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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
929 comments
Maia James
Hi Anna,
He says this about Greensleep: “Everything is “natural Dunlop” (meaningless), with an organic case. No certifications anywhere. Also latex breaks down from the perimeter in, so by having multiple slabs of latex in different sizes on top of each other is a bad idea. Basically as the mattress starts to break down in the middle it will create a major valley in the middle where the customized latex cores meet." Again…I extend a personal invitation to work with me directly, one-on-one, to help you find exactly what you are looking for in a quality, TRULY non-toxic mattress. You can contact me directly at : john@gimmethegoodstuff.comJohn here again…
I just heard back from my “guy” in the industry. (That was quick!)
Maia James
Hi Anna,
As you have figured out by now, getting to the truth about non-toxic mattresses can be maddening. There is a tremendous amount of greenwashing and deceptive marketing going on. It also seems that every week a new manufacturer pops up. I have not looked into Greensleep yet. I just made a quick pass through their website and they use the right language but their certification page leaves something to be desired. I will send an email to an industry insider who knows how to quickly get to the bottom of things. Within a couple of days I should hear his take on Greensleep. Even if they prove to be less than what you’d hoped for, we represent mattress manufacturers who regularly ship to Canada. I’ll be happy to work with you to help you find the right mattress. Finally, if you have not done so already, you might want to read my “What to Consider when Considering a Mattress” piece on our website. https://gimmethegoodstuff.com/buying-a-mattressJohn here. I’m the mattress person here at Gimme the Good Stuff.
You are the second Canadian this week to ask about mattresses!
Anna
Hello and thanks so much for this guide. In Canada our selection is unfortunately a lot more limited. I’ve spent a lot of time researching mattresses after the birth of our little one. I’m leaning towards a Green Sleep mattress and would really appreciate your feedback.
http://www.greensleep.com/enSally
We bought a casper mattress and are happy with it. I did a great deal of research for an affordable mattress that did not have harmful chemicals. Although Casper may not be perfectly pure, and who knows what that is?, I have felt safe sleeping on it and have recommended it to friends. Their customer service is excellent and I believe that they are a transparent company dedicated to avoiding “sneaky stuff.” We are in the market for another mattress and I am hard pressed to find a better deal.
Jennifer
Also interested in loom and leaf
Maia James
Hi Rachel:
We’ve been very happy with the WL futon, but yes, it feels like a cotton futon, not an innerspring mattress! But my son sleeps well on his, and we’ve had guests sleep on it as well—no complaints! Not sure what I more I can say about it—-a topper would definitely make it cushier if you feel like it would be too firm for your child but that has not been our experience.
Rachel
We are interested in a White Lotus mattress for our 3-year-old. We’re satisifed that it’s non-toxic, BUT we have question about a factor that got cast aside in our quest to avoid carginogens… Is it actually comfortable (for kids)? Did you need to get a topper? Futon-style mattresses can be so firm. WL basically doesn’t have a return policy, so I don’t want to ship it to California only to find it’s hard as a rock. A search of their Yelp results is inconclusive. Since you purchased WL for your own kids, will you let us know?
Thank you!Maia James
Hi Debbie, There is a tremendous amount of green-washing and disinformation in the “non-toxic” mattress world. There are also new players arriving almost daily. Unfortunately most are not what they say they are. I am not familiar with Botanical Bliss. When I get a few minutes I’ll look into them.
The certification process (GOLS, GOTS, Oeko Tex, etc) are thorough and very complex. This means that their certification can be very meaningful…but…it also can be used to trick consumers. There are many levels of these certifications. The ones that Sleep EZ has are pretty basic and in no way cover the full spectrum we (Gimme the Good Stuff) needs to see in order to qualify the product as “Good Stuff”. This is from one of our contacts who is very knowlegeable in this area… “The long and the short of this is that the folks at sleepez are fantastic at greenwashing. Due to compliance regs they have to label their product what it is, in this case “natural dunlop latex” but they can stick whatever image they want on the product pic (in this case the 100% organic which only refers to the case). Additionally, their links to the GOLS certification is a link to their suppliers GOLS certification not their own, they sell the natural dunlop which isn’t listed on the GOLS certification for Latex Green (their supplier) at all." There are many other mattress companies that have smelled the $$$ and gone the same route…making a marginally “healthy” seeming product, but using every trick to fool unwary consumers. If you are looking for the purest possible mattress, the folks at Soaring Heart, Savvy Rest and White Lotus make the ones that I place the most stock in. You can email me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com and I’ll be happy to help you find the nontoxic mattress that best suits your needs and is truly “non-toxic”.Debbie
Could you please tell me what concerns there are with regards to Talalay latex such as is found in Savvy Rest and Botanical bliss mattresses ? Is this a health concern? I had posted a comment earlier, but no longer see it- could someone help with this answer. Thanks. Deb
.Debbie
Could you please tell me what yout concern would be with regard to the Talalay latex that is found in the SAvvy Rest mattress and is also found in the Plush Beds Botanical Bliss mattress? The latter is having a great sale for Presidents Day but I not sure about the Talalay. Thanks for your quick response in advance. Deb
Anna B
Hi!
I am so thankful for your post! I was going crazy trying to figure out what and who to trust when looking for a new mattress. When we got our mattress they asked us what kind of mattress protector we wanted, and their options didn’t seem very appealing, plastic and/or treated with weird stuff, but I do want something that protects the mattress so it’ll last longer. Do you have any suggestions? One big downer is that we got our son a Keetsa mattress before I knew better. It has both coils and flame retardants (apparently) so I’m now massively uncomfortable with that choice :/ But not sure what to do, is there anything I can do to at least help protect him from the fire retardants? He will soon be sleeping on a grounding mat which should prevent any negative effect of the coils at least. Also wanted to add another company to your list to look up later. Samina, a European manufacturer. I couldn’t afford their mattress but I got one of their grounding pads (lokosana) who protects from EMF’s while you sleep. Not sure if you’re familiar with it. Cheers, -AnnaJolanda
OOps sorry, ignore my inquiry above, I mean I was looking into this bed for my fiance and my wedding registry. Many third party certifications :) AND affortable!
Any feedback from Mariah or Maia James? :)
Jolanda
Did anyone get a chance to research this one yet? I am looking into putting this on my fiance and my registry for a new mattress for us :)
Lucy
I would love to know this too! It would be so helpful as I need to buy a mattress, and would love to have the least toxic one that falls in my budget( 600 and under) until one day when I can invest in a great one:)
Looking forward to these posts, and thanks for all of your research!Maia James
Hi Alison!
Because the laws have changed, any mattress can now be made without fire retardants, which is, in my opinion, the most toxic thing in conventional mattresses. If you have been assured by a manufacturer—Ikea or otherwise—that their mattress is completely untreated with any chemical flame retardants, that should put your mind at ease. I like the idea of coming up with a list of the best inexpensive mattresses—I’ll add it to our list for a future post!
alison
Hi , Are the natural latex mattress options at Ikea awful? Pure green actually looks great and it is certified by OKO, and GOTS but I have no idea, white lotus and your other choices are far out of my price range. Your help would be greatly appreciated , what would be great is a list for those of use who are on a very tight budget, maybe a list of the top five less expensive options,
thanks,
alison
Maia James
I don’t like Intellibed, Laura. You can see what I say about them above, under The Sneaky Stuff tab.
Maia James
Hi Mindy-
Casper isn’t the worst, but not the best either. You can see what I said about them under The Sneaky Stuff tab, above. Naturepedic makes some more affordable mattresses—what’s the top of your budget?
Mindy
Great research on mattresses. I have a 7 week old son who I currently co sleep with. I say “I” because right now we are sleeping on the couch since our current mattress seems a bit too soft/spongy. I am waning to transition to a king size bed anyhow however we cannot afford any of the organic mattresses you mentioned. Our budget is around $1,000. I’ve been looking int the Caper mattress. Do you have thoughts on it? Or do you know of any other mattresses in that price range good for co sleeping. I would love a memory foam but after all I’ve read that’s a big no no. I’m lost on where to keep looking. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!Maia James
Hi Carolyn-
Certipur is a 2nd party certification rather than a 3rd (meaning it’s basically a trade association for the polyurethane foam industry). With that said, it sounds like they don’t use flame retardants or noxious glue, so for the price point, this may not be a bad option. If you email john@gimmethegoodstuff.com and tell him I sent you, he may be able to get you a discount on a Soaring Heart or White Lotus mattress or futon.
maia
Hi Isabella-
At this point, your best bet might be to speak to our mattress expert, John, who could help you sort through this and find the most affordable mattress that will also be nontoxic (he’s really great—and he won’t only try to sell you what we offer in our store…he often does extra research for readers about other brands they might be considering). You can reach out to him at john@gimmethegoodstuff.com.
Best of luck to you!
Isabella
Thank you so much for your diligent work & research, I have been looking for a healthy mattress for over three years and it can make your head spin,
The folks at Natural bed are amazing and very revealing with all of their mattress making process. The non toxic bed people were not as easy to communicate with and something seemed off to me on their site and description of materials used. The Futon Shop uses boric acid, they are very layed back and seem to not be concerned with selling or not, their latex was not revealed as pure and they do use polyester and memory foam in some of their beds. I bought a mattress from Saatva Mattress, but it had a oily wet feel and an odor. We could not be in the same room with it, due to the smell. The folks there were very nice and came back the next day & removed it from my home and refunded 100% of all the money I spent. I may have got a fluke, not sure. I still have not bought a mattress yet, just not sure who to trust. I think NaturalBed.com seems legit, but who knows? I thank you for the certification info, as anyone can add those to a site, it is good to know what to look for. My doctor refused to write a note, saying she nor her associates ever heard of toxic beds. I gave her two pages of independent studies, she stated she could only find issues for babies, children and pregnant women. Nothing for the rest. ??? I felt that proved these chemicals are bad for all. I have asthma and severe chemical sensitivity and my husband has emphysema, I would think if anyone qualified for a non chemical bed we do. We all do. It is crazy they put this stuff in our beds and furniture and clothes, knowing how harmful it is, When the polyurethane & polyester are highly flammable and deadly when burning within 3 seconds, after fire starts, anyone in the building will suffocate from the fumes. Why not just quit making things out of these and there would be no need for fire retardants? I have to wonder; are the Doctors being paid to not write notes by the mattress company’s. like they are by the pharmaceutical company’s and the government? Or is it a liability fear or both? Well I guess my frustration of three years of mattress searching, just came out. (Sorry so long) I hope my search ends soon as our current mattress has had it as well as my sanity. I hate that a healthy mattress is so high in cost, however, I would rather spend money on my ‘living bed’ than my ‘death bed’ after I am gone. And if I cut corners I sleep in a death bed while living, So saving up and spending crazy money on a mattress seems to only make sense with the choices we are given, Like they say; “if you spend money on anything make it your shoes & your bed because you spend your life in one or the other.” Thank You again for all this time consuming research, keep up the great & needed work. Happy sleeping all.Have you checked Naturalbed.com in Nebraska and Nontoxicbeds.com in Jeffersonville Indiana.
Carolyn
Thank you for the helpful information! I love this site and always refer to it to aide in purchasing decisions (I purchased the home detox guide too!). As I move my 3-year old to a twin bed so our baby can have the crib, I want to purchase a mattress that is safe for both kids, replace the mattress in the crib and replace our queen size mattress. However, on one salary from the military, we don’t have much money. After much searching online and trying to figure out how we can manage this, I found a company called Tuft & Needle that makes a foam mattress. I know you aren’t a big fan of foam but you do list one foam bed as good stuff so I thought I would ask some questions. They make a different type of foam that isn’t memory foam or latex. Using EG’s post above, I asked them some questions. But I’m not an expert like you so I’m sure I left out some important questions. Here’s what I asked and their responses:
→I am looking for non-toxic, affordable mattresses for my family Representative: Our mattress has been tested to be free from harmful chemicals :) →I want something free of flame retardants but I cannot find in your FAQ if your mattresses use any type of flame retardants. →Do you have any information on VOC emissions? Representative: It passes the strict testing set by CertiPur, which reviews the tests performed in a lab, that our mattress is free from harmful chemicals, known carcinogens, PBDEs, heavy metals, or formaldehyde Representative: We don’t use flame retardants Representative: We use a flame resistant cover made from a polyester/rayon blend Representative: You can read about Certipur here if you’d like Representative: http://certipur.us/for-consumers/ →Ok, I will look at that link. Do you have a Material Safety Data Sheet? Representative: We don’t →I know wool is naturally flame resistant but how does the polyester/rayon blend pass flammability tests? Representative: There is a lot of good info on the Certipur website about what they test for →ok Representative: The cover also has silica incorporated into it to make it flame resistant Representative: The fabric blend that is inherently fire resistant, with no extra flame retardant chemicals in our foam. →ok, thanks. Representative: My pleasure Representative: Anything else? →Ok, I assume you also do not use boric acid like other mattress manufacturers Representative: Nope →Ok, great! One last question: how are the 2 foam layers adhered to one another? A water-based glue? Representative: yes, it’s essentially just rubber and water Representative: and we use very little of as not to restrict airflowTianna Tagami
Do you know anything about Spindle Mattress? They claim to be 100% natural latex with organic cotton padding and cover.
Laura
Hi Maia,
Thank you for writing this article. I am currently in the market for a new bed and I’ve slipped down a rabbit hole learning about all of the toxins and the regulations for flame risistence. I am wondering if you know anything about Intellibed? Any info you have is greatly appreciated.
Maia James
Hi Jennifer!
Do you mean Mighty Nest the retailer? Perhaps they are now private labeling a mattress?
Maia James
Hi Lau!
This mattress looks great! I know about Kalon furniture, which I’ve recommended to many of my consulting clients. I didn’t know they made a mattress! Thanks for letting me know.
Maia James
Hi Piper, and so sorry for the long delay (only now seeing your comment!). LifeKind looks promising, and it’s on our list for the next time we update the Safe Mattress Guide!
Maia James
Yes Jeff, as noted above, Keetsa is Sneaky Stuff.
Suzanne Weaver-Goss
Ha, Sonia! That’s one solution:)
Lau
Thanks for the great review ! We bought the Dream n•1 mattress for our son after an extensive review process – http://kalonstudios.com/shop/dream-no-1-mattress/. I am surprised that it didn’t make it to your good stuff list .. (Nb. We sleep on savvy rest ourselves). Could you please let me know your thoughts ? Thanks
Kathy McNally
I’m curious about Cozy Pure, too. I have a 7 yr old Tempurpedic I’m hoping to replace soon.K
Vanessa
I also came back to your page to see if you had an opinion about the Loom and Leaf by Saatva. I’ve been doing a lot of research because I’m in desperate need of a new mattress and want a healthy one. Can’t afford many of them. Must keep it under $2k and Loom and Leaf sounds like a good option (though not completely organic), only an organic cotton top. Have you looked into them at all?
Jennifer Crowder
Love your article on non toxic mattresses. Who knew it would be so hard to find an affordable, safe, non-toxic mattress. I really appreciate all the research you put into this as well. I also found another website http://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/natural-and-eco-friendly-mattresses showing 19 natural and eco friendly beds. A couple companies they list, you already address. Using the information you provided I put them to the test (if you hadn’t already mentioned the company). I’m looking for a big girl bed for my 2 year old and really don’t want to spend a ton of money on a mattress, but at the same time I want her to have a safe, non-toxic bed to sleep on. On the website I list above there’s a company called Mighty Nest and I was just curious if you’ve heard of them and what rating you would give them. They are a more affordable option and seem to meet the standards you set in your article. They are Certified by OTCO to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). I just want to make sure I’m not missing something before choosing which bed to buy my daughter. thank you in advance!
Irene
Hi. Has anyone heard of Pure Green Natural Latex sold on sleeponlatex.com? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
Irene
The name of the matters is Pure Green Natural Latex. The website is sleeponlatex.com. I too am looking into mattress specifically for my 9 year old. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
CJ
Does anyone have any experience with Brentwood Home Bamboo Gel mattresses? Do these seem like safe® foam mattresses? www.brentwoodhome.com
Kim
Yes, I would also like to know about Loom and Leaf by Saatva.
Fiona
Hi, this post has been so informative, thank you!
No I’m thinking it could be the toxins of course, and being in the UK have found this company; Naturalmat.co.uk I wondered how exactly I can try to investigate that they are as ‘organic’ as they say they are, before I spend £1,000 more than planed on one from their selection. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and I feel really excited to have found your blog. FionaI’m in the UK and had a decision made on a gel mattress, when I stumbled across an article that flagged the possible toxicity of it. I currently wake up with allergies, which I suspected were from dust mites, which is why I chose a ‘gel’.
kimberly bacher
Hi — I was wondering what your views were on the room and board mattress? Also, do you think finding a CertiPUR-US is meaningful? Thanks — we are lost trying to find a mattress for our toddler and the ones you recommended are so $$$, but there are some reasonable Certi-PUR ones available… not sure if that is enough though. Thanks.
Jordan
Hey Maia – do you know anything about astrabeds? I just ordered one… They are usda certified organic, along with seceral other certs… Organic latex, wool and cotton… I cant find much info on them from other sites… Returnable within 90 days… Would love any insight, thanks!
Jacky
Hi! This info is amazing! Last time we bought a mattress we were so overwhelmed and gave in and bought a regular mattress. Would you say that Casper is the “best” alternative if we want to stay in that price point? Or is there another you’d reccommend in that price point? Thank you!!
Jean M
Thank you, Maia. This is exactly what I am looking for. Have you heard about Cozy Pure? Their price seems affordable and the mattress are organic certified? Can you please advice if there is any sneaky part? Thank you.
Michelle C
I feel so lucky to have stumbled across your website while attempting to research for our first mattress purchase. I am very interested in White Lotus and Soaring Heart and was wanting your opinion on the White Lotus Latex Sleep System. Just because of the better price point on White Lotus Latex I wanted to see if it really was another viable option. You don’t have it in your store so I am wondering if it contains anything iffy.. It isn’t the evergreen foam you mentioned in your post. Thank you so much for your blog and your help!
Puja
What a wonderful, comprehensive article. Thank you so much! I am looking for a twin mattress for my 3 year old and possibly replacing our crib mattress for our next baby. Have you heard of the Brentwood Home company? They are Certi-Pur but don’t have any other certifications. However, I am very convinced by their website and materials used in their mattresses (looking at the Bamboo Gel 11). Just good marketing on their behalf? ;) The wool they use does not state it’s organic but based on your comments about that above, I am okay with that. I’m much more concerned about flame retardant chemicals. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you! PujaEG
Thanks for the reply!
I just wanted to update my experience with Denver Mattress for the internet chronicles. First, the phone representative I spoke with was ill-informed, but thankfully gave me the number for the regional manager. I was quite impressed to receive TWO phone calls from two different higher-ups in the company within 15 minutes. I ended up emailing a list of questions and heard back, on a Friday evening, again with amazing speed. They explained they are still working on the product description, so some of this should be reflected on their own website in the near future. This is from the vice president and general manager of manufacturing and design: “I appreciate the customer that really wants to know what is inside the mattress vs. what may be claimed. Unfortunately, I see many beds in retail stores that say Organic Cotton and while it may be true that 10% is organic, the other is either synthetic fibers or other non-organic fibers incorporated into it. Our components are Certified by either GOTS or GOLS and our factory also is certified for each standard by Control Union, which is an internationally known inspection operation. The standards are very rigorous, so your in depth questions are very exciting to hear. There are less than 5 certified Organic mattress companies in the USA and I believe with the awareness generated by Organic foods, consumers are now looking for other categories that are truly what they say they are. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to email to assist you with getting a clearer understanding of Denver Mattress Organic lineup.” In answer to my questions he wrote: - What kind of latex is used? Is it 100% pure, botanically derived? It is Organic Latex GOLS Certified. It is 100% Naturally grown from Certified Organic Rubber Trees. - What percentage of the foam is made from latex sap, as opposed to soda ash? No soda ash used. - Is it processed via the dunlop or talalay method? Dunlop - Are the layers of latex adhered to one another? (If so, with what?) Water based latex glue certified GOTS - How are the federal flame retardant standards met? Does the mattress include boric acid? Using GOTS Certified Organic Cotton ticking and GOTS Certified Organic Wool which passed CPSC 1633 burn tests. I personally observed the burn tests. No Boric Acid used. - Is the mattress flippable? Technically yes. The bottom side would be substantially firmer than the top side. - What is the cover made of? GOTS Certified Organic Cotton - Is there anything between the cover and the latex? GOTS Certified Wool with GOTS Certified Cotton quilt backing - Where is the mattress produced? The Denver Mattress HeveaPUR mattress is assembled at Denver Mattress factory (Denver, CO) which is Certified by Control Union. - Do you have any information on VOC emissions? The Denver Mattress HeveaPUR mattress passes the ECO lab tests as well as California Prop 65 tests. - Which components of the mattress are certified organic, and via what certification agencies? Wool & Cotton are certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) & Latex is certified by GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standards). Denver Mattress is verified by Control Union and can be verified on their website for both GOTS and GOLS. - Can I see the Material Safety Data Sheet? None generated as no chemicals used.Liz
Great website. My Husband and I are due for a new bed and are having a tough time finding Organic ones in the St Pete, Fl area. We did visit a store in Sarasota and were wondering what you knew of the brand Biscayne Bedding. I know if did have coils, but by what the Owner said it seemed like a fairly healthy bed. They had Dunlapillo also, but it was not quite as cozy. Thanks so much for all you do to make us sleep healthier!
Maia James
Hi…John here…
Your decision to bypass the CertiPUR products is probably a good one. As for the 100% Organic mattress… This seems strange because even the companies who are totally committed to non-toxic sleepgear, (it’s the ONLY thing they do), do not offer a 100% Organic mattress…but without being able to see the data and certifications I’m unable to form an opinion based on anything but my experience and research. Again…this industry is full of “Sneaky Stuff” and we have found the sales staff in a many stores are not nearly as educated on the subject as they might be. I went to their website and found a mattress with pretty good certifications re: organic but the picture is incomplete. For instance, they do not mention what they use for fire retardants…which is one of our big concerns. Also, I saw that this mattress carries only a 15 year warranty. Another concern is that emerging data indicates that sleeping on steel springs (box springs or mattress springs) may also compromise our health. It has to do with the concentration of Electro magnetic fields etc. Early studies are suggesting a link with, among other things, breast cancer. A lot more research needs to be done, but because steel springs are entirely unnecessary, why not eliminate them? You might want to look into it. As you know, a good mattress is a significant investment and you should be confident that you are getting what you think you are getting. You probably know that we sell several lines of great mattresses, and we’d love it if you made your purchase through us. But we don’t want you to think that we will only guide our readers to products we sell. Our mission is to help folks make healthy choices, whether we sell that product or not. If you tell me what it is you are looking for, I can guide you to products on our site that match your needs. Thanks for the great questions. Best, JohnThanks for the questions about mattresses, and YES, this arena can be maddening and very confusing. We have done, (and continue to do), quite a bit of research about mattresses and there is an extraordinary amount of green-washing in this industry.
EG
Today I went to Denver Mattress, which sells several generic brands but also makes their own line in the U.S.A which are certified by CertiPUR. Damn I fell in love with one of those models, and the price, but upon doing more research the certification is dubious.
HOWEVER, they have also just released a new line of 100% organic mattresses, and apparently even have yet to sell one from this store. More expensive and not quite as heavenly to the touch, but actually the least expensive organic mattress I’ve ever bumped into. So my question is: If something is certified organic, does that cover the peripheral concerns about secret additives, plastics, blends, et al.? Or what are the necessary followup questions? This arena is maddening and confusing; thanks for your research~Sonja
How about a straw mattress?? We slept on them when we were kids. Changed them every two weeks. Organic!!??