The best non-toxic mattress materials · Natural latex · Organic cotton in a basket · Organic cotton · Organic wool · Low-VOC memory foam or eco-friendly foam · Inner springs. Natural latex is a popular alternative to traditional memory foam. Like memory foam, it is very resistant and provides cushioning for pressure points. Unlike some memory foam, natural latex regulates temperature well and is resistant to dust mites, mold and mildew.
Keep in mind that some people are allergic to latex. Natural latex is made with liquid extracted from the Hevea-Brasilienis tree, or rubber tree. Rubber trees are beaten in a similar way to maples that are beaten to get their syrup. The natural latex harvesting process is highly sustainable and does not cause tree death.
A good non-toxic mattress will be covered with certified organic cotton instead of conventional polyester or cotton. The gold standard is certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) because it guarantees the organic status of textiles every step of the way, from agriculture to the finished product. Wool is used in non-toxic mattresses as a chemical-free flame retardant. Natural wool does not ignite easily and meets federal flammability standards.
Wool also provides breathability and moisture wicking properties. Top brands use GOTS certified organic wool. Many companies use metal internal springs to provide firmness and spring to a mattress. Most springs are cloth-covered (sometimes called pocket springs) to help distribute weight evenly and reduce movement transfer.
Recycled metal spools are also nice to look at. A non-toxic innerspring mattress will also be made of organic cotton and wool and may or may not include natural latex. I'm afraid I don't know much about IKEA mattresses, although I don't think they use organic materials or natural latex foam. Michaela, I have the same problem because I am allergic to latex, can you recommend a bran that has a spring mattress with organic wool or cotton?.
As you begin to transition your household products to safer alternatives, switching to a non-toxic mattress is important. Conventional mattresses are filled with all kinds of chemicals, from toxic fire retardants to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can alter hormones and cause long-term health problems. The answer to this question is, of course, subjective. There are many factors that come into play when you are considering buying or not buying a new mattress, and which one to buy.
Priority level will vary by person and family. Toxins of various types are ubiquitous in our air, water, and consumer products, and cannot be completely avoided. But choosing a non-toxic mattress is something we have under our control that can help support and protect our body against these toxins and their potential long-term health effects. While choosing a natural, organic mattress is a good choice for everyone, it can be even more important for people with chronic illnesses, children, and others who are more vulnerable to the potential consequences of inhaling harmful chemicals.
Most conventional mattresses are made with polyurethane (PU) foam. Memory foam is almost always made of PU. Second, PU foams emit toxins such as 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (a carcinogen), hydrogen cyanide (which can cause several problems), methylene chloride (also a carcinogen), and hydrochloric acid (an irritant). The EPA has set limits on the amount of these chemicals that furniture foams can release to comply with the Clean Air Act.
There is a misconception that foams go through an initial period of “gas evolution” when they are first obtained and basically stop emitting these chemicals. However, the truth is that PU foam actually emits more of these toxins as time goes on and the material starts to break down. In addition to PU foam, most mattress companies also use other synthetic materials for the various fabric layers and covers. While these materials may vary slightly in terms of their chemical composition, they are almost always petroleum-based materials that have the same or similar problems.
These different layers are, in most cases, just different ways of structuring the same base materials. Oh, and one more thing on the subject of “mystery materials”. It is very likely that these products have been treated with toxic chemicals “forever” from PFAS. Although it is not as common as in other types of furniture such as sofas, it is not unheard of either.
Naturepedic (listed below) is a great brand that offers a waterproof mattress (for babies & children) and a mattress protector (for adult mattress sizes) that are non-toxic (they are made from sugar cane). We've already talked about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in PU foam, but VOCs can also come from solvents, glues, and flame retardants. Common VOCs in conventional mattresses include elements such as formaldehyde, toluene, and other hard-to-pronounce chemicals, such as benzene, trichloroethane, and perfluorocarbon. This is why you'll find that most non-toxic mattress brands use hand tufts instead of glue to hold their mattresses together.
Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly and people with health problems such as asthma or chronic diseases, are more susceptible to the potential negative effects of VOCs. To make matters worse, at least one study showed that sleeping on a mattress can further worsen the release of VOC gases because body heat increases emissions. You can read more about VOCs here. Environmentally friendly washing (which is when something is marketed as “non-toxic” or “eco-friendly” when it really isn't) is a common problem in the mattress industry.
On the one hand, there is no regulation around these claims, so any brand can put these words on their products without having to comply with any kind of standard or provide any proof that they are true. Many brands claim that their mattresses are “sustainable” or “non-toxic” simply because there is one aspect of the mattress that is less bad than another. But just because a certain product is less bad doesn't mean it's really safe. Third-party certifications help with this issue, and we'll talk more about them in a minute.
I mentioned earlier that most PU foams are commonly treated with flame retardants due to the fact that polyurethane is more flammable than other, more natural materials. First of all, it's important to note that these flame retardant chemicals don't even work. For decades, consumers were sold a fire safety bill, and because of that, the law required flame retardants in certain products, such as children's furniture and pajamas. But it was all lies and marketing.
Because of this, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has revised its flammability standards for furniture to now focus on inherently flame-resistant fabrics (such as wool) rather than chemical flame retardants. Flame retardant chemical additives are no longer required by law in the U.S. UU. Second, most of these flame retardants are extremely toxic.
There are many different types of synthetic flame retardants, which are associated with things like cancer, thyroid disease, hormonal alteration, fertility problems, decreased IQ, other developmental problems, impaired neurodevelopment, and more. Toxic Free Future has a great resource if you want to go deeper into each type. Other states have implemented similar restrictions, but California is the only one that prohibits all types. Due to the fact that most brands sell to California residents, this law provides a certain level of security to everyone else in the U.S.
You can also read more about flame retardants in furniture in our guide to non-toxic sofas. While conventional mattresses are mainly made of polyurethane foam and other synthetic materials, non-toxic mattresses use more natural and organic materials such as organic cotton, wool and latex. As mentioned above, third-party certifications can be a way to combat eco-washing and provide a level of responsibility for the quality and sourcing of ingredients. While each of these certifications has its pros and cons, they add up to create a level of consumer trust.
But on the other hand, we recommend obtaining CertiPur certification with a grain of salt. The conventional mattress industry commonly uses this label to make consumers think that their mattresses are completely non-toxic, which is not really the case. The mattress firmness scale ranges from “very soft” to “very firm”. Although in the end it always comes down to preference, it is generally recommended that people who sleep on their side and lighter people lean towards the softer side, while people who sleep on their stomach 26% and heavier people opt for a firmer mattress.
Do you (and your partner) sleep on your back, stomach or side? Many of the mattresses listed below are recommended for all sleeping positions, while others are specifically recommended for certain sleeping positions. Here's what is normally recommended: Medium firmness mattresses are generally recommended for body pain. You may consider choosing a natural latex (or foam) mattress that can more easily adapt to your body while providing you with the support you need. Most people are at least somewhat aware that sleeping in a cool environment is the best thing to get a good night's sleep.
Sleeping in an environment that is too hot can alter circadian rhythms and decrease sleep efficiency, which can cause a lot of things, such as fatigue, blood pressure, weight gain, and hormonal imbalances. If you or your partner sleeps warm, you'll want to stay away from a mattress made of memory foam; it's a dense, non-porous material that doesn't allow air flow. As the mattress absorbs body heat during the night, heat is trapped and the temperature of your sleeping environment increases as the night progresses. This is another reason why choosing a mattress made of natural and organic materials is a good choice.
Things like organic cotton and wool allow air flow throughout the night and help keep you cool. So almost all of the brands below are great choices for hot sleepers. Some conventional mattress brands add additional materials to their foam mattresses, such as charcoal, copper, “cooling gel beads” or even smart technology that adjusts to body temperature during the night. But most of these materials still involve the use of synthetic materials.
Aside from that, the material of your bedding can also make a difference in your body temperature. Warm sleepers can try choosing TENCEL bedding, which is a non-toxic plant-based fabric that has a cooling effect. Some brands we love are Buffy, Eucalypso and Bearaby (for a weighted blanket). Nest and PlushBeds are two mattress companies listed below that also offer TENCEL bedding.
You may also want to stay away from pillows made of foams and other petroleum products and opt for natural and organic pillows as well. Here's a separate article on the best affordable non-toxic mattresses. There are a lot of personal preferences in choosing a mattress. But here are the best high-quality organic, non-toxic and eco-friendly mattresses we recommend.
Avocado organic, non-toxic mattresses are handmade in the USA. Made of GOLS certified organic latex along with organic cotton and GOTS certified organic wool (they also have a vegan option that does not include wool). One of the most sustainable mattresses on the market, it is also certified by GREENGUARD, OEKO-TEX and MADE SAFE, Formaldehyde Free by UL, Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and more. Not only will you NOT find polyester, polyurethane foams, chemical flame retardants, or other toxins in their products, but they also have many other sustainability initiatives underway (from carbon neutrality to return initiatives and more).
Avocado is also super transparent. On their website, they went incredibly deep into their ingredients, sources, and more. You can find the answer to almost any question you may have directly on their website. Savvy Rest offers a selection of organic mattresses made with high quality materials such as GOLS certified organic Dunlop latex or Cradle to Cradle certified Talalay latex, combined with GOTS certified organic cotton and GOLS certified organic wool.
And of course, they're all free of harmful chemicals like flame retardants, VOCs, PFAS and more. Savvy Rest is also an employee-owned B Corp company. If you are looking for a more affordable non-toxic mattress, Eco Terra is a good option. In reality, they only carry one type of mattress, which is available in medium to medium firm.
You can also add an ornament to make it softer if you want. Its materials have OEKO-TEX, GOTS and GOLS certifications. You will find absolutely no polyurethane, memory foam or synthetic foam; no latex mixtures; no chemical adhesives; or chemical flame retardants. The other great option for an affordable organic mattress is the Avocado Eco Organic Mattress, which (depending on when they are on sale) is generally in the same price range as Eco Terra.
For non-toxic crib mattresses, they have 5 different shapes and sizes, from oval to mini crib, and three more different rectangular. Breathable and Ultra Breathable mattresses provide double firmness so you can use the firmer side for babies and the medium firm side for toddlers. The Happsy mattress is made of materials such as certified organic cotton, wool and latex. Contains no synthetic flame retardants and contains no toxic glues or adhesives.
Certifications include GOTS Organic, MADE SAFE, GOLS, FSC, Rainforest Alliance, GREENGUARD Gold, UL Formaldehyde Free and more. You may notice that most of the mattresses on this list are NOT memory foam. As discussed above, this is because almost all memory foam is made of polyurethane, a petroleum derivative that is neither natural nor non-toxic. It's also charcoal infused to help warm sleepers with temperature control (since most PU foams trap heat during the night).
In addition to their memory foam mattress, they also have several other types of hybrid and latex mattresses that use materials such as GOTS organic cotton and wool, GOLS latex, TENCEL and silk. Some of their mattresses come with even more certifications, such as Fair Trade International, Cradle to Cradle, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Rainforest Alliance and Vegan. Brentwood Home has existed since 1987 and in fact acquired Avocado several years ago. Although both now operate under the umbrella company, Avocado Green Brands.
This is definitely a valid argument, as we have seen time and again that conscious small brands are acquired by the larger ones and then begin to make changes for the worse, altering their formulations, deprioritizing sustainable sourcing, decreasing transparency, etc. But I have closely watched both Avocado and Brentwood for the past few years, and so far, I have seen absolutely nothing that has led me to believe that Avocado's rigorous sustainability and safety standards have been sacrificed at all. In fact, it seems that the opposite is true and that Brentwood has become more sustainable and transparent over the years. Their flagship Natural Escape mattress and Hope Latex mattress are generally recommended for all sleeping positions, while they recommend the Pure Eco non-latex mattress for those who sleep on their backs and stomachs.
The Pure Eco is also one of the cheapest options on this list. They are also members of 1% of the planet, which means they return 1% of profits to non-profit environmental organizations. Most inflatable mattresses are made of PVC and other types of plastic materials. For a more natural alternative, White Lotus offers several different types of folding mattresses that are made with GOTS certified organic cotton and wool.
Your mattresses can be rolled up and stored in a closet, or stored under a bed. You can get them in all basic mattress sizes, from mini to king. Some are thicker and therefore will provide more support for your guest, while others are thinner and therefore easier to. You can choose the materials you prefer; some are free of wool, others are free of foam, etc.
Your Dreamton organic mattress would be a great choice for a guest bed, or even for your own daily mattress (although it probably won't provide as much support as many people need, especially if you have any type of chronic pain). You can choose your thickness level, from 6 inches (for easier folding and storage) to 8 inches, for added support. If you are looking for a natural mattress for your sofa bed, PlushBeds has a great option for you. Your natural latex sofa bed mattress is made of natural latex and GOTS certified organic cotton fabric.
However, keep in mind that it also includes a layer of CertiPur plush foam, so it's not 100% natural. Many of their regular mattresses are best used with platform beds. They use materials such as natural virgin wool grown in the United States, organic cotton, natural latex, hemp, coconut fiber and more. Depending on the specific product you choose, your materials come with certifications such as GOTS, USDA Organic, GOLS and OEKO-TEX.
Awara mattresses are made with healthy materials such as organic New Zealand wool, organic cotton and natural latex. They come with several certifications, including OEKO-TEX and GREENGUARD Gold (although a couple of third party organic certifications, such as GOTS and GOLS, are missing). They use adhesives, but they are water-based instead of using harmful chemicals. Aware is owned by Resident, which also owns conventional bed brands such as Nectar, DreamCloud, Siena and Cloverlane.
It's worth noting that Birch is owned by Helix, which is a conventional mattress brand. Although many people use and like Helix for its comfort and back support, it's definitely not a non-toxic brand. It uses conventional PU foam and other synthetic materials throughout its mattress line and doesn't seem to have any sustainability initiatives whatsoever. Although most WinkBeds mattresses are NON-toxic, the only exception is their ecoCloud model.
It is made with natural Talalay latex inside and then wrapped in New Zealand wool and an organic cotton cover. It comes with several third-party certifications, including GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Rainforest Alliance and Eco Initiative (for recycled steel springs). EcoSleep is owned by Brooklyn Bedding, which is a conventional mattress brand. Although most GhostBed mattresses are made of synthetic materials, they have a mattress made of natural materials such as USDA& GOTS certified organic cotton, GOLS organic latex, and eco-friendly wool.
They have other mattresses that use conventional memory foam, but at least they are certified by OEKO-TEX and CertiPur. Their mattresses are more expensive, but one thing that really sets them apart is their lifetime renewal exchange, which allows you to change your mattress years after buying it to freshen things up. Just make sure to read the full terms before buying). Once again, Nolah is an example of a conventional mattress brand that offers a natural mattress in its collection.
Your Nolah Natural is made of sustainable materials such as GOTS certified organic wool and cotton, Dunlop natural latex. It comes with several other third-party certifications, such as OEKO-TEX, ECO-Institut, Rainforest Alliance and Cradle to Cradle. This is another good option for people with back, hip, or joint pain. The following mattress brands are made of PU foam and other synthetic materials, do not provide transparency in sourcing, or have other sustainability initiatives in place.
Most of them use certified Certi-PUR foams, but as we discussed above, that doesn't mean much when looking for a truly non-toxic mattress). Save my name, email and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Although soaps are supposed to clean our things, the truth is that many of the soaps and cleaners we use every day (from shampoos and bath gels to laundry detergents and more) contain a. Now that you know what can make a mattress toxic, let me inform you about the materials and certifications that make up a non-toxic mattress.
In other words, none of this mattress is particularly non-toxic, but it is better than a standard mattress. Find the best brands of non-toxic mattresses that do not release toxic chemical gases in this non-toxic mattress buying guide. It still comes with all non-toxic certifications and is now the most affordable fully certified organic mattress in the United States. .
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