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Barely five months after the German Bundesrat passed a resolution calling for a ‘genuine circular economy for mattresses’, the media are presenting an innovative solution: in the current issue of Handelsblatt dated 1 October 2025, the circular economy supplement presents for the first time the circular model developed by the Swiss company SWISSFEEL for the hotel industry.

The Handelsblatt explains: ‘A Swiss company is already implementing a circular solution for mattresses in the hotel industry, while other places are still searching for one.’

The Zurich-based company, which also has offices in Germany and Austria, is a manufacturer that has positioned itself disruptively because it has embraced the circular economy from the outset. While competitors work in a classic linear fashion – produce, sell, forget – SWISSFEEL offers a double cycle: hoteliers have the choice between purchasing or financing, similar to hotel rental linen; SWISSFEEL-2-CYCLE then ensures that mattresses are sanitised to significantly extend their service life.

At its core is a fully washable mattress with an accompanying laundry service. This eliminates the need for the usual replacement after five to eight years. Mattresses that can remain in use for 15 to 20 years thanks to their quality and care can reach their full potential. Several hotels have already successfully tested this in practice, such as the Hof Weissbad resort in Appenzellerland. ‘Initially, a slightly higher investment in quality and durability is required,’ explains Philipp Hangartner, owner of SWISSFEEL. ‘But our customers, who think in terms of “total cost of ownership”, have understood that this saves them a lot of money in the long run. Washing is cheaper than buying, and a SWISSFEEL mattress replaces up to three conventional, non-washable mattresses.’

In the second cycle, SWISSFEEL offers free collection at the end of the physical service life; the mattresses are upcycled or the production foam is recycled. This closes the circular loop.

SWISSFEEL mattresses, positioned in the premium segment, combine quality, comfort and sustainability: scientifically proven, they can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 77 per cent. ‘Luxury, sustainability and cost-effectiveness are therefore not mutually exclusive,’ emphasises Philipp Hangartner. ‘However, this requires a change in thinking, which many in the industry still find difficult. But even politicians have understood that the old, linear solution no longer has a future, and we therefore expressly welcome the fact that the circular economy is now also gaining momentum for mattresses.’

The Handelsblatt supplement sums it up clearly: ‘Circular beats disposable. Because throwing things away is a thing of the past.’ SWISSFEEL invites industry representatives, hoteliers and decision-makers to examine and implement this model as a new paradigm for the hotel bedding industry – because a truly circular solution is no longer a vision, but a market reality.