RetourMatras & Ingka Investments Opens Mattress Recycling Facility in France

May 15, 2025  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

Ingka Investments, along with IKANO Industry and Renewi, has backed RetourMatras since 2019, supporting their growth and expansion into Europe, and with this new facility, this is now a reality. This is part of Ingka Investments’ EUR 1 billion ambition to invest in companies that are growing recycling infrastructure.

Expanding Mattress Recycling Capacity

Each year, approximately 4 million discarded mattresses are collected in France through Ecomaison who are leading the collection, sorting, and recycling of household items. These end-of-life mattresses are processed at various dismantling centers, including RetourMatras’ new facility in La Cavalerie. The facility employs advanced technology to recover up to 80% of mattress materials, such as foam, textiles, wood, and metal, preparing them for reuse in new products.

“Recycling remains an essential enabler for keeping materials in use and reducing reliance on virgin ones. Yet today’s recycling system is under increasing pressure — from volatile markets to rising operational costs and inadequate infrastructure. At Ingka, we recognise that with our scale comes both a responsibility and a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy through investment and innovation,” says Karen Pflug, chief sustainability officer, Ingka Group

Supporting the transition to a Circular Economy

The recovered polyurethane foam is chemically transformed into repoliol, a component used to produce new polyurethane foam, replacing fossil-based materials. IKEA plans to incorporate this recycled material into the production of its HÖJEHALL mattress family, which will be available in France starting July 2025. In addition to repoliol, the mattress will contain recycled metal and textiles, aligning with the IKEA commitment to sustainability and circularity.

Peter van der Poel, managing director, Ingka Investments says, “Transitioning to a circular economy is essential for us to stay within the limits of one planet. Through our investment in RetourMatras we are on a journey to recycle the equivalent number of mattresses we sell by 2030, and this new facility brings us a step closer. But we don’t stop there; RetourMatras is transforming end-of-life mattresses into valuable resources allowing the materials to be repurposed and used in 31 product families, including sofas and mattresses.”

Investing to accelerate the Circular Economy

RetourMatras, a leader in mattress dismantling, operates seven dismantling facilities across the Netherlands, the UK, and now France. Since 2011, the company has been at the forefront of mattress recycling, transforming waste into valuable resources.

Mark Lewis, CEO of RetourMatras, says,  “We are proud to announce the expansion of our advanced mattress recycling system to France. This milestone enables us to significantly increase our recycling capacity. We remain committed to supporting additional locations and countries as we continue to contribute to a more sustainable future across Europe.”

IKEA is collaborating with stakeholders, including government policy makers, to prioritise recycling over incineration to grow mattress recycling capacity across the EU.

“What would help us go further is if legislation was stronger at prioritizing recycling over incineration and landfilling, for example, by ensuring that Extended Producer Responsibility schemes were resulting in higher recycling rates. We also welcome eco-design regulations to encourage the demand for these recycled materials, and we are actively collaborating with relevant authorities and other stakeholders to address these issues,” adds Peter van der Poel.