Australian Bedding Stewardship Council Sustainability Commitments
2024
Reduction of mattresses and their recovered materials ending up in landfill
The ABSC is committed to reducing the number of mattresses and their component materials from ending up in landfill through innovation and an expanded approved recycler network to serve all of Australia. We hope to identify other uses for those materials recovered to give them a new life at their highest value. We will support recyclers that operate ethically and responsibly and build a national network to provide consumers, industry and councils with options to avoid landfill and discourage dumping. Through our expanded recycler network, we have recycled over 750,000 mattresses between June 2024 and March 2025. We continue to grow the network and divert end of life mattresses from landfill.
2024
Address product design for a more circular approach
The ABSC kicked off three projects in 2024 to evaluate where traditional mattress design principles can be reviewed and improved in terms of recyclability, longevity and circularity. In partnership with Robovoid, Circular Beds, and Sustainability Victoria, the Circular Beds fully recycled and recyclable bed base was launched in November 2024. In partnership with Swinburne University, we have made significant strides towards a fully recycled and recyclable mattress. Research, development, and commercialisation of these separate products continues throughout 2025.
2024
Social use and reuse
The industry is experiencing an increase in the offer of comfort returns to consumers and recyclers are seeing an increase in mattresses being presented for recycling that are not at their end of life. During 2024, the ABSC to kicked off a project to work to connect clean, good quality mattresses with communities in need. This project will deliver clear guidance to retailers for quality assessment, processes and guidelines for the treatment of comfort returns and used mattresses to ensure the health of those receiving and using secondhand mattresses.
2025
ABSC Approved Recycler Network Expansion
The ABSC has double the number of approved mattress recyclers in Australia, including key areas like Western Australia, Far North Queensland, and Tasmania. The ABSC approval is a robust process that is available to mattress recyclers who ensure safe and environmentally responsible collection, storage and recovery of end-of-life mattresses and their component materials. Using an approved recycler gives businesses, councils and consumers confidence that "real" recycling is taking place and their goods are responsibly disposed of. We continue to engage mattress recyclers to grow the approved recycler network, support recyclers adding bedding to the service offering, and connecting councils & businesses to ABSC Approved Recyclers. Over a 9 month period, ABSC Approved Recyclers have recycled over 750,000 mattresses, diverting steel & timber from landfill, ensured safe disposal of mattress shred, and explored waste to energy options for mattress components without offtake markets.
2026
Mattress Design for Remote First Nations Communities
The Mattress Design for Remote First Nations Communities Project aims to address these challenges head-on. During our first community visit to Urapunga, NT, it became clear that immediate action was needed—many community members were sleeping on the floor, with no access to appropriate bedding. In response, we quickly engaged our members and mobilized resources to deliver mattresses, bed bases, and bedding essentials for trial in remote communities. These items will be available for purchase via community-owned Remote OpShops. There has been a lot of interest in the trials from the Remote OpShop leaders. This interim solution will meet the urgent need while we continue developing long-term, sustainable bedding designed for remote conditions and supporting a circular economy. Our process is rooted in community collaboration, respecting local knowledge to co-create culturally appropriate, durable, and sustainable bedding. Our Industry Partner, Robovoid, and new member Social Living, have led this effort. Social Living, a social enterprise dedicated to circular economy, assembles the newly designed circular bed bases from Robovoid for trialling on country with the Urapunga community. Two of our other members, Vendella, and Zinus, have provided essential bed bases, mattresses, mattress protectors, and logistics support, making this rapid response possible. The ABSC is committed to Product Stewardship and sees this project as an extension of our duty to promote not only environmental but also social responsibility. We thank the Remote OpShop Project for their leadership on this project, as well as our industry partners and members for their invaluable contributions. We look forward to continuing this journey toward sustainable, respectful, and practical solutions for First Nations communities.
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