethane foam.
• Memory Foam: Memory foam is low-resistance polyurethane foam, generally made with fossil-derived polymers. Similarly to polyurethane foam, sourcing raw materials for memory foam is highly unsustainable due to the nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels and the highly polluting, energy-intensive processes of extracting and refining these fuels. 
• Steel Coils in Pockets: Sourcing iron raw material to use in mattresses is unsustainable due to its nonrenewable nature. Iron mining has adverse environmental impacts, including habitat destruction, environmental contamination and pollution, and water scarcity exacerbation. 
• Polyester Fabrics: Sourcing fossil fuels for making polyester to use in mattresses is generally unsustainable because of the depletion of nonrenewable resources, the acceleration of climate change, and the environmental pollution of extracting and refining such fuels. 
• Recycled Polyester Fabrics: Reclaiming polyester from post-consumer plastic bottles, which is the case of Repreve fibers, is generally sustainable. It avoids further depleting nonrenewable fossil fuels—the conventional raw materials for virgin polyester—and the serious adverse environmental impacts associated with extracting and refining fossil fuels. Diverting plastic waste back into usage prevents it from clogging up landfills for hundreds of years or entering water bodies where it can harm wildlife and humans. 
• Viscose Fabrics: Sourcing cellulose fibers from wood for viscose in mattresses is generally sustainable. As plants grow, they absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere while releasing oxygen, mitigating the climate crisis. However, there are concerns over the association between sourcing raw materials for viscose and deforestation in ancient and endangered forests. 
• Flame Retardants: Generally, Ikea avoids the use of fiberglass as flame retardants. Instead, their mattresses have a polyester-rayon fire barrier around their foams to meet US fire safety standards. 

How Sustainably Are Ikea Mattresses Generally Produced

Manufacturing polyurethane foam, as used in Ikea mattresses, is generally unsustainable because of the intensive use of energy and chemicals.

Manufacturing Ikea mattresses typically includes the following process steps for their comfort system (the soft top layers) and, in the case of hybrid mattresses, their support system (the responsive coils that move and respond to pressure changes):

1. The first step to producing Ikea mattresses is to construct the comfort system from one or several layers of synthetic polyurethane-based foam. Manufacturing such foam layers, especially the polymerization step, demands a lot of energy and chemicals, making it unsustainable. The typical process of manufacturing polyurethane foam includes the following steps: 
   1. Make the starting monomers: Flexible polyurethane foam traditionally starts with polyols and diisocyanates (toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate). These chemicals are conventionally made from cracking and refining crude oil and natural gas. 
   2. Polymerization: Polyols and diisocyanates are mixed with water and a catalyst like dibutyltin (DBT), which triggers a chemical reaction to create foam. 
   3. Molding and solidifying: More chemicals, including stabilizers and flame retardants, are added to the mix to create the final foam with the desired properties.
2. In the case of hybrid Ikea mattresses, a support system made of coils is also produced. Producing the steel coils (drawing steel wire and bending wire to create coils) uses a lot of energy, which would have serious knock-on ecological impacts when production depends largely on fossil fuels. 
3. For all Ikea mattresses, a mattress cover made from a synthetic fiber blend is added at the end to bind all layers together. 

Manufacturing Ikea mattresses is both energy-intensive and chemical-intensive, leading to this stage being unsustainable.

Where Are Ikea Mattresses Usually Produced

We couldn’t find the information on Ikea’s website specifying where their mattresses are made. 

How Sustainable Is the Transportation of Ikea Mattresses

Transporting Ikea mattresses can have a relatively high carbon footprint because of the bulky nature of the product. However, Ikea delivers their mattresses rolled up, saving truck space and transporting carbon emissions (per mattress).

In the life-cycle of Ikea mattresses, transportation typically occurs as follows: 

• from fields/pastures/forests/mines where raw materials are extracted to the manufacturing location, 
• 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.

What Eco-Friendly or Sustainable Certifications Does Ikea Have

We couldn’t find any information about certifications that guarantee Ikea mattresses regarding sustainable and social standards. 

How Sustainable Is the Usage of Ikea Mattresses

The usage of Ikea foam mattresses is unsustainable because of their relatively short lifespan.

What Is the Typical Lifespan of Ikea Mattresses 

Polyurethane foam mattresses are typically not durable. Their lifespan depends on the material density but is generally only a few years long. 

Ikea mattresses are covered by a 10-year warranty. 

Note that you can typically keep a foam mattress last longer by regularly rotating it and avoiding heavy forces (like a kid jumping on the bed).

How Is the Quality of Ikea Mattresses Rated

Ikea mattresses are generally not rated highly for their durability by consumers, as shared on leading industry sites like Sleepopolis or Slumber Search.

In brief, Ikea mattresses tend to have a relatively short lifespan due to their foam-based nature. These mattresses have a guarantee of 10 years, significantly shorter, for example than many latex mattresses.

How Sustainable Is the End-of-Life of Ikea Mattresses

The end-of-life stage of polyurethane foam mattresses is generally unsustainable because they don’t biodegrade. We couldn’t find any information on a take-back program in the US for Ikea mattresses at the end of their life. 

How Circular Are Ikea Mattresses Made

Conventional polyurethane foam, the primary material in Ikea mattresses, doesn’t biodegrade and will sit in landfills for a thousand years. Consequently, it is crucial to keep this material in circulation for as long as possible.

“Circular economy: 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

There are no circular mattresses in Ikea’s selection. However, Ikea Global has an ambition to make their mattresses circular. Their 2025 target is a minimum of 20% recycled and/or renewable content in the polyols used in foam production for Ikea mattresses. 

Are Ikea Mattresses Made for Recycling

At the end of their life, Ikea mattresses are generally difficult to recycle because they often contain many layers. 

As a principle, products made with one type of material, such as 100% polyurethane foam, are easier to disassemble and recycle than products made with a blend of materials. 

However, if your Ikea mattress contains multiple layers, then it’s generally relatively difficult to recycle at the end of its life. That said, a company specializing in recycling old mattresses would be able to help you. 

If you are in the market for a new mattress, your seller might be able to help you with responsible recycling or disposing of your old mattress.

In the states of California, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, Ikea will remove your old mattress for free when you buy a new Ikea mattress.

Will Ikea Mattresses Go to Waste at Their End-of-life

Ikea mattresses will clog up landfills for a long time because of their synthetic nature and the lack of take-back programs from the company. 

We couldn’t find any mention on Ikea’s website about any take-back programs for their mattresses at the end of their life. 

Note that mattresses are bulky waste that take up significant landfill space—often for a long time. 

In brief, Ikea mattresses are not yet circular, though Ikea Global intends to make all their products circular by 2030. The company uses some recycled pre-consumer waste content in their mattress product. Still, there is not yet a take-back program to reduce post-consumer waste.

Why Is It Important to Buy More Sustainable Mattresses

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. 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 bamboo and hemp, 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

Ikea mattresses are generally unsustainable. They use primarily polyurethane foam, a mattress material typically derived from nonrenewable fossil fuels. Furthermore, the manufacturing process of polyurethane foam is both energy and chemical-intensive. And on top of that, Ikea mattresses are not biodegradable.

However, you can make your use of Ikea mattresses more sustainable by following these steps:

1. Buy second-hand mattresses.
2. Keep an Ikea mattress for as long as possible.
3. At the end-of-life of your Ikea mattress, upcycle the material to extend its usage and arrange for it to be recycled or properly disposed of.

Stay impactful,

Sources

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