Why Bonami mannequins are truly 100% recyclable
- Mar 11
- 3 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
Sustainability has become one of the most talked-about topics in retail. Walk through any trade fair and you will see mannequins labelled as eco-friendly, bio-based or sustainable. But how many of them are actually, genuinely recyclable once they reach the end of their life?
At Bonami, we asked ourselves the same question — and we were not satisfied with the answer we found in the market. That is why we designed our mannequins differently, from the ground up.
The problem with most "sustainable" mannequins
The retail industry has good intentions, but sustainability claims are often not backed by recyclable reality. Here is what we see most often:
Bio-resin mannequins are frequently marketed as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fibreglass. While the material itself may have a lower carbon footprint during production, bio-resin mannequins are typically not recyclable as a complete product. That means they still end up as waste at the end of their lifecycle.
Paper and cardboard mannequins look sustainable at first glance — and in theory, paper is recyclable. The problem lies in the construction: internal metal systems are permanently glued inside the body of the mannequin. To recycle the paper, those metal parts first need to be cut out and removed. That process requires extra labour, extra time and extra cost. In practice, almost nobody does it. The mannequin ends up in the bin.
Add to that the fact that paper and cardboard are vulnerable to moisture — a real issue in retail environments where floors are regularly mopped and humidity levels fluctuate — and the lifespan of these mannequins is often disappointingly short.
How Bonami designed 100% recyclable mannequins — from the ground up
At Bonami, we approached recyclability as a design challenge, not an afterthought.
The key difference: all internal systems in our mannequins can be easily removed. There is no permanent gluing, no complex dismantling process. When a mannequin reaches the end of its life, the internal components can be taken out quickly and reused, while the mannequin body itself goes straight to recycling.
No cutting. No extra tools. No reason to skip the process.
This is what makes it genuinely circular — not just on paper, but in practice, in the real world, in a real retail environment.
Curious to see this in action? Explore our sustainable mannequin collection and discover the full Future range.
Colour in the material, not on the surface
There is a second reason why our mannequins are easier to recycle than most: we do not use paint.
Traditional mannequins are spray-painted. Over time, that paint chips and peels — not a great look on the shop floor. More importantly, paint must be removed through sandblasting before the mannequin can be recycled. Many manufacturers also apply additional layers of filler material beneath the paint to create a smooth surface, making the product even harder to process at end of life.
Our approach is different. At Bonami, colour is integrated directly into the material itself. That means:
No paint to remove before recycling
No chipping or peeling — ever
If the mannequin gets a scratch, it can be buffed out easily with sandpaper
The colour stays consistent and beautiful for years, even in demanding retail conditions
This is not just better for the environment. It is also better for the retailer. Fewer damaged mannequins. Lower replacement costs. A consistently professional look in your store.
Sustainability that starts at the drawing board
Real sustainability is not about choosing one greener material and calling it done. It is about thinking through the entire lifecycle of a product — how it is made, how it performs, and crucially, what happens when it is no longer needed.
By designing mannequins with removable internal systems and colour integrated into the material, we have created a product that is sustainable from the first day in your store to the last.
Our female mannequins, male mannequins and sustainable hangers in the Future range all follow this same principle.
Honest manufacturing, not marketing
The retail industry deserves better than greenwashing. That is why we choose transparency over trend-chasing. We can say our mannequins are 100% recyclable because we designed them to be — not because it is a good story to tell.
If you are looking for display mannequins that genuinely align with your sustainability commitments, we would love to show you what is possible.
Discover our sustainable mannequin collection or contact us to discuss your specific needs.
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