Best Non-Toxic Mattress 2025 Shopping Guide

Maia James
Best Non-Toxic Mattress 2025 Shopping Guide
929 comments

Finding the best non-toxic mattress is super important because this purchase is a big financial investment. If you buy the right mattress, it can last you for decades! Mattresses are also a major source of toxin-exposure in most American homes. This is a purchase you really want to get right, which is why we wrote this guide.

This post will provide all the information you need to feel confident that you’re purchasing the best non-toxic mattress, whether you’re shopping for your kids or yourself.

The 4 Best Non-Toxic Mattress Brands

This guide includes reviews of the 40 (!) mattress brands you’ve asked about most. But the TLDR here is that the four companies in the graphic below are the very best non-toxic mattress brands. They’re all equally toxin-free and earth-friendly–two values we believe are essential. They also all receive high marks for comfort.

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Best Mattress Guide

1

2

3

4

1. Soaring Heart

2. Happsy

3. Naturepedic

4. Obasan

Best Stuff

Happsy

Happsy is the best non-toxic mattress-in-a-box option on the market, and comes with a 120-day trial period. Happsy is manufactured by Naturepedic, but is a more affordable option, while still getting high marks for comfort. When it’s time to replace my kids’ mattresses, this is the brand I plan to purchase.

Happsy is certified by GOTS, GOLS, and GreenGuard. Queens go for $1,399.

Use code GIMME15 for 15% off sitewide when you shop on Happsy.com. (With this discount, Happsy is the most affordable Best Stuff mattress.)

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Happsy

Naturepedic

Naturepedic was founded by a grandfather named Barry when he could not find a non-toxic mattress for his grandson.

Naturepedic non-toxic mattresses are made of certified-organic cotton and a steel innerspring. They don’t use any flame-retardant chemicals or barrier ingredients. Naturepedic includes a layer of polylactide, which is derived from sugarcane, in all of their mattresses to ensure they pass flammability tests.

Since all Naturepedic mattresses are GOTS-certified, you can rest assured that the polylactide they use also passes GOTS standards. Polylactide is also Greenguard Gold certified.

The waterproof, crib mattress options use food-grade polyethylene for their outer layer (it acts as a moisture and vapor barrier). Adult mattresses mostly run in the $3,000 range, and crib mattresses from $259 to $399. Use code gimme15 for 15% off everything on Naturepedic’s site. (The top-of-the-line mattress is the EOS.)

We offer Naturepedic crib mattresses and children’s mattresses in our online store, and always appreciate your support!

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Naturepedic

Obasan

Handcrafted in Canada, Obasan mattresses have all of the top-level certifications we look for, including GOTS and GOLS.

With a unique multi-zone system, Obasan mattresses get high marks for their comfort and come with a 180-day comfort exchange policy and 20-year warranty.

If you live in Canada, this is the best non-toxic mattress, for sure. Queens start at around $3,200 USD.

Get two complimentary pillows with the purchase of any adult mattress with code GIMMETHEGOODSTUFF.

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Obasan

Soaring Heart

Based out of Seattle and in operation for almost 30 years, Soaring Heart hand-crafts most of their mattresses on-site and is one of the most transparent brands we’ve ever investigated.

Soaring Heart’s latex mattresses are made of 100% organic latex. They have both GOLS and GOTS certifications, written to Soaring Heart itself.

Soaring Heart mattresses contain no chemical fire retardants. Their latex passes flammability tests by using a combination of a tightly woven, organic-cotton fabric encasement, and is then wrapped in organic, felted wool.

Soaring Heart offers organic crib mattresses and dog beds, too.

We loved Soaring Heart so much that we asked them if we could sell their mattresses! You can now buy Soaring Heart mattresses through our online store, and they ship free anywhere in the United States.

I sleep on a Soaring Heart Zoned Mattress, my parents on a Soaring Heart Organic Latex Shikibuton, and we both have toppers. We are basically obsessed with these mattresses, and happy to talk you through their options. Just email John for help choosing.

Soaring Heart

Best Non-Toxic Mattress Coupons

Please enjoy the following exclusive Gimme the Good Stuff mattress discounts on some of the safest mattresses we’ve found.

Obasan: Get two complimentary pillows with the purchase of any adult mattress with code GIMMETHEGOODSTUFF.
Plush Beds: $100 extra off, in addition to whatever other deals they’re running. Use code GIMME100.
Naturepedic: 15% off site-wide. Use code GIMME15.
Happsy: 15% off sitewide. Use code GIMME15. (With this discount, Happsy is the most affordable of the bunch.)

Best Stuff Vs. Good Stuff

Thanks to consumer demand, more mattress manufacturers have taken the steps to make truly non-toxic mattresses with top-level certifications. This means that you have more choices when searching for the best non-toxic mattress. And our Best Stuff and Good Stuff categories have grown to include more brands than ever before.

In this guide, we give special attention to the brands that manufacture only toxin-free mattresses. Several mattress companies now have the proper certifications, but they are owned by other entities that make conventional (toxic) mattresses.

Our updated Best Stuff category includes only the brands that:

  • have the top certifications that guarantee the mattresses they sell are free of all toxins
    AND
  • aren’t owned by parent companies that pollute the environment by manufacturing toxic mattresses.

In other words, we choose to promote mattress manufacturers who demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to non-toxic, Earth-friendly living in EVERYTHING they produce.

This video is several years old, but everything in it still holds true. The only change is that Happsy and Obasan have been added to our Best Stuff list!

My Own Non-Toxic Mattress Choices: What Is the Healthiest Mattress?

When I was pregnant for the first time, we decided to upgrade to a king-sized bed in anticipation of co-sleeping with our newborn.

Of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t agonize and research before deciding what mattress to buy. There was plenty to agonize over when it came to finding the best non-toxic mattress!

At the time of writing this updated post, I have a 10-year-old and a 14-year-old, one of whom still spends a lot of time in our bed. I’m so glad I feel comfortable with (and comfortable on) the non-toxic mattresses we chose, which is the Soaring Heart Zoned. (If you’d like to sleep on this mattress, email me with “Soaring Heart” in the subject line and I can give you a small discount, since we now carry it in our store.)

Why a Non-Toxic Mattress Matters

I often tell my private consulting clients that their mattress is the very first thing they should upgrade when detoxing their homes.

The reason I feel so strongly about sleeping on a non-toxic mattress? Well, for one thing, babies and kids spend a lot of time sleeping, and even busy, night-owl grownups spend about a third of our lives in bed.

Moreover, studies show that your immune system works hardest at night, and the body generally repairs itself at night. It therefore seems reasonable to make your sleeping environment as toxin-free as possible.

Toxins in Mattresses

Unfortunately, mattresses can be loaded with noxious chemicals, including:

  • Various petrochemicals make up the majority of the materials in conventional mattresses.
  • Polyurethane foam is the main ingredient in most mattresses. It’s composed of polyol and diisocyanate, both of which are derived from petroleum. Polyurethane is not environmentally friendly and is dangerous for workers during manufacturing.
  • Flame-retardant chemicals are needed in part because polyurethane is so flammable. There is, however, some good news on the flame-retardant front – more on that in a minute!
  • Soybean foam is a Sneaky ingredient that sounds non-toxic. Unfortunately, the majority of this type of foam is still mostly polyurethane.
  • Synthetic latex is usually made from styrene, which is a human carcinogen.
  • Adhesives that may contain formaldehyde are used to glue mattresses. The best non-toxic mattress manufacturers skip the glues all together and opt for safer methods like stitching, clips, or heat.

This chemical cocktail releases VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are linked to a host of health problems, from respiratory irritation to cancer.

Mattresses

Obasan – two complimentary pillows with code: GIMMETHEGOODSTUFF

Naturepedic – code GIMME15 for 15% off

Kids Mattresses

Happsy – 15% off sitewide. Use code GIMME15

White Lotus

Fire “Safety” in Mattresses

Mattresses are required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to meet flammability laws. This previously meant that they were almost always treated with bromated or chlorinated flame-retardant chemicals, typically one of the first three on this list:

  • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers. PBDEs are associated with hormone-disruption and neurodevelopmental delays, including lowered IQ. The European Union has banned the use of PBDEs in electronic devices. Studies show that children in the United States have higher levels of PBDEs than adults do. Oh, and here’s the kicker: they don’t even work very well at stopping fires!
  • Firemaster 550. This nasty chemical cocktail is made with bis (2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH). Yes, you saw that word in there: phthalate. TBPH is nearly identical to DEHP, the phthalate banned in children’s products (including mattresses!!) due to evidence of carcinogenicity and developmental toxicity.
  • Chlorinated tris. This is the notorious chemical that was removed from children’s pajamas in the 1970s because it was shown to cause cancer.
  • Halogen-free flame retardants. This newer class of chemicals (such as ammonium polyphosphate, aluminium diethyl phosphinate, and melamine polyphosphate) is believed to be much less likely to bioaccumulate than bromated flame retardants. I still prefer my mattresses to be free of even these.

In addition to these notoriously toxic flame retardants, companies may use some of the following ingredients to pass flammability tests: boric acid, silica, melamine, vinylidene chloride, and fiberglass.

The Importance of Fiberglass-Free Mattresses

Fiberglass isn’t a chemical flame retardant, but it can still come with some serious health risks.

Here’s just two reasons that buying mattresses without fiberglass is important:

  • No more itchy nights. Fiberglass particles can easily escape from mattress covers. This can cause itching, redness, and respiratory issues like coughing and wheezing. This is especially concerning for children and those with sensitive skin or allergies.
  • Better indoor air quality. Fiberglass dust can also float around, potentially triggering coughs, wheezing, and generally messing with your respiratory system.

A Myth About Off-Gassing

Many of my clients think that their mattresses are okay if they are old because they have “already off-gassed.” Unfortunately, this is not true in the case of foam mattresses. In fact, as the foam degrades, more PBDEs (hormone-disrupting flame retardants) may be released.

Are Mattress Coils Dangerous?

There has been a lot of online chatter in recent years regarding metal coils in mattresses. We paid close attention to this and did some research, and we arrived at the conclusion that steel springs present no established danger.

We simply cannot find any credible evidence showing that metal coils can act like an antenna and concentrate EMFs into our sleeping bodies. Phew–one less thing to worry about!

What Is the Least Toxic Mattress Material?

A toxin-free mattress will likely contain some combination of the following materials:

  • Organic wool (untreated) is naturally flame- and mildew/dust mite-resistant.
  • 100% natural latex (made from rubber trees) is safer than latex blends. The latter may contain petroleum-based polyurethane. It’s important to note that no latex foam mattress can be 100% natural or organic. Turning latex rubber to foam necessitates the use of chemicals, period. Certified latex mattresses simply have less chemical content.
  • Organic cotton (grown in untreated soil, without pesticides) can be used for batting or mattress wrapping. There is a robust debate about whether or not the herbicides and pesticides used on cotton crops will wash/bleach out as the cotton is processed. Most studies show that it does, but some folks believe that a residue remains. We believe that the risk of sleeping on a mattress or sheets made from conventionally grown cotton is tiny. Still, for the good of the planet, we should all choose organically-grown cotton whenever possible.
  • Trusted certifications from third-party certifying bodies mean that some ingredients in the mattress have been vetted by organizations committed to improving air quality. This also means a safer sleeping surface for you. However, all certifications are not created equally, as you’ll learn below.

Dunlop Versus Talalay Latex in the Best Non-Toxic Mattress Brands

You’ll probably read a lot about Talalay versus Dunlop latex in your search for the best organic mattress. In terms of comfort, Dunlop is firmer and Talalay is lighter and softer. If you’re looking for a GOLS-certified mattress (more on this below), you’ll need to choose a mattress made of Dunlop latex.

Don’t Be Fooled By…

The mattress industry is full of greenwashing. Here are just a few claims that should alert you that a brand may be Sneaky Stuff.

  • “Natural latex.” Petroleum comes from the earth, so petroleum-based mattresses can be “natural.” A “natural latex mattress” may only contain only 50% natural latex and may be blended with polyurethane foam and treated with various VOCs. Look for mattresses that specify that they are made from only 100% natural latex.
  • “All-natural wool,” “pure wool” or “eco-wool.” Unless wool is certified organic, it is likely processed conventionally with a variety of chemicals. You may or may not be okay with this (I feel that the flame retardants are more concerning). In some cases, a wool producer may not bother with organic certification, despite organic practices.
  • Biofoam. Soy- or plant-foam is still made of mostly polyurethane. Biofoam mattresses typically contain less than 20% plant material.
  • Certifications. Oftentimes, these certifications apply only to certain parts of the mattress, not necessarily the mattress as a whole. In some cases, the mattress company creates its own certification. You will read more about these certifications in a moment.

Bottom line: There is a lot of deceptive marketing in the mattress world. It is not illegal to throw around terms like “natural,” “green,” and even “organic” without actually having to prove anything.

What to Know About Mattress Certifications

Sorting through mattress certifications is maddening. Here’s just some of why that is:

  1. First of all, not all certifications are created equal. Some offer great assurance that your new mattress will be non-toxic, while others are essentially meaningless.
  2. What’s more, just because a company shows a certification doesn’t mean all of the material in that mattress is certified. One of our readers wrote to us about a mattress that contained Oeko-Tex 100 certified wool, but the company wouldn’t confirm that they solely purchase the wool from this source. Thus, in this case, it would be impossible to know if the mattress you’re purchasing contains the certified wool or not, to say nothing of the other materials in this mattress.
  3. Sometimes, a mattress will claim to have a certification that they don’t really have. One of the most common deceptive practices is when a manufacturer claims to have GOLS certification for their latex mattress, and even display the GOLS logo on their website. They might even show an actual copy of it on their website, complete with date and signatures. If, however, the certificate is not written to the same name as the manufacturer, it is not particularly meaningful. They are commonly written to a latex supplier out of Sri Lanka, India or South America. Such a certification shows only that the latex was certified up to that point on its journey to becoming someone’s bed. Between Sri Lanka and your bedroom, all sorts of things can happen to the latex to cause it to be more toxic than the certification implies.

So, how do you know if a mattress is non-toxic?

Best Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

The two certifications to look for in your mattress are GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).

(And again, the best non-toxic mattress brands have these certifications written directly to the mattress manufacturer.)

To obtain a GOTS certification, at least 95% of the mattress must be made of certified-organic materials. Certain chemistries are prohibited entirely, even for that other 5%. A GOTS certification on a mattress means that the entire manufacturing and distribution process is environmentally safe and socially responsible.

Prohibited materials and contaminants in a GOTS-certified mattress include:

  • Polyurethane foam
  • Heavy metals
  • Formaldehyde
  • The fire retardants listed above

One thing we love about GOTS certification is that in order to obtain it, a mattress must be produced in a facility that is also certified. In fact, GOTS certifiers visit production facilities as part of the certification process. (If you are curious about a brand that we don’t review in this guide, you can check for GOTS certification in the GOTS database.)

Similar to GOTS, a GOLS certification means that the mattress is made of at least 95% organic latex. This means that 5% of the latex can be made of synthetic materials, although these are still restricted in some important ways). A GOLS certification requires third-party testing and inspections by certifiers.

Good Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

While OEKO-TEX Standard 100 doesn’t require any organic materials to be used in a mattress, it does set limits for VOC emissions (such as formaldehyde). It also prohibits the use of dangerous flame-retardants and dyes. When looking at mattresses, the highest level of OEKO-TEX certification is Class 1.

Greenguard-certified mattresses have been tested for, and are within limits of, several hundred VOCs, including formaldehyde. Greenguard Gold has stricter standards than plain old Greenguard, but they are not testing for flame retardants or PFAS.

Okay Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

Organic Content Standard 100 just means that some of the ingredients are organic. This certification doesn’t ban flame-retardants or other harmful chemicals.

CertiPUR was developed “by members of the global foam industry,” although it does ban the use of some chemicals, such as PBDE flame-retardants and formaldehyde. It’s important to know that CertiPUR does not certify an entire mattress, only the foam portion.

A Sneaky Mattress Certification

NAOMI (National Association of Organic Mattress Industry) was created by Pure Rest Organics, which is a mattress company. Obviously this means that a NAOMI certification no way independent or third-party

The Bottom Line on Non-Toxic Mattress Certifications

When it comes to mattress certifications, most are of SOME value, but they can be used sneakily by mattress manufacturers.

You really need to ask to see the actual signed certification, keeping in mind that if it’s out of date, it’s worthless. You also want to make sure that the entire factory that produces your mattress is certified to be free of toxins, particularly flame retardants. This will guarantee that you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination and mattress health issues.

If You Can’t Afford the Best Non-Toxic Mattress

Maybe you’ve looked all the way down to our Okay Stuff category and checked out the coupons (top of this page), and you simply don’t have it in your budget to upgrade to a safe mattress right now.

Readers often ask: “How do I protect myself from a toxic mattress?”

Unfortunately, there’s no way to wrap a mattress to protect yourself from VOCs. However, running a robust air filter will go a long way towards purifying your indoor air. I have the Austin HealthMate PLUS Air Purification System in my bedroom because while I do have a toxin-free mattress, I also have other furniture and rugs that aren’t as clean. I love knowing that the air filter is mitigating the damage!

You also might consider a futon as an alternative to an expensive, non-toxic mattress. They are much more comfortable than they were in your childhood, and I love the ones by Soaring Heart in particular. (Conventional or Sneaky futons will be loaded with all the same scary chemicals as mattresses.)

Here’s where I explain the difference between a mattress and a futon:

Good Stuff

Avocado

We are now recommending Avocado mattress since they now have the EWG verified mark for all their adult, kids and crib mattresses.

  • Boasts certifications from EWG, GOTS, GOLS, Greenguard, and Made Safe. 
  • Tested for PFAS chemicals. 
  • Crafted with certified organic cotton, wool, and latex.
  • Not Best Stuff because Avocado is a subsidiary of Brentwood Home, which manufactures conventional mattresses.
  • There was a lawsuit accusing Avocado of falsely advertising its latex as “natural 100% GOLS organic certified” after lab tests showed that Avocado latex contains a variety of chemicals. The suit was dismissed.

Buy from Avocado
Avocado

Bella Sera

This tiny company has some good certifications, namely GOLS, but unfortunately, it’s not written directly to the company.

Bella Sera uses wool as a flame retardant, which makes them Good Stuff rather than Okay Stuff.

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Bella Sera

CozyPure

CozyPure’s mattresses skip all the flame retardants in favor of wool, which is significant. Unfortunately, their GOLS certification isn’t written directly to them, so I can’t call this brand the Best Stuff.

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CozyPure

Eco Terra

Eco Terra has OEKO-TEX certifications for their wool and Talalay latex. They don’t use scary flame-retardants, just hydrated-silica. Eco Terra now has an up-to-date GOTS certificate, and we consider this a safe mattress choice.

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Eco Terra

Holy Lamb Organics

While Holy Lamb only qualifies as Good Stuff based on our criteria, we do consider this brand one of the best non-toxic mattresses out there. Because Holy Lamb is such a small business, they do not yet have GOLS certification, but they do have GOTS – and we will move them to Best Stuff as soon as the GOLS comes through.

Holy Lamb Organics

Plush Beds

PlushBeds recently became fully certified with top-level certifications, including GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, and Oeko-Tex Standard 100.

PlushBed’s Botanical Bliss and Luxury Bliss mattresses have all of the above certifications. Their Natural Bliss and Eco Bliss don’t have GOLS certification, but are more affordable.

The only reason Plush is in our Good Stuff rather than Best Stuff category is because they make more conventional mattresses in addition to their fully-certified latex models.

Nevertheless, Plush Beds’ memory foam is the first to be certified by GreenGuard Gold, so if you must have a memory foam mattress (and we know a lot of you must!), then this is the way to go. Overall, everything Plush makes is reasonably toxin-free.

Use code GIMME100 to receive $100 off every order, in addition to whatever other deals are running.

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Plush Beds

Savvy Rest

Savvy Rest is the non-toxic mattress we bought when I was pregnant, and we slept on it for six comfortable years.

The latex used by Savvy Rest is 100% natural, and other materials used include certified organic wool (which serves as flame-retardant) and cotton. Note that the Dunlop latex is organic, while the Talalay is not.

Savvy Rest mattresses have Oeko-Tex certification. (It’s important to note that these certifications are for specific materials within the mattress, rather than the mattress itself; you can read more about this above.) Savvy Rest’s GOTS certification is written in their name, and their GOLs certifications are written to their latex supplier.

Visit Savvy Rest’s website to see their wide array of mattresses and learn more about all the materials they use. Our king-sized mattress costs around $3,500, but prices depend on which model you choose, in addition to the size you want.

Buy from Savvy Rest
Savvy Rest

White Lotus

White Lotus sent along a big box of samples of all of their sumptuous, natural materials when I first reviewed them. They are one of our favorite brands to work with, and they have demonstrated a clear commitment to producing non-toxic mattresses.

White Lotus has a GOTS certification for their mattress materials, and they use some cool ingredients in their products, including:

  • Kapok to stuff their mattresses. The “harvesting of the kapok pods provides jobs to indigenous people and helps maintain this vanishing ecosystem,” according to the White Lotus website.
  • Wholesale green cotton, which is totally unprocessed once harvested from the bolls – no bleaches, dyes, or fungicides.
  • Wool, which is 100%-virgin, lamb’s wool.
  • Organic buckwheat hulls (for pillows).
  • 100% natural latex (from rubber trees).

When I decided to get toddler Felix a new twin-sized, non-toxic mattress, I went with this White Lotus futon.

I do recommend that you avoid the Evergreen Foam used by White Lotus, which is a blend of “natural, oil-based foam” and conventional polyol, an alcohol used in the production of polyurethane. While off-gassing is heavily reduced and the environmental impact better than conventional foam, I don’t consider this truly natural, toxin-free foam.

We have gotten to know the folks at White Lotus quite well, and we really trust the owner. Because White Lotus does not have GOLS certification written in its name, we classify it as Good Stuff rather than Best Stuff.

We now carry White Lotus mattresses and futons in our online store!

Please note that we do not carry any White Lotus products with any of the questionable ingredients listed above – if you see it in our store, you know it’s free of borate, toxic foam, and other synthetics.

White Lotus

Okay Stuff

Awara

While Awara does not have GOLS or GOTS certifications, they do have CertiPUR, Greenguard Gold, and OEKO-TEX.

Note that Awara is made by the same parent company as Nectar mattresses, which we consider Sneaky.

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Awara

Brooklyn Bedding

This company claims to have OEKO-TEX certification, but failed to present proof to us of this. They do have CertiPUR certification (meaning at least the very worst flame-retardants won’t be present in these mattresses).

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Brooklyn Bedding

Coco-Mat

This brand uses all the right buzzwords to describe their mattresses (“non-toxic,” “sustainable,” etc.). Unfortunately, they are lacking somewhat in the certification department – although with digging we discovered they do carry the Oeko-Tex 100 certification. The big question mark for us is the “natural rubber” they use, which doesn’t have any certification. Still, that Oeko-Tex 100 certification means something, and they don’t use PBDE flame retardants.

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Coco-Mat

Essentia

We field a ton of questions about Essentia from people who love memory foam and want a safer option. Standard memory foam (made of petroleum derivatives) is decidedly toxic, and I’ve long suspected Essentia of being Sneaky Stuff.

After researching Essentia thoroughly for a client, I came away (still reluctantly!) calling them Okay Stuff, although I do still have a few reservations. Essentia uses a proprietary flame retardant in their foam, which involves Kevlar – a material that is not remotely natural, but appears to be non-toxic. Kevlar is a type of plastic, however, and you probably know, I don’t love plastic, period!

I spoke to the people at Essentia, and they sent me the independent-testing results for their mattresses — I saw no red flags and everything checked out as non-toxic. They also have a number of certifications, some of which are more legit than others. There is always a chance that sneaky manufacturers might hide things under the “trade secret” laws, but I didn’t learn anything from Essentia that suggests that they are doing so.

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Essentia

SleepOnLatex

This brand does not have GOLS certification, but does have Oeko-Tex, and doesn’t use the most dangerous flame retardants.

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SleepOnLatex

Tuft & Needle

The certifications for these mattresses fall short of Good Stuff – they have GreenGuard Gold, OEKO-TEX, and CertiPUR.

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Tuft & Needle

Bad Stuff

It’s safe to assume that all conventional mattresses contain petrochemicals and that many are treated with toxic flame retardants of one kind or another. 

IKEA mattresses are tempting because they are cheap. But they have no certifications of any kind. They had this to say about the use of fire-retardant chemicals:

“In our adult mattresses, mattress pads, and mattress sets a fiber fire-barrier made of rayon/polyester-batting is used that has an inherently fire-resistant property. Flame-retardant chemicals (phosphorous-based inorganic salts) are only used for some stitch-bond and zippers. IKEA children’s mattresses sold in the U.S. have a fiber-mix barrier as described above. The fiber-batting is quilted into the mattress cover and is not treated with any flame-retardant chemicals.”

(So the crib mattresses are at least free of all fire retardants!).

Joybed is a brand that a lot of you have asked about. Unfortunately, it has no certifications of any kind and therefore can’t be considered for our recommendation.

Newton Wovenair. The polymer this mattress is made from appears to be fine, but the cover is made of polyester (this doesn’t pose a real health risk, but is not environmentally friendly and a form of plastic). Newton uses phosphate flame-retardants. This is better than bromated or chlorinated, but still should be avoided if possible.

Sealy mattresses contain vinyl, undisclosed fire retardants (“trade secret”), polyurethane, polyethylene, and nanoparticles. This includes the mattresses they make for children.

Serta mattresses have actually come a long way, but we still cannot call them even Okay Stuff. Here’s why.

Simmons is the same as Sealy. They use the same problematic materials and hide behind trade secrets.

Tempur-Pedic mattresses are wildly popular. Unfortunately, memory foam is made of inexpensive polyurethane, and you’ll notice that a brand-new Tempur-Pedic is smellier than most other mattresses. This is your clue that it’s off-gassing more. The fire retardant used on Tempur-Pedics is not PBDE, but they do not disclose what it is. The EPA has also raised concerns about emissions formed during the production of polyurethane foam products, which include methylene chloride and other hazardous chemicals.

Sneaky Stuff

Casper. These popular, inexpensive mattresses contain a top latex layer that is Oeko-Tex certified, but I’m not crazy about the memory foam component (which is not certified and contains polyurethane).

The flame retardants seem pretty safe:

“A fire-retardant, knit-sock covers the foam before the outer cover is placed on the mattress. The knit sock is made from a proprietary yarn with a silica core and a polyester/acrylic/nylon/rayon outer wrap. The knit-sock is made without any toxic chemicals and each component is OEKO-TEX® certified.”

However, the latex in the lower layers is not 100%-natural, but rather a blend, and synthetic latex can be very toxic when made from carcinogenic styrene. Readers who have purchased a Casper mattress have complained of the smell and sore throats.

Colgate’s “eco” crib mattresses claim to be made of “the finest non-toxic materials in the marketplace.” In reality, Colgate mattresses contain vinyl and polyurethane.

Eco Dream mattresses are basically just memory foam mattresses that don’t even make claims of non-toxicity!

IntelliBED claims to be non-toxic, and is heavily promoted by natural parenting bloggers. The only certification they have received is the dubious CertiPUR. They claim that they use soy-based foam, but companies can make this claim when the mattress contains only a small percentage of soy foam (the rest being petroleum-derived polyurethane).

And IntelliBED gives no specifics about their foam. IntelliBED makes mattresses from a number of materials that immediately disqualify them from our list of Good Stuff. They use memory foam, various “gels” and foams, and unknown materials with names like “Titanium Infused Energex” (whatever that is). IntelliBED also seems to carry zero independent certifications regarding the safety of the materials they use

Keetsa mattresses (which are manufactured in China), are described by many retailers as “natural” or “green.”

The company is, in fact, pretty transparent, and clearly states that, “Keetsa’s mission is to deliver a comfortable, affordable, and durable mattress in an eco-friendly manner. We are not producing organic or natural mattresses. By replacing some of the petroleum product with cedar oil and introducing green tea extract into the mixture, we have created a foam that is less toxic and has a less-offensive odor than traditional foam. We also utilize sustainable materials, such as bamboo, in our cover materials.”

Layla, like so many others, is a memory foam mattress with only a CertiPUR certification.

Moonlight Slumber set off an alarm for me right away with their bogus certification: “Green Safety Shield” is their own certification, and is not third (or even second!) party. They do have testing that shows no VOCs from their mattresses, but that’s only one issue of concern. I’m more worried about their “Visco foam,” whatever that is!

They do have a CertiPUR certification, but this is from a polyurethane industry group. Finally, their flame retardant is proprietary, although they claim it’s natural and free of chemicals.

Natura mattresses may contain (depending on the model you select) boric acid and fiberglass flame-retardants, petroleum-derived latex (as in, not the kind from rubber trees), and nanoparticles.

Nectar has CertiPUR certification and is free of PBDEs. In other words, nothing about this mattress is particularly non-toxic, but it’s better than a standard mattress.

Nest Bedding says that they are an “Organic, Natural, and Certified Bedding and Mattress Company,” but they, too, rely on only CertiPUR certification.

Purple mattresses don’t have any of the certifications we look for even for our Okay Stuff category. Purple has CertiPUR, but nothing more. So if you’re wondering, “Are Purple mattresses non-toxic?” the answer is unfortunately, no.

Saatva and their sister company Loom & Leaf are memory foam mattresses with only CertiPUR certifications. They use only about 30% “plant-based foams.” The rest is petroleum-based.

The Sealy Naturalis mattress has an organic cotton layer; unfortunately, it is surrounded by a vinyl cover.

Swiss Dreams mattresses appear to have exactly zero certifications, making it impossible to back up any of their claims of non-toxicity.

YogaBed doesn’t even really make any claims of non-toxicity, but I’m calling it Sneaky Stuff. Anything with “yoga” in the name is trying to project a green image, don’t you think?

ZenHaven is just another mattress company jumping on the greenwashing bandwagon, and they have no certifications. This is not a non-toxic mattress.

Whew! We appreciate that this is a ton of information, but hope it helps you choose the best non-toxic mattress. If you have questions about other mattresses, please comment below.

Stay sane,
Author's Signature

Author's Signature

Maia, Founder & CEO

Note: This article contains affiliate links or sponsored content, which means that if you make a purchase, we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that meet our strict standards for non-toxicity and that we use (or want to use!) ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Good Stuff! 

Tags:Furniture & Decor, Home & Kitchen

929 comments

John Goss

OOPS, Sorry about that. I had Lifekind confused with another manufacturer. They do indeed look promising. We need to research a bit more but their GOLS certification looks good. Their prices look considerably higher than other manufacturers who are also fully certified and make great products.

Danielle

Hi! Do you feel that the WL futon is supportive enough for every night use for the growing bones of a 5 year old. When I think of futons, I think of occasional use like for guests. I’m interested in your thoughts!

Mark

Regarding the Lifekind bed, how long have you considered them “sneaky stuff”?. Maia James says
Saturday, January 23rd, 2016 10:34 AM at 10:34 am: “LifeKind looks promising, and it’s on our list for the next time we update the Safe Mattress Guide!”

John Goss

Hi Chloe,
John here…
Neither Helix nor Hula make any mention about being nontoxic…They have no certifications. I don’t think that’s their “thing”.

Contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com and I’ll help you find a truly nontoxic mattress.

John Goss

Hi Vanessa,

John here… Essential has been controversial for a long time and is involved in a class action lawsuit over false advertising… That’s enough to raise concerns. What risk it when there are a few really solid manufacturers out there? Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com and I’ll be happy to help. Best,

John Goss

From what I can see, Botanicore supplies latex foam to many different manufacturers and carries no organic or nontoxic certifications at all.

Looks like sneaky stuff to me.

John Goss

Hi folks,
John here from Gimme the Good Stuff…

One of the reasons that My Green Mattress has such cheap products is that, from all I can discover, they actually show no true certifications…(none that have much meaning anyway). Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff and I’ll be happy to guide you away from the “Sneaky Stuff” and towards “The Good Stuff” Let me know what sizes you are looking for. Best,

John Goss

Hi Jordan,
John here…
Although Astra claims to have GOLS certified latex, their certification documents show otherwise. Their GOLS certificate is issued to an entity in India, not to Astra. This may seem like a minor difference but it is not.

Their latex is certified only to the original supplier but from that point on any number of things can, (and do) happen that can cause their products to be other far less than organic. This is the most common problematic we see in the “nontoxic” mattress industry and it raises red flags. For about the same price you can get a great mattress with the most robust independent 3rd party certifications available…no sneaky stuff! There is a lot of deceptive marketing in the industry and unfortunately it is legal. Yikes! Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com I’m happy to help. Best…

Shannon

Hi John,

I sent you a direct email with my question. Thanks for your time! I was wondering what is “bad stuff” about the SC 41 mattress? It all seems to check out from their website according to the info above, with the OekoTex 100 certification and all. Thanks again

Chloe

Thank you so much for these reviews! I’m currently looking at a Hula Bed, have you heard of this? Any thoughts? Also the Helix mattress.

John Goss

Hi Shanan,
John here
From a look at the website, sc41 looks like it would not make our cut. Feel free to contact me directly and I’ll help you narrow the field to only the good stuff!

Best john@gimmethegoodstuff.com

Mark

Thank you for carefully researching this field, and for providing safe and healthy products. Wondering if you have seen this page on Lifekind’s web site about some competitor product claims (specifically Savvy Rest): https://www.lifekind.com/site_organic_products/site_organic_false_claims and if you have any comments.

Shan

I am pregnant and looking to buy a new bed soon (before baby comes). I would like to buy a healthy mattress but feel kind of lost in all the info out there. I recently visited a local store with healthy mattresses, but I need some insight on whether or not it truly is healthy.
Here is a link to their website
https://www.sc41.com/bedroom/sc41-natural-mattress/

Thank you so much for your time!

John Goss

Hi Megan,
I’ve looked into CozyPure before. They make a lot of claims about “Natural” (there is no legal definition), “Organic” (they show no documents to back this up), and even use the term “Fresh” (whatever that means!).

Unfortunately there is a ton of misleading marketing in the mattress industry. It is worth really looking into it before buying. Good for you! Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com I’ll be happy to help you. Best, John

Amanda

I purchased a Naturepedic crib mattress when my child moved out of the bassinet and have been using it for the past 6 years, but it’s now time to move to a twin bed. I’m finding myself quite overwhelmed with the options and the deception out there in this industry, even after reading your helpful product reviews. I was going to simply purchase a twin naturepedic, but I’ve read reviews saying the 1 sided twin is uncomfortably firm to the point of being able to feel the coils. What is your favorite, most budget friendly safe twin mattress?

Thank you!

Megan

Thank you for all this information! Have you looked into CozyPure?

Anna

Hi John,

I’m looking for the full mattress for my son, he has allergies and asthma. No springs. For adults Cal King. I an’t afford Naturepedic. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Kayla

I’m wondering the same thing. The wool they use is blended with polyester and bleached with hydrogen peroxide- that’s my best guess as to why. It’s not GOTS/equivalent.

Joh

I think you are all wrong in thinking latex foam is safe wether it is pure or not..

Max

Hi John – would love to hear your findings on SleepOnLatex as well, especially with those Oeko Tex100 Greenguard, and EcoInstitut certifications. Thinking about stretching to Essentia, but SleepOnLatex would be much closer to our budget – thanks so much, we love this site!

John Goss

Hi Coriena,

John here… Futonland does not look much like a company that is even slightly dedicated to healthy living. The overwhelming majority of their products are toxic. They claim to have USDA Organic certified cotton but don’t actually show their certification. There is a ton of misleading marketing in the mattress industry so it is worth being wary. They also state, “We don’t use any chemicals and lovingly make our products in the USA” but the foams used in almost all their products are absolutely toxic! Yikes! Their claim seems like an outright lie! I cannot imagine how they justify it. And the price for the “Organic Cotton” twin is almost $1500!!! Wow! For a far better futon with 100% certified organic cotton, wool and LATEX I’d recommend this at $1260: https://gimmethegoodstuff.com/store/soaring-heart-organic-cotton-latex-wool-futon/ Or for $630 you could have a 100% certified organic cotton/wool Shikibuton (a slightly thinner futon) https://gimmethegoodstuff.com/store/soaring-heart-organic-cotton-and-wool-shikibuton/ Soaring Heart has been deeply committed to nontoxic living for over 35 years. No “Sneaky Stuff”! Contact me directly and I’ll be happy to help you find a truly organic Futon/mattress. john@gimmethegoodstuff.com Best, John

John Goss

Hi Jessica,
John here…
Greenbuds advertises “natural” latex. All latex in the world is “natural” because the word “natural” has no legal definition.
We would prefer to see a GOLS certification written to Greenbuds…not some other entity.

Unfortunately there is a lot of greenwashing in the mattress industry and it can be very confusing. We like the following in a latex foam crib mattress: https://gimmethegoodstuff.com/store/soaring-heart-organic-latex-crib-mattress/ Best, John

John Goss

Hi Alex,

The best solution for slats is to go to your nearest lumber yard and get 1"x 3" or 3/4″ × 3″ or 1″×4″ (or something close to any of those dimensions) pine boards. They usually come in 8’ or 10’ lengths. Simply cut them to the correct length and you are done. No finish, no toxins, and inexpensive.

Angie

John – care to share more information on SleepOnLatex findings? thanks!

Jessica Htay

Have you researched GreenBuds? I can see they have GOT certification but I couldn’t find much else. Thanks!

Ash

SleepOnLatex claims to have the following certifications Oeko-Tex 100, Greenguard and ECOInstitut. Still a no-go??

https://sleeponlatex.com/blogs/news/34341957-health-and-environmental-certifications Thanks for the helpful website!

Natalia Bailey

Hi, first of all I love your website, it’s incredibly helpful when trying to navigate the many available baby products. Re mattresses, what about Lullaby Earth? I heard they are made by Naturepedic but they are the slightly cheaper version. How would you rate them?

Alex Green

Does anyone have an idea for what to get for slats to fit my open frame? I wanted to avoid wood that off-gasses. Thanks!

Coriena Witman

What about the organic cotton/wool mattresses on Futonland.com? It doesn’t say the wool is specifically organic, so I’m going to do some research, but one to put on the list I think. With a doctor/chiropractor note, you can get one without flame retardants. Thanks for all of the great information!

John Goss

Hi Caroline,

John here… Contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com and I will help you find something like this. Several of our manufacturers will custom make what you need.

John Goss

Hi Jaclyn,
John here…
I get asked about Tuft and Needle a lot. Unfortunately they fall into our “Sneaky Stuff” category. they make a bit of noise about being “Natural” but they fall well short. Even if they have no PBDE’s there are many other potential toxins that they may have.

The reality is that there is a lot of deceptive marketing in the mattress industry and sadly it is not illegal. The other reality is that truly certified nontoxic mattresses are not cheap…but I know of no high-quality mattresses that are. We continue to search for more affordable versions but so far they have proven impossible to find. Soaring Heart does make an interesting alternative. They’ve recently introduced a line of bedrolls that would likely make a fine bed for kids. The insert retails for $280 and the cover, (you choose the color) goes for $90. So for under $400 you’d get a 24″×72″, fully certified Organic Latex/Cotton/wool mattress that would likely function just fine as a childhood mattress. Unfortunately two of them side-by-side is not quite as wide as a “Full” bed and one is not quite as wide as a “Twin” bed. We have not yet put these bedrolls up on our site, but you can certainly order one through us. In fact, Soaring Heart will make custom sizes. Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.ord and I’ll help you find something that works.

John Goss

Hi Meg,
The plastic used in Naturepedic is generally pretty benign. In Maia’s review of their mattresses In her review of this product, Maia says…
“You know I am not a fan of any plastic, but the waterproof surface on Naturepedic’s cradle mattress is vinyl-free, and made from 100% food-grade polyethylene (the least toxic plastic). Features: Wipe clean waterproof surface is certified to not leach out harmful chemicals. The 100% polyethylene waterproof surface keeps fluids out of the mattress. It provides a non-toxic, stain resistant, easy-to-clean waterproof surface. It’s a safe alternative to vinyl/PVC.”

Caroline

Do you have any recommendations for a safe nap mat (for a toddler for daycare)? We have latex mattresses at home and I’m hoping ideally for a tiny foldable latex mattress for naps at school, but I’m not sure if such a thing exists. Thanks!

Lauren and Ian

Great! We may be contacting you soon! Thank you for the response.

Ian & Lauren

Jaclyn Fuchs

Hi there, any thoughts on Tuft and Needle. We just bought one for my daughter’s first “big girl bed” and I was surprised at the off gassing. They claim no PBDE’s but worried they might substitute something else since they don’t claim no flame retardants. We can’t afford a 1,000 full size bed for her the price was right but I’m also cons indebted about getting swindled, especially where her health is concerned. Thanks for any input!

John Goss

Hi Jennifer,
John here…
We’ve researched Sleeponlatex and unfortunately they fall considerably short of the mark. They use the word “Natural” a lot. The word “Natural” has no real meaning. It does not equate to non-toxic at all. But using that word can mislead many into thinking they are getting something they are not getting.

I’ll be happy to work with you one-on-one to help you find a truly organic, non-toxic mattress. john@gimmethegoodstuff.com

John Goss

Hi Jillian,
John here…
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I have reviewed both HC and Hastens. Unfortunately, in my opinion, neither would be considered “Good Stuff”. They each make lots of claims but neither seems to actually display their Independent 3rd party certifications. The best way to tell if a mattress is actually organic and nontoxic is to read the tag that is attached. If you are unsure, send me a photo of the tag and I’ll help you sort it out.

Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com Best

RodneyE

I agree about the myth about off-gassing. I recently had to change my mattress after I read this blog http://www.surplusfurniture.com/blog/know-when-to-say-good-bye-to-your-old-mattress/ . You can make your mattress last longer by rotating it on a regular basis. A single sided mattress should be rotated from end to end where the foot of the mattress faces the head of the bed and vice versa. A bed frame could be used as a support.

Jillian

I haven’t gotten to no pull-ups with my older son yet so I’m not sure. Have you tried calling naturepedic or the company you are considering to see what they say?

Janelle

In fact, they have their latex processed right on the plantations instead of bringing it back and having it processed here in order to be certain that there is no adulteration to its purity.

Janelle

Cozy Pure is local to me. We just visited their showroom last weekend in anticipation of ordering mattresses. They are 100% made out of what is listed in the “great ingredients” up there… wool, 100% latex, and organic cotton.

Jennifer

What does Maia think of this company and these mattresses?

https://sleeponlatex.com/products/natural-latex-mattress?variant=5950335109&gclid=CISKh4GsjM4CFQiQaQodlZoGMw#

Meg

Thanks but concerned if my son has an accident while sleeping would the non waterproof options prevent the mattress from becoming wet?

Jillian

Hi Meg,

This section from the guide above may apply to your question: Bad Stuff About Naturepedic The waterproof options use food-grade polyethylene for their outer layer (it acts as a moisture and vapor barrier). I’m skeptical about the safety of all plastics, although this one seems about as good as it gets for those of you wanting a truly waterproof mattress. I got the non-waterproof protectors for both my son’s changing pad and our mattresses and they actually wick the moisture really well! Not to get too graphic, but to help you out, when my son urinates while getting change, the liquid just beads up and puddles and I can quickly clean it up before it has a chance to absorb. Never actually waited to see how long it would take to absorb, if ever. But I really like it!

Jillian

This guide is incredibly informative and has been a life saver in purchasing mattresses for both my children and now that I am looking for a replacement for my old mattress, it is continuing to make my life so much easier. Thank you SO much!!

Since you are New York based, and many people from the city can easily take a Metro North train ride to Beacon to their showroom, I think it is worth reviewing the locally made, organic/natural mattresses of Heathy Choice Organic Mattress. My biggest issue with all the natural mattresses is that many of these companies do not have showrooms where I can try the mattress. Because it is a big investment, I may limit my search to just those I can actually try, which pretty much is HC Mattress and Hastens (and like you said, Hastens price range is limiting, even if worth it). I plan to go to HC Mattress’ showroom on Thursday, so I can report in on how it feels, but so far with a basic comparison of their materials to your guide, they seem to be Good Stuff. Of course, I really want to know what you think. I appreciate your feedback. Thank you!

John Goss

Hi Ian

John here… That’s a great question! Will your less-than-perfect mattress “pollute” your nontoxic pillow? Most mattresses have two basic areas of concern: 1) Fire retardants, which are actual very fine particles that “shed” for the life of the mattress. They accumulate as a tiny dust that is easily spread around your room and home. 2) VOC’s, which are gases. These off-gas more at first but slowly diminish over the years. The particles likely will not accumulate in you pillow. The gasses will also not likely adhere to the pillow in any significant way…BUT…I am cannot say that with absolute certainty. ? It seems to me that the gasses that escape from the mattress do so because of an ongoing slow chemical reaction or degradation. Once released from the the material they were bonded to, I think they are prone to staying airborne rather that re-bonding back to a cloth surface. But that is just a semi-educated guess. I may have a way for you to get a great nontoxic mattress and save a bit. You can reach me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com

John Goss

Hi Ian

John here… That’s a great question! Will your less-than-perfect mattress “pollute” your nontoxic pillow? Most mattresses have two basic areas of concern: 1) Fire retardants, which are actual very fine particles that “shed” for the life of the mattress. They accumulate as a tiny dust that is easily spread around your room and home. 2) VOC’s, which are gases. These off-gas more at first but slowly diminish over the years. The particles likely will not accumulate in you pillow. The gasses will also not likely adhere to the pillow in any significant way…BUT…I am cannot say that with absolute certainty. :( It seems to me that the gasses that escape from the mattress do so because of an ongoing slow chemical reaction or degradation. Once released from the the material they were bonded to, I think they are prone to staying airborne rather that re-bonding back to a cloth surface. But that is just a semi-educated guess. I may have a way for you to get a great nontoxic mattress and save a bit. You can reach me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com

John Goss

Hi Tia,

John here… Thanks for the question and thanks for your dedication to nontoxic living! I have looked into Denver Mattress several times and have found them to be what we call “Sneaky Stuff”. They make a lot of claims which, as far as I can see, they fail to back up. Their independent 3rd party certifications appear to be lacking or non existent. Also, if you review the entire line of products they sell you will quickly see that their commitment to selling nontoxic products is weak-to-none. They offer a line of products marketed as nontoxic but most of what they sell is not. You can contact me directly and I’ll be happy to help you find a great truly nontoxic mattress. john@gimmethegoodstuff.com

Kim Phillips

So did you end up with the mattress from denver mattress? It seems pretty safe. would love to know what you ended up deciding. I am leaning towards a naturpedic even though it has the springs (i wot have any emf things in my daughters room so I am hoping it won’t be an issue) because I can get a 15% discount from a friend.

Kim Phillips

I have been doing hours of research. Loom and leaf and their other company stave both claim to be green. The foams they use are 30-40% plant based but the rest are petroleum based foams. I decided against them for this reason. Such a bummer. Tuft and needle also has a petroleum based foam.

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