Making a valuable contribution to the environment through mattress recycling

The sustainability of SIMALFA^® adhesive technology has always set the highest benchmark

Recycling and sustainability have long been more than simply buzzwords. They are a key concern in a changing world. This makes it all the more important for ALFA Klebstoffe AG to have set a milestone in sustainable adhesive technology with its water-based adhesive SIMALFA^®, which it did back in the 1990s. Since then, our innovative adhesives have revolutionised the mattress industry and today they play a key role in ensuring that the latest adhesive innovation enables eco-friendly disposal and extensive recycling of foam mattresses.

A Trailblazer in Sustainability

SIMALFA^® has changed the way mattress manufacturers bond PU foams. The innovative idea of a water-based adhesive was first developed by our company founder, Emil Simmler, in the 1990s. Since then, our Swiss company has forged head in developing its eco-friendly and sustainable SIMALFA® technology, laying the groundwork for more effective foam bonding methods that have paved the way for greater sustainability in the mattress industry.

The Adhesive Secret behind Successful Recycling in the Mattress Industry

A key aspect of recycling foam mattresses is the perfect separation of the various foam layers. Thanks to SIMALFA®’s unique bonding technology, mattresses that bonded using our water-based adhesive can be returned to the raw materials cycle through a process known as debonding. This process not only enables the mattresses to be recycled but also upcycled, where 90% of the polyol raw material can be recovered. This recycled polyol raw material has an even higher viscosity than the original material, improving the quality of materials and enabling a closed raw-material cycle.

Environmental Protection as a Trademark

Through its SIMALFA^® technology and corresponding debonding process, ALFA Klebstoffe AG is setting new benchmarks in the field of recycling and environmental protection. The C02 footprint of mattress production is thereby minimised and the raw material chain can be closed. This contribution to sustainability is one of the company’s unique selling points, showcasing that environmentally conscious action and economic success are not diametrically opposed but can work hand in hand.

The Future of Sustainability and Recycling

The demand for eco-friendly and recyclable products is growing continuously. Market leaders in the mattress industry are setting ambitious goals and striving to conserve resources through their products. Through its patented adhesive technology, our company is making a valuable contribution to environmental protection and is showing the world that sustainable innovations and recycling are not futuristic dreams. ALFA Klebstoffe AG is aware of these trends and is already doing research work into the further development of its products, also with the goal of serving other industries, such as the furniture or automotive sectors. ALFA Klebstoffe AG is, and remains, a key trailblazer not only in its own sector but in other industries, too, setting the bar for environmentally conscious production and recycling.

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