Imagine piling up more than 900 Mount Everests of discarded mattresses. This is our reality every year within the EU alone, and the majority of mattresses end up in landfills across the continent. The multi-billion-dollar mattress industry needs a change, and Smart Materials’ Auxetic polyurethane foam is the answer to the challenges facing the bedding industry. In this blog we’ll jump into the mattress industry and highlight the difficulties and how auxetic foam can address them.
The Market
The global mattress market displayed a value of $50.61 billion in 2022 and is poised for substantial growth, projecting a rise to $52.45 billion in 2023 and a striking $78.34 billion by 2030. This growth is indicative of a notable 5.90% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) expected during the forecast period.
What’s contributing to this growth? It’s not just about a good night’s sleep; it’s about luxury and customization. Consumers worldwide are increasingly perceiving mattresses as more than mere consumer durables; they view them as a reflection of social status. At a macroeconomic level, the expansion of domestic mattress manufacturers offering unique and innovative products is drawing consumers to various distribution channels globally. The industry is further fuelled by the success of recent product launches, promising a significant boost in sales volumes in the years to come.
The Challenges
The mattress industry is confronted by a series of significant challenges. Foremost among these is the increasing cost pressure, which permeates various aspects of the business. Notably, there is a trend towards lower-density PU foam production due to these cost pressures. Balancing design-to-cost principles with environmental considerations, such as recycling and circular economy impacts the overall cost structure. Production facilities must navigate more stringent regulations on use of harmful chemicals imposed by authorities, while prices of raw materials, labour, and energy continue to climb.
In addition to these challenges, the current mattresses on the market often fall short in catering to the distinct needs of two individuals sharing the same mattress. This presents a considerable ergonomic and comfort dilemma, further complicating an already intricate industry landscape. Encapsulating all this is the fact that without any real disruptive innovation since viscoelastic foam, it has become difficult to find any differentiation between products, thus hindering the industry’s ability to meet diverse consumer needs effectively. The recent successes have come by addressing the consumer experience of purchasing and receiving the mattress.
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