Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is no longer limited to packaging only. While many online retailers are already familiar with EPR obligations for packaging, other product categories are now also moving into the focus of European legislation. One of these is furniture and mattresses.
So, what exactly are the EPR regulations for furniture and mattresses in Europe? Currently, only three countries have active regulations for these products, but the trend is steadily rising. Here’s what this means for your business and the steps you should take.
Content:
- Introduction: Why EPR Also Applies to Furniture and Mattresses
- Where Does EPR Apply to Furniture & Mattresses?
- How to Ensure EPR Compliance
- Special Case: WEEE for Furniture with Electronic Components
- What Happens if You’re Non-Compliant?
- Conclusion: Stay Compliant, Stay Ahead
- FAQ: EPR for Furniture & Mattresses in Europe
Introduction: Why EPR Also Applies to Furniture and Mattresses
What is EPR?
Extended Producer Responsibility follows a simple principle: those who place products on the market are also responsible for their entire life cycle, including disposal and recycling. In practice, this means that manufacturers must contribute to the costs of collecting, sorting and recycling their products.
Why do furniture and mattresses fall under EPR?
The numbers speak volumes: every year, Europe generates millions of tons of furniture and mattress waste. any of these products still end up in landfills or incinerators, even though many of the materials used – from wood and metal to textiles – are perfectly recyclable (source: European Environmental Bureau).
That’s why some EU countries are rolling out EPR programs for these items to:
- Boost recycling rates
- Reduce landfill waste
- Support the circular economy
- Encourage manufacturers to design sustainable products
Who Is Affected by EPR for Furniture and Mattresses?
The EPR obligations affect all companies who are the first to place furniture or mattresses on the national markets in Belgium, France or Hungary. This includes:
- Local manufacturers or manufacturers selling to these countries
- Importers bringing goods from countries outside of the EU
- Online retailers selling directly to consumers
- Marketplace vendors on platforms like Amazon
- In some cases, B2B suppliers
Important: Distance selling counts too. For example, if you are a Dutch company selling mattresses online to Belgian private customers, you will be subject to EPR obligations in Belgium.
Where Does EPR Apply to Furniture & Mattresses?
France: A Pioneer
France was the first European country to implement comprehensive furniture EPR. Sellers must register with ecomaison.
Products concerned in France:
- All types of furniture (seating, tables, wardrobes, beds)
- Mattresses and mattress toppers
- Bedding and pillows
- Garden furniture
- Decorative textiles
Your key obligations:
- Register with ecomaison
- Report quantities quarterly, or annually if you sell under 15 tons per year (small-producer rule)
- Pay EPR fees (€0.60–€330 per 10-unit batch, depending on product)
- Label with the Triman logo and sorting instructions
- Submit a five-year eco-design plan or join a sector-wide plan
Online-seller note: Anyone wishing to sell in France must register their EPR number (IDU) with marketplaces such as Amazon. In addition, the recycling fees (“eco-participation fee”) must be shown transparently on the website and on all invoices for customers.
Hungary: Wooden-Furniture EPR Since 2023
Hungary has completely revised its EPR system. Since 2023, it also includes wooden furniture. As in France, EPR obligations apply from the very first piece of furniture sold.
Important obligations in Hungary:
- Appoint a local representative in Hungary to:
- Register with the environment authority
- Sign with the national take-back system
- File quarterly quantity reports
- Pay 17 Forint (~€0.042) per kg of wooden furniture
See our video on how to find an EPR representative
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Belgium: Mattress EPR Since 2021
Belgium has introduced a separate EPR for mattresses. A national EPR system for mattresses has been active since January 1, 2021. Anyone placing mattresses on the Belgian market for the first time must register.
Key obligations:
- Register for the Belgian EPR system for mattresses, starting from one sold mattress
- Annual quantity reporting
- EPR fees (2025 rates): €4.25 (kids’ mattresses), €8.50 (≤120 cm), €17 (over 120 cm), all including VAT
- Retrospective registration: Those selling since 2021 but registering later owe fees retroactive to their first sale after 1 January 2021.
- Information responsibility: Sellers must inform customers (online and offline) about return and recycling.
Notes:
- Anyone who sells mattress covers or cores separately – so not entire mattresses, but their components – is not subject to the EPR.
- Sofa beds count only if the mattress can be removed.
- Manufacturers are entitled to compensation of €600/tonne for discarded mattresses that they collect from their customers. However, in this case customers are not entitled to compensation.
Are you an online seller and need support with EPR for furniture and mattresses in Europe? In our consulting service, we offer detailed instructions on what exactly you need to do in which country to be compliant.
Outlook: More Countries Joining In
EPR for furniture and mattresses is spreading in Europe. In Portugal, for instance, Decree-Law No. 24/2024 (Article 87) specifies that from end of 2025, manufacturers must arrange environmentally sound collection and disposal of these items. By 2026, at least 25% of sold goods must be collected; this needs to reach 40% by 2030.
How to Ensure EPR Compliance
Step 1: Register with the Right System
- France: ecomaison
- Hungary: via your local representative –> takes over registration with environmental authority + take-back system
- Belgium: mattress EPR system
Registration must take place before you sell your first products in the respective country. Subsequent registration is usually possible, but often leads to retroactive fees.
Step 2: Report Quantities & Manage Data
- France: >15 t/year = quarterly; <15 t/year = annually
- Hungary: quarterly
- Belgium: annually
Important: You must provide precise data on quantities sold, product categories and, in some cases, material compositions. Structured data management is therefore essential.
Step 3: Calculate & Pay Fees
- France: tiered fees depending on products (€0.50–€330 per 10 units)
- Hungary: 17 HUF/kg
- Belgium: flat mattress rate (€4.25–€17)
Include these costs in your calculations. You are generally allowed to pass them on to the end customer. After receiving the invoice from the respective system (or compliance officer), you settle your debts. Voilà – you have successfully fulfilled your EPR obligation.
Don’t Forget Labelling & Consumer Info!
- France: Triman logo with sorting instructions on the product, packaging or accompanying documents
- Belgium: Information about take-back options in sales outlets and online stores
- Hungary: No special labeling requirements for furniture and mattresses to date
Special Case: WEEE for Furniture with Electronic Components
Furniture with embedded electronics, such as LED lighting, electric motors, or Wi‑Fi, poses a particular challenge. It may require dual registration: both for furniture EPR and WEEE compliance.
When do both regulations apply?
WEEE for furniture comes into effect for the following products:
- Height-adjustable desks with motors
- Illuminated furniture
- Electronic massage chairs
- Smart-home furniture/mattresses
- Refrigerated furniture
What does this mean for online retailers?
For such products, you may have to register for both the furniture EPR and WEEE in France and Belgium.
The fees are incurred twice and you must fulfill both reporting obligations. Our recommendation: Check whether there is a double obligation when selecting your products and factor in the additional compliance costs.
What Happens if You’re Non-Compliant?
Legal penalties
Non-compliance with EPR obligations may result in penalties:
France: Companies pay up to €7,500 per ton or unit and daily penalty payments totaling up to €20,000 until compliance is achieved.
Hungary: A surcharge of 50% of the EPR fee applies for late or missing quantity reports. Late payments are subject to the central bank prime rate plus 8% interest.
Belgium: The EPR system reports companies that are not compliant to the regional authorities, which can then impose fines.
Platform risk for online marketplaces
Particularly critical for online retailers: Amazon, eBay and other marketplaces are increasingly demanding proof of EPR compliance. If you are unable to provide the relevant registration numbers, you may be at risk of:
- Listing removals
- Withholding of revenue
- Complete account suspension
Warnings under competition law
Competitors can also use EPR violations for competition law warnings. This is because retailers who are not compliant gain an unfair cost advantage as they do not pay the EPR fees.
Tired of time-consuming compliance processes?
Sit back and stop worrying about your EPR compliance: with our premium EPR service, we take care of all registrations and quantity notifications for you and ensure that you act in compliance with the law. Tailored to your needs, in individual countries or throughout Europe.
Conclusion: Stay Compliant, Stay Ahead
EPR for furniture and mattresses in Europe is no longer a future scenario. It is already being implemented in three countries and is expected to spread further. For online retailers, this means:
What currently only applies in France, Hungary and Belgium could become standard across the EU in the future. The European Commission is working on harmonizing the EPR systems, which could lead to more uniform regulations in the long term. Other product categories, such as textiles, are also on the agenda of various EU countries.
Compliance is becoming a competitive factor
Companies that become EPR-compliant at an early stage gain an advantage:
- No surprises during marketplace inspections
- Predictable costs, no punitive hits later
- Clean market positioning vis-à-vis customers and competitors
ecosistant as your EPR compliance partner
The complexity of the various national EPR systems makes it difficult for sellers to keep track of everything. ecosistant supports you in becoming and remaining EPR compliant. From initial registration to ongoing quantity reporting.
We take care of:
- WEEE registrations in all relevant EPR systems
- Ongoing volume reporting and data management
- Advice on product-specific issues
- Monitoring of new EPR developments in Europe
- Support with EPR for packaging and textiles
Do you sell furniture or mattresses in Europe? Contact us with your questions.
FAQ: EPR for Furniture & Mattresses in Europe
Yes, there are currently no plans for a single EU-wide EPR registration. You must register individually with the responsible organization in each country.
This varies across the EU: in Belgium, Hungary and France, however, it applies from the first product. The decisive factor is that you are considered the producer.
Yes, as a rule, EPR fees can and should be passed on to the end customer. In France, they even have to be shown separately as an “eco-participation fee” in the online store and on the invoice.
If you ship mattresses from the UK to France, you must comply with French EPR. Relevant is where you sell, not where you’re based.
EPR obligations also apply in part to B2B sales. This varies from case to case and depends, for example, on the instances and roles in the supply chain. Sales for resale are usually exempt.
This varies from country to country: France quarterly or annually (depending on whether you sell over or under 15 tons per year), Hungary quarterly, Belgium annually. The reporting deadlines must be strictly adhered to.
In Hungary, yes. France and Belgium allow direct registration. If you sell to different countries and have a large product portfolio, we recommend working with an experienced compliance partner.
In Portugal, manufacturers of furniture and mattresses are responsible for taking back old products and disposing of them in an environmentally friendly manner starting towards the end of 2025, in accordance with Decree Law No. 24/2024, Article 87. Starting 2026, they are to take back at least 25% of the furniture and mattresses they sell, and 40% by 2030.
Questions about EPR compliance for furniture and mattresses? Contact our EPR experts for individual advice. We will help you implement all the necessary steps in a timely and cost-efficient manner.