By
Quynh Nguyen

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Tuft & Needle is a popular bed-in-a-box brand offering simple and no-frills mattresses. These mattresses are affordable and comfortable. But is their production eco-friendly? So, we had to ask: How sustainable are Tuft & Needle mattresses?

Tuft & Needle 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 Tuft & Needle mattresses. We will evaluate their sustainability, potential, and shortfalls in each life-cycle stage. And in the end, we’ll show you tips for buying and using Tuft & Needle mattresses more sustainably.

Here’s How We Assessed the Sustainability of Tuft & Needle Mattresses

The experience of buying a Tuft & Needle might be straightforward thanks to the simple no-frills options. 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 Tuft & Needle 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 Tuft & Needle mattresses!

The life-cycle stages of Tuft & Needle mattresses	Each stage’s sustainability
Production of Tuft & Needle mattresses	Sourcing: The materials used for Tuft & Needle mattresses are highly unsustainable due to their reliance on fossil-based raw materials. The nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels, combined with the energy-intensive and polluting processes required for their extraction and refinement, significantly impacts the overall sustainability of their mattresses. Manufacturing: Manufacturing polyurethane foam, as used in Tuft & Needle mattresses, is generally unsustainable because of the intensive use of energy and chemicals. Transporting: Transporting Tuft & Needle mattresses can have a relatively high carbon footprint because of the bulky nature of the product. However, manufacturing locally in the US helps reduce the transporting distances.  Certifications: All Tuft & Needle mattresses are Green Guard Gold and CertiPUR-US® certified.
Usage of Tuft & Needle mattresses	Lifespan: Tuft & Needle mattresses have a relatively short lifespan because they are based on polyurethane foam. Quality reviews: Tuft & Needle is rated Poor with 2.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
End-of-life of Tuft & Needle mattresses	Circularity: There are no circular mattresses in Tuft & Needle’s selection and we couldn’t find any information about plans to make their mattresses circular in the future. Recycling: Even after thorough research, we couldn’t find any mention of the recyclability of Tuft & Needle mattresses on their website. Waste: Tuft & Needle 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 Tuft & Needle 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 Tuft & Needle Mattresses

The materials used for Tuft & Needle mattresses are highly unsustainable due to their reliance on fossil-based raw materials. The nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels, combined with the energy-intensive and polluting processes required for their extraction and refinement, significantly impacts the overall sustainability of their mattresses.

How Sustainable Are the Materials Used for Tuft & Needle Mattresses

Tuft & Needle 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 highly unsustainable, affecting the overall sustainability of Tuft & Needle mattresses.

The core material used in most Tuft & Needle mattresses is, at its core, polyurethane foam. 

Specifically, Tuft & Needle mattresses consist of a comfort system (the soft top layers) and, in the case of hybrid mattresses (the T&N Mint Hybrid and T&N Original Hybrid models), a support system (the responsive coils that move and respond to pressure changes). 

• A comfort system: It is constructed of one or two layers of polyurethane-based foam (T&N Adaptive foam and memory foam) 
• A support system: It is constructed with pocket coils. 

Tuft & Needle mattress covers are made with a synthetic blend of polyester and polyamide. 

The sustainability of your specific Tuft & Needle 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. 
• 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: 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. 
• Polyamide: Sourcing fossil fuels for making polyamide (nylon) 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
• Flame Retardants: Tuft & Needle states that their mattresses do not contain fiberglass in any of their components. Instead, they use a fire barrier made of a knit blend of polyester and cotton, which has been treated with a food-grade salt.

How Sustainably Are Tuft & Needle Mattresses Generally Produced

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

The typical process of manufacturing foam mattresses, as used by Tuft & Needle, includes the following steps: 

1. The first step to producing Tuft & Needle mattresses is to construct the layers from one or two layers of foam based on polyurethane foam. Manufacturing foam, 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. The second step is adding a polyester/polyamide blend cover to the outer surface to bind the foam layers.

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

Where Are Tuft & Needle Mattresses Usually Produced

Tuft & Needle mattresses are made locally in the US.

As Tuft & Needle mattresses are manufactured in the US, production will likely rely heavily on fossil fuels. According to Our World in Data, only 11.66% of energy consumption in the US comes from renewable sources.

Using renewable energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass) would significantly reduce carbon emissions at this stage.

How Sustainable Is the Transportation of Tuft & Needle Mattresses

Transporting Tuft & Needle mattresses can have a relatively high carbon footprint because of the bulky nature of the product. However, manufacturing locally in the US helps reduce the transporting distances. 

In the life-cycle of Tuft & Needle mattresses, transportation typically occurs as follows: 

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

Tuft & Needle manufactures locally in the US, which helps to reduce the transporting distances. 

What Eco-Friendly or Sustainable Certifications Does Tuft & Needle Have

Here are the certifications that Tuft & Needle mattresses have: 

• GREENGUARD: A certification program that ensures products meet strict chemical emissions limits, contributing to healthier indoor air quality. GREENGUARD Certification is awarded to products that have been tested and proven to have low chemical emissions, helping to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.
  • All Tuft & Needle mattresses are Greenguard Gold Certified.
• CertiPUR-US^®: A certification for foam products (polyurethane foam, memory foam, or hybrid foam) that ensures they are made without harmful chemicals and meet rigorous standards for content, emissions, and durability. It verifies that the foam is free from ozone depleters, flame retardants, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates, and has low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality.
  • All Tuft & Needle mattresses are CertiPUR-US^® Certified. 

How Sustainable Is the Usage of Tuft & Needle Mattresses

The usage of Tuft & Needle foam mattresses is unsustainable because of their relatively short lifespan.

What Is the Typical Lifespan of Tuft & Needle Mattresses 

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

Tuft & Needle 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 Tuft & Needle Mattresses Rated

Tuft & Needle is rated Poor with 2.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot. Even though there is positive feedback, many reviewers complain about the quality and durability of their foam mattresses.

Here is an example: 

“I purchase a mint mattress that broke down within two years. They have a ten year warranty and refuse to work with me. Very poor customer service.” 

In brief, Tuft & Needle 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 Tuft & Needle 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 for mattresses at the end of their life, even though there are established ways of recycling polyurethane foam. 

How Circular Are Tuft & Needle Mattresses Made

Conventional polyurethane foam, the primary material in Tuft & Needle 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 Tuft & Needle’s selection and we couldn’t find any information about plans to make their mattresses circular in the future.

Are Tuft & Needle Mattresses Made for Recycling

Even after thorough research, we couldn’t find any mention of the recyclability of Tuft & Needle mattresses on their website.

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. 

But if your Tuft & Needle mattress contains multiple layers, then it’s generally relatively difficult to recycle at the end of its life. However, a company specializing in recycling old mattresses would be able to help you. Suppose you are also buying a new mattress. In that case, your seller might be able to help you with responsible recycling or disposing of your old mattress.

While flexible polyurethane foam can be recycled using two established pathways (mechanical recycling and chemical recycling), Tuft & Needle does not mention that they use any recycled content in their foam or consider the ease of recycling in designing and constructing their mattresses.

Will Tuft & Needle Mattresses Go to Waste at Their End-of-life

Tuft & Needle mattresses would 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 Tuft & Needle’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, Tuft & Needle mattresses are not made for recycling and are far from being circular. The brand doesn’t specify the use of any recycled materials in their foam-based mattresses or any incentives to promote the recycling of their products at the end of their life.

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

Tuft & Needle mattresses are generally unsustainable. They use primarily polyurethane foam, a mattress material typically derived from nonrenewable fossil fuels. The manufacturing process of polyurethane foam is both energy and chemical-intensive. Tuft & Needle mattresses are not biodegradable.

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

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

Stay impactful,

Sources

• Science Direct: Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
• MIT SMR: Strategic Sustainability Uses of Life-Cycle Analysis
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• Impactful Ninja: Are Hybrid Mattresses Eco-Friendly & Sustainable? A Life-Cycle Analysis
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• TuftAndNeedle: T&N Original Hybrid Mattress
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• Impactful Ninja: Are Pocket Sprung Mattresses Eco-Friendly & Sustainable? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• TuftAndNeedle: The Best Ways To Clean Your Mattress
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• Impactful Ninja: Are Polyamide Fabrics Eco-Friendly & Sustainable? A Life-Cycle Analysis
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• GREENGUARD
• CertiPUR-US
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