The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certifies mattresses that are made of at least 70 percent organic natural materials and that they contain no flame retardants, phthalates, or other chemicals of concern. The Global Organic Latex Standard requires latex to be at least 95 percent organic; it also sets limits on harmful chemicals. The Internet was full of tips on how to cook organic food and where to buy organic cotton clothes. However, when it came to buying a mattress for the crib, Mrs.
Ngo-Rayman, a teacher at the Manhattan School of the Future, was lost. Ultimately, buying an organic mattress will depend on your individual needs, as well as your budget and what you want from your bed. Serta, for example, describes its Perfect Balance organic crib and toddler bed mattress as if it had a phthalate-free vinyl cover and “organic cotton” filling, but it doesn't reveal all its other contents. Options are often limited, and 100% organic products are limited to some innerspring, latex, and wool mattresses.
This means that organic mattresses are more likely to keep the environment clean due to the absence of harmful chemicals. If you don't have much experience with mattresses or buying organic, it can also be a bit confusing to buy organic beds. Take a quick look at some of the most prominent domestic brands of organic mattresses to begin your research. However, specially designed fiberglass or Kevlar fabrics and wool layers can also be used, and organic mattresses mainly use wool.
Some organic mattress brands also test their beds for VOC levels (via Greenguard, Oeko-Tex, or Eco Institute) to further demonstrate safety. In addition to chemicals in materials and flame retardants, most organic mattresses will also be manufactured without adhesives or glues, which are a strong source of chemical odors and gas release. With my 7-year-old foam mattress nearing the end of its useful life, and my husband occasionally wheezing in his sleep, I think it's worth looking for a certified non-toxic mattress. In the 1990s, he founded a company to sell organic cleaning and personal care products, and then began importing natural latex mattresses from Canada.
Below is a more detailed description of the advantages and disadvantages of buying organic mattresses compared to other types. The current winner of the online mattress war, Casper, calls the materials of his products “respectful of the planet”, but admits on his website that memory foam can “temporarily filter chemical odors that emanate from gases, due to volatile organic compounds (VOC). In addition, most organic mattresses are manufactured without glues or adhesives, which are a strong source of gas release and chemical odors.
