Chicago Mattress Company

What Chicago Mattress Company does

Chicago Mattress Company, operating as North American Mattress Upcycling (NAMU), is a Chicago-headquartered, privately held industrial services and light-manufacturing business founded in 1996. The company deconstructs discarded commercial and institutional mattresses and box springs to extract reusable components — steel coils, wood frames, polyurethane, latex, and memory foam — which are reintroduced into new mattress production, while non-reusable materials (shoddy felt, cotton, organic fibers) are routed to recycling streams. NAMU also operates the Varsity Green sub-brand, which manufactures and sells upcycled 9-inch collegiate dormitory mattresses (Innerspring and Densified Fiber variants) backed by a 6-year non-prorated warranty.

The core technology is a physical deconstruction and material-sortation process rather than a software or AI platform. NAMU's differentiators include a 90%+ landfill diversion rate, integrated trailer-based removal logistics, SASB-aligned sustainability reporting for institutional buyers, and upcycled mattresses that are 50% thicker than standard dormitory products at lower cost. The partner ecosystem spans manufacturing and recycling providers across North America, forming a circular-economy supply chain.

The business model is service-based and product-based: revenue derives from per-trailer mattress removal and upcycling services billed to institutional customers (colleges, universities, hotels, retailers), plus unit sales of Varsity Green collegiate mattresses on multi-year contracts. Distribution is direct-to-institution: customers schedule a NAMU trailer drop-off and receive integrated removal, transport, manufacture, delivery, and installation. Marketing is lean — primarily the company's website and direct contact channels — relying on institutional relationships and partner referrals rather than broad demand generation. The company is bootstrapped, founder-controlled, and operates with a small team of approximately ten employees.

Name

Chicago Mattress Company

Legal name

North American Mattress Upcycling

Website

https://namupcycle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chicago Mattress Company (NAMU) deconstructs discarded commercial and institutional mattresses to recover and reuse components, while manufacturing upcycled collegiate mattresses under the Varsity Green brand for direct sale and replacement contracts to universities, colleges, and retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Mattress Manufacturing

NAICS

Mattress Manufacturing (33791)

SIC

Household Furniture (2510)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Waste Transfer (Tires, Mattresses, Appliances) (BPALABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mattress & Pillow Components Manufacturing (Ticking/Pillow Shells/Protectors) (IMAOAKAE)

Keywords

• Mattress upcycling services
• Mattress deconstruction
• Institutional bedding disposal
• Dormitory mattress manufacturing
• Mattress component recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mattress Removal and Upcycling Services: Service-based revenue from mattress removal and upcycling for institutional customers. NAMU harvests value from discarded bedding, making the cost of removal less than alternative services in most cases.
2. Mattress and Box Spring Component Sales: Sales of recovered high-quality components (steel coils, wood frames, foam materials) to manufacturers for use in new mattress production.
3. Varsity Green Collegiate Mattresses: Sale of manufactured upcycled dormitory mattresses to colleges and universities. Products backed by 6-year non-prorated warranty.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Chicago Mattress Company, operating as North American Mattress Upcycling (NAMU), deconstructs discarded commercial and institutional mattresses and box springs to extract and process reusable components (steel coils, wood frames, polyurethane, latex, memory foam) for reuse in new mattresses. The company operates an integrated removal, transport, manufacturing, and delivery system via NAMU trailers, and produces the Varsity Green line of upcycled collegiate dormitory mattresses.

Product overview

North American Mattress Upcycling (NAMU) operates as an eco-friendly mattress disposal and upcycling service. The core offering is a zero-waste mattress deconstruction process that harvests reusable materials from discarded mattresses and box springs, diverting over 90% from landfills. The company offers a portfolio including the Varsity Green sub-brand for collegiate dormitory mattresses (featuring Collegiate 9" Innerspring and Densified Fiber product lines in Tape Edged and Inverted Seam Zipper Cover variants), all backed by a 6-year non-prorated warranty. The integrated system combines removal, transport, manufacture, delivery, and installation services for institutional customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Varsity Green: Sustainable dormitory mattress solution offering integrated removal and replacement of collegiate bedding, producing 9-inch thick upcycled mattresses at lower cost with 90% of materials saved from landfills.

Products and services

• Varsity Green Collegiate Mattresses Sustainable dormitory mattress line under the Varsity Green sub-brand, sold to colleges and universities. The line includes 9-inch innerspring and densified fiber variants offered in tape-edged and inverted seam zipper cover constructions. Products are 50% thicker than standard dormitory mattresses and are backed by a 6-year non-prorated warranty.
• Mattress Upcycling Services (NAMU) Core service deconstructing discarded mattresses and box springs to identify, inspect, and process components to meet health and safety standards so they can be reused in new mattresses. Non-reusable components (shoddy felt, cotton, organic fibers) are separated and recycled. Service includes NAMU trailer drop-off at customer locations, transportation, and a unique SASB-framework sustainability report. Diverts 90%+ of materials from landfills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ of mattress and box spring materials diverted from landfills
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Varsity GreencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing partner providing holistic dormitory mattress solutions. Varsity Green is an integral part of NAMU's system, offering integrated removal and replacement of dormitory mattresses with state-of-the-art manufacture and 6-year warranty.
• Manufacturing and Recycling Partners (General)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam of manufacturing and recycling partners who recognize NAMU as a dependable source of high-quality mattress and box spring components, and consistent flow of recyclable materials. Part of circular economy ecosystem.
• Choice Hotels CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNAMU is a proud qualified vendor for Choice Hotels Canada, providing mattress upcycling and disposal services to their properties.
• SCAWminorOthersNAMU is a proud supporter of SCAW (organization details not specified in source).
• World Effort FoundationminorOthersNAMU is a proud supporter of World Effort Foundation, a charitable organization.
• Good 360minorOthersNAMU is a proud supporter of Good 360, a nonprofit organization focused on product philanthropy.
• Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB)minorOthersNAMU uses the SASB framework for sustainability reporting, providing transparent environmental impact data to customers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Spring Back Recycling: Mattress recycling company that deconstructs used mattresses to recover components for reuse. Directly comparable to NAMU's upcycling and component recovery process.
• Eclipse International: Manufacturer of mattresses for the hospitality and institutional segments, including dormitories. Comparable to NAMU/Varsity Green in institutional mattress manufacturing and B2B sales motion.
• Southerland Bedding: Manufacturer of mattresses for hospitality, institutional, and OEM customers, including dormitory-style products. Comparable to NAMU's Varsity Green collegiate mattress line in target customer and product offering.
• Mattress Recycling Council: Non-profit organization that operates mattress recycling programs funded by EPR fees in multiple US states. Most directly comparable to NAMU's mattress recycling/upcycling service model and institutional customer base.
• American Bedding: Commercial and institutional mattress manufacturer serving hotels, dormitories, and similar institutional buyers. Comparable to NAMU's Varsity Green collegiate mattress business in target customer and product format.

Emerging players

• Brentwood Home: Direct-to-consumer sustainable mattress brand that incorporates recycled and certified materials. Comparable as a sustainability-positioned mattress maker, though serving consumer rather than institutional customers.
• Avocado Green Mattress: Certified organic and sustainable mattress brand with strong environmental positioning. Comparable as a sustainability-led mattress brand, though operating in DTC rather than the institutional channel.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management Inc. Largest North American waste management company, handling bulk and special waste streams including mattresses. Comparable as a scaled institutional waste services provider, though mattress upcycling is not a core specialty.
• Republic Services: Large publicly traded waste management company that handles bulk waste including mattresses in some markets. Comparable as an institutional-scale waste handling incumbent, though mattresses are a small share of a much broader services portfolio.
• Tempur Sealy International: Largest global mattress manufacturer across consumer and institutional channels. Comparable as a broad mattress industry incumbent that NAMU's component supply business serves as a potential B2B customer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-american-mattress-upcycling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Mattress Company