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We sleep on our mattresses approximately 3,000 hours per year. We’d rather not spend those restorative hours slumbering amid a cocktail of petrochemicals, flame-retardants, carcinogens, and formaldehyde-containing adhesives. In the past, options for a natural, non-toxic mattress were a little grim: a lumpy cotton futon, limited options in terms of comfort, or a rather unaffordable (although we did include this in our list) handmade horse hair mattress fit for royals. Today, more companies are turning their efforts toward natural, non-toxic materials and receiving certifications from reputable third-party organizations. Our findings are cross referenced with research done in our latest book, Remodelista: The Low-Impact Home, and agencies like the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Safer Mattress Materials
* Wool
* Natural Latex
* Cotton
* Coconut Fiber
* Polylactide
* Kapok
* Linen
* Horsehair
* Buckwheat
Less Safe Mattress Materials
* Polyurethane
* Polyethylene
* Biofoam or soy foam
* Rayon
Third-Party Certifications from Trusted Nonprofits
CertiPUR-US: A certification that applies only to polyurethane foam mattresses to guarantee the materials are free of formaldehyde, flame retardants, prohibited phthalates, and heavy metals and contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Note that CertiPUR-US applies only to the foam portion of the mattress.
Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS): benchmark in organic latex that is 95 percent or more organic
Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS): leading processing standard for organic textiles and fibers that are 95 percent or more organic and meet stringent environmental standards
MADE SAFE: a seal for products passing the rigorous screening of over 6,500 known or probable harmful substances
[Editor’s note: While we’ve done our best to research the issue using credible sources, we are not scientists, doctors, or environmental toxicity experts. Details on certifications and materials used within mattresses change often and may have changed since this article’s publication date. We welcome any additional constructive insight in our comments section below.]
Above: Naturepedic was founded in 2003 by environmental engineer Barry A. Cik who continues to manufacture Naturepedic mattresses with the full slate of certifications and endorsements. The mattresses are certified with GOTS, GOLS, FSC, MADE SAFE, UL/GREENGUARD (formaldehyde and VOC-free), Organic Content Standard, Organic Trade Association, Green America, Health Product Declaration, Certified Vegan, and PETA-Approved Vegan. The Concerto Organic Pillow Top Mattress is a latex hybrid mattress made of cotton, wool, latex, encased support coils, and high-density microcoils; $2,799 at Naturepedic.
Above: Happsy presents a non-toxic mattress that is manufactured by Naturepedic at a more affordable cost and ships as a bed-in-a-box. The mattress is entirely certified organic and made of wool batting, latex, cotton, and pocketed springs. The mattress is certified with Organic Content Standard 100 (OCS), GOTS, MADE SAFE, GOLS, FSC, GREENGUARD, Green America, and Zero Toxics. The Happsy Organic Mattress is $1,399.
Above: Seattle-based Soaring Heart offers handmade mattresses on-site made of organic latex with wool mattress toppers. The mattresses are USDA Organic and certified with GOLS, GOTS, and Organic Trade Association. The Tamarack Bed, shown here, is a natural latex mattress with a wool topper; $4,127 at Soaring Heart.
Above: Avocado makes latex hybrid mattresses of GOLS-certified latex, GOTS-certified cotton and wool and is certified MADE SAFE. The Eco Organic Mattress is $1,169 at Avocado.
Above: “When my ship comes in I long to sleep like the Swedish royal family on a Hästens bed,” says Justine in our previous post 10 Easy Pieces: Editors’ Favorite Mattresses. Handmade with horsehair, cotton, wool, flax, pine, and springs, the Vividus model shown here is available through Hästens dealers.
Above: The Wool Room’s Classic Wooly Mattress is made with 100 percent traceable British wool filling, pocket coils, and merino wool; $1,170 at Wool Room.
Above: Birch by Helix mattresses are made from natural latex and organic wool and are certified with GOTS and GREENGUARD and by the eco-INSTITUT of Germany. The Birch Luxe Natural Mattress is $2,599 at Birch.
Above: Coco-Mat mattresses are made of layers and layers of natural latex, coconut fiber, seaweed, horsehair, and cactus fiber. Mattresses are also Oeko-Tex 100 certified and do not use PBDE flame retardants. Shown here is the Coco-Mat Epicurus Mattress.
Above: Obasan mattresses are GOTS and GOLS certified organic and made with cotton, rubber, and wool out of their own factory in Canada.
Above: While Saatva uses only about 30 percent plant-based foams, the remainder of the foam mattress is standard foam but is made without fiberglass or flame retardants opting for a plant-based pulp flame barrier instead. Their foams are also CertiPUR-US certified.
For more mattress material, see our posts:
* 10 Easy Pieces: Editors’ Favorite Mattresses
* Sleep Disrupters: 14 Upstart Mattress Companies
* Domestic Science: How to Clean a Mattress
* Linen Logic: 20 Tips for Taking Care of Your Bedding | BidBuddy.com
