European Bedding Industries Association
EBIA
The objective of the Association is to deal with all questions with which the bedding industries in Europe are confronted.
ID: 422791133712-60
Lobbying Activity
Response to Ecodesign for Sustainable Products - Product priorities
11 May 2023
EBIA supports the objectives of ESPR and is actively developing a programme of work on ecodesign to take a leadership role on this subject. Although research on ecodesign has been initiated by the existing 3 EPR schemes, currently there is a level of mismatch in the approach and supporting data. EBIA, as the industry association representing members from across Member States and with expertise across the value chain, is in pole position to coordinate and advance these efforts. EBIA also wishes to emphasis the importance of aligning potential ESPR measures and ecodesign requirements with EPR requirements under the WFD. EBIA has been proactively facilitating discussions on EPR across the membership. In 2021, EBIA commissioned a project to produce a blueprint for mattress EPR in Europe with the aim of guiding EPR discussions at national and EU level. EBIA recognises that waste mattress collection and management is a key environmental concern and a bottleneck to realising the full benefit of ecodesign. EBIAs technical committee, with hands-on experience in manufacturing, collection and recycling welcomes outreach for collaboration from the JRC and the Commission. EBIA recognises the need to define and promote eco-design for bed mattresses. Our overarching aim for submitting the supporting evidence to the public consultation is to ensure that: The evaluation of new product priorities is updated based on accurate data and considers the significant variations in market characteristics, consumer preferences, and local waste management infrastructure. The ESPR approach reflects that stakeholders across the value chain share the responsibility in mitigating the environmental concerns, and ESPR measures cannot be prescribed to bed mattress manufacturers alone.
Read full responseResponse to Sustainable Products Initiative
16 Nov 2020
The European Bedding Industry welcomes the EU Product Policy Initiative and thanks the Commission for the opportunity to contribute.
At the EU-28 level, 520 million mattresses are currently in-use and the stock is growing by 4.5 million units per year. 45.1 million new mattresses are sold annually, and 40.6 million units are disposed of annually. On average, 9 out of 10 units sold are to replace a used mattress. The in-use stock of mattresses in EU-28 is expanding at a rate of 4.5 million units per year.
With these numbers in mind, the European bedding manufacturers and their suppliers are fully committed to the principles and objectives of the circular economy and are promoting the idea of circular business models.
Read full response