Are Pocket Sprung Mattresses Eco-Friendly & Sustainable? A Life-Cycle Assessment
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Pocket sprung mattresses are designed to give you and your sleep a supportive bounce. Yet, one must ask themselves: Are they equally good for the environment—not to mention your night’s rest? Unfortunately, greenwashing makes it harder for you and other consumers to find the right answer. So, we had to ask: How sustainable are pocket sprung mattresses?
Pocket sprung mattresses vary from sustainable to unsustainable, depending on the spring component. Using virgin steel springs is unsustainable because they come from a finite resource and require a lot of energy. Yet, pocket sprung mattresses with a high recycled steel content are sustainable.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the life-cycle of pocket sprung 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 pocket springs.
Here’s How We Assessed the Sustainability of Pocket Sprung Mattresses
The sustainability of pocket sprung mattresses depends largely on the metal used for the springing coils.
Pocket sprung mattresses are a type of innerspring mattress in which the spring core is made with multiple units of small coils individually wrapped in fabric.
“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 pocket sprung 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 pocket sprung mattresses!
| The life-cycle stages of pocket sprung mattresses | Each stage’s sustainability |
| Sourcing of pocket sprung mattresses | Sourcing iron raw material for pocket sprung mattresses is not sustainable due to their nonrenewable nature. Iron mining has adverse environmental impacts, including habitat destruction, environmental contamination and pollution, and water scarcity exacerbation. |
| Manufacturing of pocket sprung mattresses | Manufacturing pocket sprung mattresses is generally unsustainable because of the intensive use of energy. |
| Transporting of pocket sprung mattresses | Transporting can be a carbon-intensive stage in the life-cycle of pocket sprung mattresses because of the emissions associated with transportation and delivery vehicles. Pocket sprung mattresses typically travel from mines to processing factories and then to sorting centers, shops, and consumers’ homes before going to recycling centers or landfills. |
| Usage of pocket sprung mattresses | The usage of pocket sprung mattresses is relatively sustainable because of their reasonably long lifespan. |
| End-of-life of pocket sprung mattresses | The end-of-life stage of pocket sprung mattresses is unsustainable because they don’t biodegrade. However, the steel spring component can be separated and recycled indefinitely. |
Overall, we can say that pocket sprung mattresses vary from unsustainable to sustainable. However, the actual environmental impact of a particular pocket sprung 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 pocket sprung mattresses more sustainably.
How Sustainable Is the Sourcing of Raw Materials for Pocket Sprung Mattresses
Sourcing iron raw material for pocket sprung mattresses is not sustainable due to their nonrenewable nature. Iron mining has adverse environmental impacts, including habitat destruction, environmental contamination and pollution, and water scarcity exacerbation.
What Raw Materials Are Used for Pocket Sprung Mattresses
Pocket sprung mattresses generally consist of the following components:
- a mattress core made of multiple units of coils individually wrapped in fabric
- one or several top layers made of cushioning materials
- covers made of textile materials
There are various options for each of these three components.
Though the spring core in pocket sprung mattresses is typically steel, the coil-encasing fabric differs from mattress to mattress. There are two groups of fabrics used to wrap the coils:
- natural fibers, typically cotton-based calico fabric
- synthetic fibers, typically polyester fabric
The cushioning materials used in the top layer(s) can also come in various forms:
- natural latex or synthetic latex
- traditional polyurethane foam
- memory foam
- fiber batting made with organic cotton, hemp, bamboo
The covers can be made of various fabrics from cotton to polyester, and from wool to bamboo. Regarding sourcing sustainability, the most important factors are whether the fabrics are natural or synthetic and come from recycled waste or virgin sources.
It is important to note that pocket sprung mattresses can only contain springs on their own. However, many pocket sprung mattresses in the market are hybrid, combining the springs with comfort top layer(s).
When evaluating the sustainability of a pocket sprung mattress, it’s crucial to look beyond the springs. In order to make an informed and responsible choice, you need to consider the sustainability of all components, from the core to the covers.
However, in the following section, we’re going to focus on sourcing iron, which is the most common metal used for mattress springs.
How Does Sourcing Iron Raw Materials for Pocket Sprung Mattresses Impact the Environment
Sourcing iron for pocket springs in mattresses is not sustainable because mining iron depletes nonrenewable reserves, destroys habitats, causes contamination and pollution of soil and water, and exacerbates water scarcity.
- Non-renewability: The Earth contains a finite amount of iron ore, as this resource takes millions of years to form.
- Adverse environmental impacts: Iron ore is mostly extracted in open pits, which requires large surface areas and necessitates the removal of topsoil and vegetation to access materials that lie underneath, leading to habitat destruction. Additionally, dust and particulate matter released during mining cause environmental contamination and pollution. Lastly, iron mining requires a large quantity of fresh water, adding stress to the local water supply.
Because of the significant adverse environmental impact of sourcing virgin iron ore, using recycled steel would greatly reduce the impact of this stage.
Where Are the Iron Raw Materials for Pocket Sprung Mattresses Usually Sourced From
Most iron ore deposits are found in sedimentary rocks around the world. The most abundant reserves are concentrated in India, China, Brazil, Russia, and Australia.
Environmental regulations play a pivotal role in the sustainability of iron sourcing. The presence or absence of these regulations at the mining location significantly influences the sustainability of iron sourcing for various applications, including mattress springs.
How Sustainable Is the Manufacturing of Pocket Sprung Mattresses
Manufacturing pocket sprung mattresses is generally unsustainable because of the intensive use of energy.
The typical process of manufacturing pocket sprung mattresses includes the following steps:
- Turn iron ore into steel, which is shaped into coils.
- Construct the spring center: Steel coils are individually wrapped in fabric, and the fabric sleeves are sewn or glued together.
- Put layers on top of the center in the case of hybrid mattresses: Manufacture the layers of choice, either from latex, foam, or fiber batting.
- Add the covers to various layers.
Let’s now dive into a few key sustainable issues of this life-cycle stage.
Manufacturing Steel Springs Uses a Lot of Energy
The hotspots of energy use in manufacturing pocket sprung mattresses are drawing steel wire and bending wire to create coils. Manufacturing raw steel also requires energy.
For example, an EU bed mattress report showed the electricity demand for 1 kg of mattress coils—including 23% recycled steel, is 0.394 kWh—was divided into:
- 0.15 kWh for wire drawing
- 0.244 kWh for coiling
The same data set also shows a share of gas in energy use (2MJ per kg of steel coils).
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.
The Environmental Impact of Pocket Sprung Mattresses Depend On Other Components
In hybrid pocket sprung mattresses which opt for comforting top layers, the choice of materials for these layers is a deciding factor in the sustainability of this stage. For example, the chemical-intensive production of polyurethane foam has a higher ecological cost than the production of organic cotton batting, which doesn’t involve toxic chemicals.
Where Are Pocket Sprung Mattresses Usually Manufactured
The top exporters of pocket sprung mattresses are China, India, and Vietnam.
According to Our World in Data, Vietnam has the highest renewable energy percentage (22.75%) of all pocket-sprung-mattress-manufacturing countries.
The following is the renewable energy share in primary energy in those countries:
- China: 16.16% renewable energy
- India: 9.68% renewable energy
- Vietnam: 22.75% renewable energy
How Sustainable Is the Transportation of Pocket Sprung Mattresses
Transporting can be a carbon-intensive stage in the life-cycle of pocket sprung mattresses because of the emissions associated with transportation and delivery vehicles. Pocket sprung mattresses typically travel from mines to processing factories and then to sorting centers, shops, and consumers’ homes before going to recycling centers or landfills.
In the life-cycle of pocket sprung mattresses, transportation typically occurs as follows:
- from mines where raw materials are extracted to the manufacturing locations where steel, coils, and other components are made and where the mattresses 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 Pocket Sprung Mattresses Vary Depending on Their Country of Origin
It is uncommon for pocket sprung mattresses to have raw materials mined, processed, and sold in one town, country, or even continent.
Here are some scenarios for transporting pocket sprung mattresses:
- Iron ore is mined in Australia and transported to a factory in China to be made into pocket coils and mattresses. The pocket sprung mattresses are sold worldwide.
- Manufacturers source iron ore mined in Russia and transport it to Germany to make pocket sprung mattresses. The final products are targeted at the European market.
- Iron ore is mined in Brazil. The pocket sprung mattresses are made in nearby factories before being transported to the US for retail.
You can reduce the transporting carbon footprint by choosing pocket sprung mattresses that travel a shorter distance from the mines and are made closer to your home.
The Carbon Footprint of Transporting Pocket Sprung Mattresses Depends Largely on the Vehicle of Transportation
During its life-cycle, a pocket sprung mattress 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 pocket sprung mattress.
How Sustainable Is the Usage of Pocket Sprung Mattresses
The usage of pocket sprung mattresses is relatively sustainable because of their reasonably long lifespan.
A well-made innerspring mattress, including one of the pocket sprung variety, can last seven or eight years. Generally, the lifespan of pocket sprung mattresses are not comparable with latex mattresses, but are still more superior than foam mattresses.
The durability of pocket sprung mattresses means consumers don’t need to replace them too frequently, reducing waste generation and conserving resources.
How Sustainable Is the End-of-Life of Pocket Sprung Mattresses
The end-of-life stage of pocket sprung mattresses is unsustainable because they don’t biodegrade. However, the steel spring component can be separated and recycled indefinitely.
Metal materials, including steel coils, eventually fall apart in landfills but do not decompose like some other mattress materials (cotton, hemp, or latex). Thus, steel springs are not considered biodegradable.
How Circular Are Mattresses Made of Memory Foam
As a principle, products made with one type of material, such as a pocket sprung mattress on its own, are easier to disassemble and recycle than products made with a blend of materials.
At the end-of-life stage, the steel spring component can be separated and recycled indefinitely or re-used in a new mattress.
“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. Luckily, many companies have gone to great efforts to include recycled content in their pocket sprung mattresses, moving toward circularity.
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 is a great idea, as these mattresses significantly lower 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
Pocket sprung mattresses vary from unsustainable to sustainable. The raw materials for pocket springs come from nonrenewable resources, and on top of that, the manufacturing process is energy-intensive. However, pocket sprung mattresses made with a high content of recycled steel coils can be sustainable because recycling reduces the burden on natural resources in both the sourcing and manufacturing stages.
Ultimately, you can make your use of pocket sprung mattresses more sustainable by following these steps:
- Buy recycled or upcycled pocket sprung mattresses.
- Keep a pocket sprung mattress for as long as possible.
- At the end-of-life of your innerspring 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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