Cascade Alliance

Why the Bed-In-A-Box Trend Isn’t as Comfortable as You’d Think

You’ve seen the commercials for the bed in a box come across your TV.  Or maybe you scroll through Instagram and an ad for Casper or Nectar mattresses appears on your feed.  Their content is visually appealing, the mattresses look incredibly comfortable, it can be shipped right to your home, and they market themselves as budget friendly as you don’t need to buy a boxspring– but did you know that traditional mattresses and box springs are more environmentally friendly?

According to an article published on MYNorthwest, the materials in the traditional mattress are easier to recycle.  The Cascade Alliance also participates in mattress recycling along with some of our members like The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, UTEC, and Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises.  Traditional mattresses can last for 12-15 years, while foam mattresses last only a couple years.  The cause of the long life of a traditional mattress is that it can be flipped and rotated – extending the length of use.  Most people that end up buying foam mattresses only keep their mattress for a few years before dumping it in the landfill.

The next time you’re shopping for a mattress, think about the environmental impacts and be sure to locate your closest mattress recycling facility where you can dispose of your old one!

*Pictured above is a memory foam mattress, an example of the typical “bed-in-a-box” mattresses.