Time For A Healthy New Mattress!
In this article:
If you are considering a new “healthy” mattress for the New Year, you are in luck. There seem to be more options than ever. The ads are everywhere – online, on the subway…in your favorite magazines. They come in a box, claim to be “eco-friendly”, and many cost less than $1000. You’ve seen them… Casper, Wink, Saatva… Hmmm? Sound too good to be true? Let’s break it down.
The “Natural” mattress market, to my estimation, has nearly tripled from the mattress recommendation list that I posted a few years ago! This is a very exciting development. But also a little confusing, primarily because, a mattress claiming to use natural memory foam, doesn’t necessarily mean that the mattress is chemical free. Natural latex rubber is derived from the sap of the rubber tree. That milky, sap must go through a vulcanization process to make any rubber product, including sturdy foam for cushions, mattresses and pillows. At this point, all kinds of chemicals might be introduced. In fact, many memory foams will use any combination of synthetic foam and latex to form a hybrid foam. Conventional memory foam is a chemically produced, synthetic petroleum product made from polyurethane. Some soy foams or “eco-foams” contain a fraction of the plant-based materials they claim, making them primarily a petroleum product. For instance, Keetsa, a popular and very affordable, “eco-friendly” (Ahem) line with showrooms in CA and NYC, claims to replace petroleum in their memory foam, with tea tree oil. 12% tea tree oil, to be exact.
The CertiPur certification is the gold star for many mattress companies who are after an “eco-friendly” stamp of approval. CertiPur does perform lab tests that show mattresses are free from harmful chemicals, known carcinogens, PBDE’s, heavy metals, or formaldehyde. But be clear – CertiPur certifies polyurethane foams that meet their low VOC standards. It turns out that CertiPur is a product of the trade association for the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam. Most of us co-exist with polyurethane obliviously. But if you think that sleeping on polyurethane foam is a good idea, please consider, the one thing that you don’t want is to be inhaling it, as it is a known lung irritant and asthma trigger. It is also known to cause skin irritation and migraines. “Low VOC” may be a legitimate category under CertiPur’s certification guidelines, but with the roster of clean, organic, or truly natural mattresses out there, why should anyone need to compromise?
Natural latex is inherently hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, and antimicrobial, which inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew – all qualities shared with wool. Natural latex mattresses incased in eco-wool and organic cotton create an allergen-free sleep zone. In addition to health benefits, most people experience a natural latex mattress to be more comfortable than conventional memory foam, circulating heat more effectively while offering better support, hence avoiding that “sinking” feeling.
In general, it is wise to look for third-party certifications for home goods, which are typically born from non-profit, consumer groups with no financial conflicts of interest. Reliable third-party certifications for mattresses include GreenGuard, Oeko-Tex, Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
“When shopping [for an organic mattress], ignore words like eco and natural. Instead, seek out companies that explain ingredients clearly and can point to where materials are sourced. Even better, look for third-party certification.” — Laura Fraser, “O” Magazine
jGj’s 10 HEALTHIEST MATTRESS PICKS
Savvy Rest’s Organic topper
Offering Natural Latex & Organic Wool/Cotton Mattresses & Baby Beds
Certified: B Corporation, GreenGuard, and Cradle to Cradle
Price range starting at $2000 *all price range quotes are for Queen size
(jGj extra points for assisting customers in recycling used mattresses & the Savvy Rest Safe Sleep Pillow program, donating new pillows to at risk women & children in emergency shelters)
Offering Organic Latex mattresses manufactured in a certified organic facility
Certified: GOLS, GOTS, Oeko Tex, Green America, Exova, and Organic Trade Association
Price range starting at $2,000
60 day trial
Offering Hybrid Latex with coil innerspring mattress and a Vegan Latex mattress option.
*Stick with the “Natural” line to avoid CertiPur certified conventional Memory Foam.
Certified: GOLS & Oeko Tex and CertiPur
Price range starting at $1200
100 day trial
Offering Natural & Organic Latex mattresses in their Botanical Bliss & Natural Bliss collection(s)
Certified: GreenGuard, GOTS, USDA Organic
Price range starting at $1000
100 day trial
One of the original, organic mattress mavericks. Offering a design of organic latex layers over plant-based, batting incased support coils.
Certified: GOTS, GOLS, OC100, FSC, Rainforest Alliance, MADE SAFE
Price range starting at $1999
30 day money back guarantee/90 day free layer swap on the EOS line
Cozy Pure’s solid latex construction
Offering natural latex & organic latex mattresses plus pillows and toppers using organic cotton, Wool, Kapok & Buckwheat hulls. Vegan options also available.
Certified: GOLS; euroLATEX ECO-Standard; Oeko Tex,\; Joma Wool; OE 100 Standard; FSC; Green Power Partner; Green America; Organic Trade Association
Price range starting at $1200
Offering a natural latex over pocketed coil innerspring mattresses
Certified: Organic Cotton; Sleep Sherpa’s 2016 Best Natural Mattress Award
Price range starting at $1,099.00
100 night trial
Coco Mat mattress components
Offering natural latex mattresses that include coconut fiber & seaweed (which slowly releases iodine – offering gentle boost to the respiratory system)
Certified: Oeko Tex; GOTS; FSC; Sustainable Furnishings Council; Woolmark
Price range starting at $2400
14 night trial
Offering natural latex, metal free, organic mattresses using US sourced Eco-Wool.
Certified: GOTS
Price range starting at $2800
OMI is a subsidiary of LifeKInd – a 20 year leader of the Organic Mattress trade. Offering completely organic mattresses that also include coiled innerspring models.
Certified: USDA Organic; GOLS; GOTS; GreenGuard; Oeko Tex
Price range starting at $3000
90 day comfort exchange