Over 1,000 mattresses upcycled weekly by award winning Longford business Cirtex
Over 1,000 mattresses are being upcycled every week by Longford Circular Economy Business – CIRTEX diverting textile waste from landfill and incineration.
Longford based innovative circular economy business and CIRCULÉIRE member CIRTEX welcomed Minister of State with responsibility for the Circular Economy Ossian Smyth to its plant to demonstrate the Circular business model that transforms used mattresses into upcycled components for the mattress, furniture and building insulation sectors.
In Ireland, there are an estimated 500,000 used mattresses sent for incineration every year.
CIRTEX, (co-founded by Rick Earley and David Garland) were the successful recipients of grant funding through the 2022 CIRCULÉIRE Innovation Fund call.
This funding from The Department of Environment Climate and Communications enabled CIRTEX to conduct new product development aimed at preventing the incineration of the estimated 500,000 mattresses discarded every year.
The outcome is the creation of a product range that uses previously unrecycled materials from the discarded mattress to make new products, which in turn can be upcycled multiple times.
The innovative upcycled products created by this project makes CIRTEX Irelands only upcycling textile company of its kind, meeting all regulatory and industry standards, with the capability to upcycle soft cushioning material, foam, fibre, shoddy, and coverings which were previously either incinerated or landfilled.
CIRTEX also won the National Enterprise Green Sustainability Award.
“This was a great example of the power of partnership,” says co-founder, MD David Garland.
CAPTION: Pat Walsh (Tipperary County Council), David Garland (MD CIRTEX), Minister of State with responsibility for the Circular Economy Ossian Smyth, Rick Earley (CEO CIRTEX), Micheál Clifford (Textile Recycling Ltd), Lee Clifford (Textile Recycling Ltd) and Gordon Naughton (Founder CEO Tactive)
Speaking on the potential to scale this business, CIRTEX co-founder and CEO Rick Earley commented, “Through the Demonstration Project, CIRTEX has developed a green business model, proving that sustainability practices are more effective and efficient and make good business sense while helping to improve the state of our planet.
“Our experience combined with our innovative unique processes make us Ireland’s only upcycling textile manufacturer. We are proud that after just two years of operation, over 250,000 people are sleeping on mattresses with CIRTEX products. As we scale, we have the potential and capability to divert up to 10,000 tonnes of waste mattresses from landfill and incineration, reducing Ireland's carbon footprint and conserving natural resources. But accessing a sustainable supply of these thousands of discarded mattresses is crucial for us to sustain this circular mode.”
Speaking on the impacts of this pilot, Dr Geraldine Brennan Head of Circular Economy Irish Manufacturing Research and CIRCULÉIRE Project Lead said: “The CIRTEX upcycled Insulation project demo project has successfully validated the company's technology, business model, and market potential. With its strong financials, growing customer base, and sustainable practices, CIRTEX is well-positioned to scale up operations and become a leading provider of recycled components for the mattress and furniture industries. The company's contributions to the circular economy are demonstrable and its scaling up will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the environment and the Irish economy.”
Commenting on his visit Minister Smyth remarked, “As Minister for Circular Economy, it is great to see that CIRTEX is putting the material from discarded mattresses to good use, making new products from old and keeping valuable materials out of the waste stream.”