Each year on Earth Day (April 22), many of us pause to reflect on what sustainability looks like in real terms—beyond good intentions.
Take the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC). Formed by the International Sleep Products Association, MRC exists for a clear purpose: to design and operate statewide mattress recycling programs that are effective, transparent, and scalable. Over the past decade, more than 17 million mattresses and foundations have been recycled, and more than 650 million pounds of material have been kept out of landfills across programs in Connecticut, California, Rhode Island, and Oregon.
MRC proves something important about our industry: When we align around a shared goal and a fair framework, we can build solutions that work for consumers, communities, and businesses across our value chain. Through the Bye Bye Mattress® program and MRC’s statewide networks, mattress recycling has become more accessible and more consistent, supporting a level playing field for producers and retailers and helping circularity practices become the norm—not the exception.
Yet Earth Day also reminds us that sustainability is broader than any one program. It touches how we design products, source materials, operate manufacturing facilities, move goods, communicate with consumers, and plan for what comes next. That’s why ISPA has strengthened its sustainability focus in recent years—offering resources and convening opportunities that help members navigate a fast-evolving landscape.
In 2022, ISPA launched a formal sustainability initiative and established the ISPA Sustainability Committee, supporting our members through:
- Collaboration and education, so companies can learn from one another and from experts outside our industry.
- Shared language and clarity, because progress is harder when we aren’t using the same definitions and metrics.
- Practical tools and programming, focused on what companies can implement.
A cornerstone of our efforts is the ISPA Sustainability Conference. We built it to be practical, candid, and highly relevant to the real-world decisions our companies are making—with a clear emphasis on implementable takeaways. Sessions cover practical strategies for advancing circularity, navigating policy, strengthening sustainability communications, and turning industry challenges into business opportunities. Looking ahead, the ISPA Sustainability Conference returns to Charlotte, North Carolina, Sept. 23–24, 2026.
As president of both ISPA and MRC, I’m especially proud that this work reflects what ISPA is here to do: represent and support our members through credible leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration. ISPA is the voice of the mattress industry®, and that responsibility includes helping our industry engage thoughtfully and constructively on sustainability—today and in the years ahead.
Earth Day is a single day, but the work behind it continues year-round. Thank you for the role you play in strengthening our industry and advancing programs and practices that are built to last. We have a lot to be proud of—and even more to do together.
Alison Keane • President
