Conventional mattresses contain a surprisingly large amount of chemicals. Sometimes you can even smell these chemicals off-gassing, especially if the mattress is new. We are exposing our bodies to our mattress for long, continuous amounts of time when we sleep. Because of that, it's sensible to look into healthier options when buying a new mattress. Besides your health, the environmental impact of your mattress is also important to consider. You don't want to buy a mattress which causes a lot of fossil fuels to be consumed, or pesticides to be applied.
Do you know how to shop for an eco-friendly mattress? Even the most knowledgeable of consumers often have difficulty in this area. It doesn't help that certain mattress products may even be advertised overly-optimistically as eco-friendly whereas in reality their eco-friendly content may be low or negligible. Let's find out here what to look for - and what to avoid - when shopping for a green mattress.
Things to look for in an eco-friendly mattress
1. Made from natural materials.
Check what the mattress is made of. Some popular eco-friendly mattress materials are: latex, wool and cotton. Synthetic materials (e.g. polyurethane or memory foam) will by definition not be environmentally friendly.
Check what the mattress is made of. Some popular eco-friendly mattress materials are: latex, wool and cotton. Synthetic materials (e.g. polyurethane or memory foam) will by definition not be environmentally friendly.
2. High percentage of the natural material above.
Just because a mattress is advertised as containing, say, natural latex, this does not necessarily mean that latex will be the primary material. Less scrupulous mattress firms may advertise something as 'eco-friendly' when in reality it might have as little as 10% natural content, with the remaining mattress layers or core 90% synthetic. Ask questions about the percentage of natural content when you visit the mattress showroom, and ask to see proof of that percentage. Such proof might be from manufacturer's tag sewn to mattress, or an informational brochure or published online specifications from the manufacturer of that product line. Request to see a sample of the inner cross-section of the actual mattress, or even better unzip the mattress cover to see the actual inner core.
Just because a mattress is advertised as containing, say, natural latex, this does not necessarily mean that latex will be the primary material. Less scrupulous mattress firms may advertise something as 'eco-friendly' when in reality it might have as little as 10% natural content, with the remaining mattress layers or core 90% synthetic. Ask questions about the percentage of natural content when you visit the mattress showroom, and ask to see proof of that percentage. Such proof might be from manufacturer's tag sewn to mattress, or an informational brochure or published online specifications from the manufacturer of that product line. Request to see a sample of the inner cross-section of the actual mattress, or even better unzip the mattress cover to see the actual inner core.
3. Sustainable or eco-friendly materials and production.
A truly eco-friendly mattress will not only be made from natural materials - it will also be crafted in a sustainable manner and have a low carbon footprint. For example, if you are planning on buying a latex mattress, check that the latex comes from plantations which are carefully managed in a sustainable way, with new latex trees being constantly planted.
A truly eco-friendly mattress will not only be made from natural materials - it will also be crafted in a sustainable manner and have a low carbon footprint. For example, if you are planning on buying a latex mattress, check that the latex comes from plantations which are carefully managed in a sustainable way, with new latex trees being constantly planted.
If buying green is important to you, then you deserve to be able to find out more about it. Indeed, in a reputable mattress shop, the manager will be only too delighted to have a discerning customer who is interested in this aspect of the mattress production.
4. Organic content.
A mattress with organic content also tells you that environmentally friendly methods are used in producing the raw materials, with no pesticide usage. This is important if you are buying green out of concern for the environment. Organic may be less important to you if you are buying green primarily for your own health - in that case, all-natural may suit your needs just fine. However, in that situation you should be aware that small traces of pesticides can still find their way into mattress materials if they have been grown non-organically with pesticides, no matter how natural the original material itself is.
A mattress with organic content also tells you that environmentally friendly methods are used in producing the raw materials, with no pesticide usage. This is important if you are buying green out of concern for the environment. Organic may be less important to you if you are buying green primarily for your own health - in that case, all-natural may suit your needs just fine. However, in that situation you should be aware that small traces of pesticides can still find their way into mattress materials if they have been grown non-organically with pesticides, no matter how natural the original material itself is.
5. Independent certifications.
Certifications are awards from regulating agencies that tell you the product has been inspected or tested and that it conforms to certain specific international standards. Gaining a certification involves a very stringent process of examination - sometimes of the product itself; sometimes in the way it is produced. Proper certifications allow you to be certain that a product is really what it claims to be. If the product or its method of production fails to conform, then the regulation agency will not award it a certification - it's as simple as that.
Certifications are awards from regulating agencies that tell you the product has been inspected or tested and that it conforms to certain specific international standards. Gaining a certification involves a very stringent process of examination - sometimes of the product itself; sometimes in the way it is produced. Proper certifications allow you to be certain that a product is really what it claims to be. If the product or its method of production fails to conform, then the regulation agency will not award it a certification - it's as simple as that.
To make sure the mattress does not contain harmful substances, look for the Oko-Tex Standard 100 certificate.
6. Comfort and convenience
Make sure the mattress you get is comfortable, in addition to being eco-friendly. There are many luxuriously comfortable eco-friendly mattresses out there, so there is absolutely no need to sacrifice your comfort when you get a green mattress. After all, getting a good night's sleep is one of the primary reasons for buying a mattress!
Make sure the mattress you get is comfortable, in addition to being eco-friendly. There are many luxuriously comfortable eco-friendly mattresses out there, so there is absolutely no need to sacrifice your comfort when you get a green mattress. After all, getting a good night's sleep is one of the primary reasons for buying a mattress!
After doing your research, do make sure you try out the mattress for at least 10-15 minutes when you're in the showroom. This sounds simple, but it can be all too easy to get overly absorbed with researching the mattress: some people can forget to attach equal importance to comfort.
Don't ignore convenience either. Look into how durable the natural material of your mattress is before buying. Latex is highly durable and does not break down easily, so an all-natural or an organic latex mattress is an ideal choice here.
Conclusion
A truly eco-friendly mattress should fulfil all of the following requirements: It is made primarily from natural materials; it has a low carbon footprint; and is produced in a sustainable manner with minimal use of chemicals (e.g. without pesticides). This mattress may be organic and it will have independent certifications to prove its eco-friendly features.
Lastly, you will want your eco-friendly mattress to be durable and comfortable. Many people find latex mattresses to be best, both from a comfort and an eco-friendly point of view. However, it is important that you do your own research to determine what is best for you. Now that you know what to look for, enjoy finding an environmentally friendly mattress which is comfortable and luxurious!
