Organic

Organic Mattresses

Organic MattressesLet us start by saying there is currently no Organic Mattress certified by USDA on the market. There are mattresses called Organic but they are not certified as whole finished product but rather the components they are built from are certified Organic (natural latex foam, cotton, wool…) In recent years more consumers concerned with their well-being and their environmental impact began to search for all natural, healthier mattress options that are produced sustainably without toxins. Organic mattresses are natural, healthy alternatives to mattresses made with synthetic materials like polyurethane, nylon, polyester, formaldehyde and flame-retardant chemicals including silicone, boric acid, phosphates, melamine and polyvinylidene chloride. Vast majority of mattresses contain at least one component made form these synthetic materials and are not considered Organic. Organic mattress and all its components are made from organic cotton or wool, organic silk, natural latex rubber, wood, shredded coconut shells or horsehair. Do not assume it is an Organic mattress when the label says it is green, all natural, eco-friendly, or sustainable.

Benefits of organic mattress are obvious from a health stand point – less exposure to chemicals each night, reduced allergic reactions, since some natural materials are hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial and improved temperature regulation because of superior breathability. Organic mattresses also tend to decompose faster after being disposed, creating less long-term waste.

In order for a mattress to be labeled Organic ALL its components must be produced in full compliance with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations or must be produced in accordance with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world's leading processing standard for organic textiles and fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. The aim of the standard is to define globally recognised requirements that ensure the organic status, from harvesting of the raw materials through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing all the way to labelling in order to provide credible assurance to the end consumerGlobal Organic Textile Standard. This was explicitly directed in the USDA NOP Policy Memorandum (PM-11-14) addressing the labeling of textile products containing organic ingredients and made it more transparent for consumer to distinguish a true Organic product.

To have a competitive advantage in a pursuit of consumer manufacturers decided to use third party certification bodies to issue eco-labels for the mattress components (cotton, foam, wool, etc). These labels either confirm the components’ health impact (i.e., absence of toxins) or its environmental sustainability (i.e., organic production, minimal environment impact after disposal). These labels provide valuable information about the product but do not guarantee that the whole mattress is Organic.

We don't verify any claims provided by manufactures. The list of brands below features brands that offer either organic mattresses or organic components in their mattresses.

What is an Organic Mattress?

Unfortunately organic mattresses are not that closely regulated as organic food and organic food production processes. Manufacturers try to use the word organic together with other popular terms like natural, eco-friendly, green, or sustainable to attract many health and environment cautious customers. Organic cotton cover doesn’t make the whole mattress organic.

In order for a mattress to be labeled Organic ALL its components must be produced in full compliance with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations or must be produced in accordance with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world's leading processing standard for organic textiles and fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. The aim of the standard is to define globally recognised requirements that ensure the organic status, from harvesting of the raw materials through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing all the way to labelling in order to provide credible assurance to the end consumerGlobal Organic Textile Standard. This was explicitly directed in the USDA NOP Policy Memorandum (PM-11-14) addressing the labeling of textile products containing organic ingredients and made it more transparent for consumer to distinguish a true Organic product.

Benefits Of Organic Mattress

Less exposure to chemicals
Reduced allergic reactions
Superior breathability
Increased moisture absorption
Reduced impact on environment

Organic Mattress Construction

As we mentioned earlier for mattress to be labeled Organic all its components and layers must be organic and meet the standards of either USDA NOP or GOTS.

Organic cotton, wool, bamboo or silk cover will usually make the top layer. Most of the time manufacturers use organic wool as a natural fire retardant material. Comfort layers are made from lower density organic latex, organic cotton or organic wool padding. The support layer is made from high-density organic latex core.

Organic Materials

Organic materials must be grown under organic conditions or comply with organic standards for harvesting and processing. They are produced without the use of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers or other toxic elements like synthetic bleaches and dyes.

Popular organic materials used in organic bedding include cotton, wool, 100% natural latex, silk, and bamboo. Less popular materials include hemp, shredded coconut shells, corn husks, wood, horsehair, natural oils and waxes.

Many manufacturers obtain certifications for the organic mattress components from the reputable third party certification bodies. It really matters who is certifying the product and what is actually being certified. These labels provide valuable information about the certified material but do not guarantee that the whole mattress is Organic. Some of the trusted certifications are Global Organic Textile Standard, OneCert, Global Organic Latex Standard, Control Union, The Institute for Marketecology, Oeko-Tex 100, CertiPUR-US® , Oregon Tilth and GreenGuard.

Organic Fire Retardant Solutions

Where standard mattresses use flame-retardant chemicals polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) or fibers like Kevlar, organic mattresses use unique flame-resistance techniques to comply with federal law. Most of the time they use organic wool as a natural fire retardant material, some use rayon and cloth made of hydrated silica and baking soda. By using these natural components they comply with the law and also provide toxin free sleeping surface.

Some manufacturers use removable cover that contains fire-retardant chemicals but can be removed by consumers who are worried about long-term effects of these chemicals. This way, manufacturers comply with the federal regulation and the decision of removing the cover is up to the consumer.

Some manufacturers can legally avoid the fire safety law by making mattresses without the required fire retardants for consumers who have medical condition and have to avoid fire-retardant chemicals to prevent allergic reactions. Obviously, these products are not intended for general public and are prescribed by a physician.

Organic Mattress Shopping Tips

If you have made a decision to get an Organic mattress you have plenty of reading to do. As mentioned above for mattress to be labeled Organic all its components and layers must be organic and meet the standards of either USDA NOP or GOTS. That sounds fairly straightforward but there are only a few products that are fully certified Organic.
You may settle for a product that is not certified Organic but has the most components certified by credible third party certifications. 100% natural latex, organic cotton, wool, silk and bamboo are popular organic materials.

Take your time to read labels and ask questions. Not every mattress labels as “natural” is really Organic. Be aware of popular terms like green, all natural, eco-friendly, and sustainable. These words are freely used by manufacturers to describe materials that are not organic and these materials may contain certain percentage of synthetic or non-organic matter (natural latex blend 60% natural / 40% synthetic or knit cover made from 80% organic cotton). Most of the so-called bio foams, like soy-based foam, tea extract foam and others, use polyurethane as a main substance.

Organic mattresses offer several health benefits and at the same time are more environment friendly. They minimize the exposure to chemicals and synthetic materials found in standard mattresses. By using organic materials they are typically more breathable. They also follow strict regulation for production of its components and significantly reduce waste and pollution.

Learn about warranties of different products. Find out how long is the mattress fully covered, and if the warranty is pro-rated, know what portion of the replacement cost you will be responsible for. Make sure you ask your store about exchange/return options and exchange/return costs. Read the fine print of the exchange/return policy before you place an order.

Always ask for a special financing offers or the incentive for not using one. Some retailers charge delivery and old mattress removal fees that can significantly add to the final amount. Always ask for free gifts with a mattress purchase, it is always nice to get free pillows, mattress protector or set of sheets.