Remat II
Healthcare mattresses are essential for patient comfort and recovery but pose major environmental and functional challenges. In the Netherlands, around 400,000 mattresses are currently in use in the healthcare sector, with this number expected to double due to an aging population. Most mattresses consist of complex material combinations, making recycling difficult and leading to incineration. At the same time, current designs often fail to properly regulate heat and moisture, which can negatively affect comfort, sleep quality, and even contribute to medical issues like pressure ulcers.
The ReMat II project (“Reinforcing Circular and Functional Mattress Implementation in the Public Cure and Care Sector”) addresses these challenges by developing a new generation of circular and high-performance healthcare mattresses. A key innovation is the use of mono-material designs, which simplify recycling while improving usability and patient comfort.
Building on the earlier RAAK MKB ReMat project, ReMat II focuses on real-world implementation and validation. The project includes full-scale prototype development, shorter supply chains, and testing in healthcare environments with both patients and professionals. It integrates circular design principles such as eco-design, life cycle assessment, recyclability, and a safe-by-design approach.
The project is carried out by a broad consortium including Saxion and TU Delft, healthcare organizations (MST Hospital, De Twentse Zorgcentra, De Zorgfederatie Oldenzaal), industry partners (Deron BV, Klieverik Heli BV, Matras Recycling Europe, Permess BV, Schmits Chemical Solutions), and public partners (DCW, Municipality of Enschede).
ReMat II demonstrates how circular economy principles can be applied in healthcare to improve both sustainability and patient well-being. The project contact is Dr. Pramod Agrawal.
