Initially printed on Mamavation: November 24, 2024
It looks like each day I am seeing a brand new natural mattress firm pop up in my newsfeed. And now that there are such a lot of, that are the most effective ones primarily based on substances, trustworthiness, and certifications? This investigation wasn’t simple as a result of the natural mattress {industry} is admittedly the Wild West of promoting claims.
How is a mean particular person alleged to make sense of this? By no means worry, Mamavation is right here! You’ve got trusted Mamavation to carry you subjects like greatest water filters to filter PFAS “without end chemical substances,” most secure cookware, and the greatest air purifiers, now be a part of us as we take you thru the most effective and worst high-quality natural mattresses so your loved ones can keep away from dangerous chemical substances and go for pure supplies.
Disclosure: This put up was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations had been offered by Environmental Well being Information and Mamavation group members. Observe that Mamavation has solely “spot-checked” the {industry} and thus we can not make predictions about manufacturers and merchandise that now we have not examined.
Merchandise and manufacturing aides can change with out discover so purchaser beware. This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, with most to Amazon, which suggests Mamavation will obtain a portion of these gross sales. You may as well give a tax-deductible donation to our client research right here via Environmental Well being Sciences.
Why Purchase an Natural Mattress
The very first thing to grasp is with regards to issues like natural mattresses they dwell in a nebulous world with little or no checks and balances relating to what they will say about their merchandise. That finally ends up that means they will mainly say no matter they need. The USDA would not get into the enterprise of certifying mattresses, so the time period “natural” would not have a that means.
Why? Properly, the USDA is admittedly solely within the enterprise of agriculture, and something past that’s the wild west of nebulous advertising and marketing claims inside the manufacturing processes. Are there actual natural mattress firms? Sure. Who’re they? We’re pleased to point out you what we found on this investigation. However earlier than we try this, let’s undergo some fundamentals.
Typical mattresses are known as “100 lbs. of poisonous chemical substances” and that is an effective way to explain them. From petroleum-based polyurethane foam to harmful adhesives and flame retardants, the traditional mattress {industry} creates a fairly poisonous product. However the primary cause to buy a licensed natural mattress is to guard your loved ones from harmful chemical substances like those under:
- Formaldehyde — These chemical emissions are present in materials, adhesives, and foams. It off-gasses from the adhesives used and the petroleum-based polyurethane foam. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen.
- Flame retardants — These chemical substances off-gas for years after the mattress is offered and are harsh endocrine disruptors and potential carcinogens.
- VOCs (Risky natural compounds) — Well being results vary from complications and dizziness to cancers and central nervous system issues. VOCs additionally bond to ozone in your house creating smog within the daylight.
One more reason to buy an natural mattress is that polyurethane foam is extremely flammable. Polyurethane foam can be known as “gasoline” by firefighters as a result of it is fabricated from petroleum and catches fireplace in a short time.
So in case you have a standard foam mattress, fires are extra of an issue. That is the explanation why they’ve so as to add chemical flame retardants to the mattress to guard you. So in different phrases, natural mattresses won’t be foam mattresses or a “reminiscence foam mattresses.”
The video under will show what we imply by being extra flammable. Right here you will see a legacy room with supplies containing cotton and wool with trendy furnishings fabricated from polyurethane foam.
Natural Mattress Certifications and What They Imply
Whenever you hear phrases like “pure,” “natural,” and “sustainable,” bear in mind these are unregulated phrases. The mattress {industry} is just like the wild wild west of promoting claims. Simply since you hear the phrase “natural” doesn’t suggest that you just will not discover fireplace retardants, poisonous adhesives, or polyurethane foam.
Some manufacturers might use polyurethane foam and poisonous adhesives with natural cotton on high. So issues can get complicated. However there are some certifications on the market to search for that may make a few of this simpler. Observe, these aren’t all of the certifications you will discover on a mattress, however they’re an important ones. I put these certifications so as of significance.
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GOTS Licensed (International Natural Textile Normal)  The International Natural Textile Normal (GOTS) certification is the golden customary of the natural mattress {industry}. They certify mattresses, however in addition they individually certify particular person supplies like cotton material made by a cotton material firm. It mandates that the cotton or wool contents used are USDA licensed. In addition they decide how merchandise are processed and manufactured and what chemical substances like chemical adhesives can be utilized throughout that course of. And eventually, in addition they decide what different kinds of supplies can be utilized with the product that’s not natural like metal coils and zippers. This certification restricts fireplace retardants, however not all of them. However here is the catch! Whenever you see this image, make sure that the corporate’s identify is on the certification. We caught some firms passing off one in every of their provider’s certification as their very own. Not the identical. That is like delivering another person’s work as your personal. It is also potential some elements may very well be GOTS natural whereas the remainder of the mattress aren’t. We discovered the next elements natural whereas different elements not: pillow-top, natural cotton cowl, natural New Zealand wool, consolation layer, and many others. the most effective natural mattresses shall be fully GOTS natural. |
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International Natural Latex Normal (GOLS) Mattress and Parts Latex  The International Natural Latex Normal (GOLS) certification is an ordinary for licensed natural latex and completed latex foam. The usual additionally determines what different kinds of processing and supplies are prohibited. The product has to keep up a minimal of 95% licensed natural uncooked materials of the entire weight. |
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MADE SAFE Certification  MADE SAFE certifies that merchandise aren’t made with cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemical substances. The usual from this group is without doubt one of the strictest within the market. Supplies in mattress merchandise have been scrutinized by scientists and consultants to make sure they don’t include dangerous substances, off-gas harmful vapors, or create byproducts that would impression human well being. |
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OCS 100 Natural Cotton Normal  The Natural Alternate Certification Program tracks the natural materials from the supply to completed product. This certification provides you extra piece of thoughts that the product incorporates what it says it incorporates. They solely certify natural cotton or wool parts of the mattress, not the complete factor. They act as a monitoring system. This certification is not as robust as a certification as GOTS. A product can not include each GOTS and OCS 100 Natural Cotton brand on the product to guard the shoppers from confusion. |
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UL GREENGUARD Gold Certification  GreenGuard was lately acquired by Underwriter Laboratories (UL) and has modified the parameters of their customary. They not carry the bottom emission “Choose” class and have launched a extra watered down “Gold” class as a substitute. Inexperienced Guard is an air high quality environmental testing firm. They’re trying into off-gassing of particular contaminants. However right this moment they’re not contemplating flame retardants, PFAS chemical substances, phthalates, and microbes. This customary does check for about 350 widespread VOCs. We simply want they went additional to get among the worst offenders. Inexperienced Guard will certify the complete mattress or any of the parts as a substitute. |
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OEKO-TEX® Normal 100 Certification  The OEKO-TEX® Normal 100 Certification is a European certification that verifies textiles are free from sure dangerous substances like allergenic dyes, bisphenols, heavy metals, and formaldehyde. |
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CertiPUR-US® Licensed Foam  The CertiPUR-US® identify and brand are registered emblems of the Alliance for Versatile Polyurethane Foam, Inc., a enterprise league based by polyurethane foam producers. They state that this certification was created by the froth {industry} “in shut collaboration” with environmentalists, chemists, and analysis scientists, however any adjustments to the certification program can solely be made with the consent of its board of administrators. As of 2017, its tax filings point out that each single member of its board is instantly concerned with the polyurethane foam {industry}. This makes it look like the {industry} creating an ordinary for themselves. This certification does NOT imply that the complete mattress (and even the froth) is chemical-free, protected, unhazardous, or freed from carcinogens. And polyurethane foam can by no means be licensed natural. Whereas this certification does ban sure substances (like CFCs) and so they do conduct some testing for VOCs, the opposite {qualifications} they require may not make a lot of a distinction in any respect. For instance, they are saying that their licensed mattresses are free from heavy metals and formaldehyde. Nevertheless, they additionally admit that heavy metals or formaldehyde are not often present in polyurethane foam within the first place. Listed below are their technical pointers. UPDATE January 9, 2020: We obtained two stop and desist letters from CertiPUR-US® and adjusted copy barely. |
Humorous Enterprise You will Discover Whereas Researching Natural Mattresses
Throughout our investigation, we realized in a short time why the natural mattress {industry} is just like the wild west of promoting claims. The quantity of humorous enterprise made our heads spin. Listed below are among the issues we discovered.
• Authorized claims are nebulous — “Natural” is not a authorized time period within the natural mattress {industry}. Mainly, anybody can name themselves natural. There are natural certifications, however they’re personal certifications, and the federal government would not get entangled. As a result of the federal government would not get entangled, there isn’t a one policing what will be mentioned. So purchaser beware!
• Corporations misuse natural certifications — Some firms are claiming to be GOTS or GOLS licensed manufacturers, however aren’t. That is essential to grasp. They’re claiming another person’s certification as their very own. This took me a while to determine, however as soon as I began on the lookout for it, I discovered it industry-wide. Some firms are passing off the certification of a provider as their very own.
Utilizing a portion of GOTS licensed natural cotton is not the identical factor as getting your manufacturing unit GOTS licensed. So which means it is not a GOTS licensed mattress. That solely implies that one in every of their suppliers is a GOTS licensed producer. However why do not they’ve their very own certification? Getting their very own certification would imply they might ALSO be restricted on different supplies they utilized in that mattress. However with no certification, we won’t be certain what else is inside.
It may very well be potential that 10% is from this natural provider and 90% is one thing else. Certification makes all that clear. This is without doubt one of the the reason why we determined to make use of MADE SAFE certification as the usual for this put up. That certification prevents all fireplace retardants from getting used.
• Some firms are nonetheless utilizing fireplace retardants, polyurethane foam and adhesives and being coy about it — Some firms are utilizing what they name “flame obstacles” however not being clear about these being produced from fireplace retardant chemical substances. In a few of these accounts, the corporate says they do not include sure kinds of fireplace retardants, however would not specify about ALL fireplace retardants usually. So in that case, what are they not telling me?
In my analysis on on-line boards, I discovered that some firms have been identified to place natural cotton covers over polyurethane foam. Whereas different firms are saying issues like they do not use adhesives in between layers of the mattress, however by no means say something in regards to the 800+ coils they used adhesives on.
These firms are being very coy about what they’re NOT saying, so it is all about what isn’t mentioned. Once more, this makes the MADE SAFE certification all of the extra essential to establish whether or not they have problematic chemical substances inside or not.
• Why would an natural firm want CertiPUR-US® certification? — We oddly discovered that some “natural” firms bothered to additionally get CertiPUR-US® certification. The rationale that is odd is that this certification is for firms utilizing polyurethane foam. Wait, I assumed an “natural” mattress did not have polyurethane foam? Hmmmm, that is odd …
The Fundamentals of Natural Mattresses
• Latex mattresses — All natural latex beds are a unhazardous various to reminiscence foam produced from pure latex sourced from rubber timber. Natural latex has nice temperature regulation, good help and stress reduction for again and shoulder ache with a medium-firm really feel, and has an excellent bounciness.
They’re additionally denser and heavier, making them extra steady for heavy sleepers. However this mattress has no coils, so the bounce feels totally different for again sleepers, facet sleepers, and abdomen sleepers.
Sadly, issues aren’t all the time what they appear within the latex mattress {industry}. After Avocado Mattress was sued for having artificial chemical substances inside their “pure” latex mattresses, Mamavation took a deeper dive into pure latex mattresses and latex mattress topper merchandise you possibly can learn about right here. Most manufacturers are utilizing pure Talalay latex or Dunlop latex.
• Spring mattress allergenic-free no latex (coils) — It is a mattress produced with coils solely. About 6% of the inhabitants is allergic to latex, so having a mattress free from latex can be an essential factor to have. Most manufacturers use adhesive to connect the encased coil, which we frown upon. One of the best manufacturers will warmth seal the encased coils to one another. These manufacturers will usually use licensed natural wool, natural cotton material, and natural cotton fill.
• Spring mattress hybrid mixture of latex and coils — That is the preferred choice, combining the 2 totally different attributes of squishy latex with the bounce of coils. Individuals usually need a mixture primarily based on how mushy it’s and bouncy it’s.
Once more, as a result of this can be a combo, there are extra alternatives to be careful for adhesives (glues), polyurethane foam and fireplace retardants. One of the best mattresses may have natural cotton material, natural cotton fill, natural wool, and natural latex.
• Skinny mat — These are extra like a skinny mattresses. It is not very fashionable, however I needed to verify to say it as a result of they’re kinda neat. These skinny mats are usually stuffed with wool, cotton, and/or latex and will be stiff when positioned on the ground.
Mamavation Investigation of Natural Mattresses
Mamavation checked out the preferred “natural,” unhazardous and eco-friendly mattresses to arrange them into easy classes primarily based on all our analysis.
To be in the most effective class a number of issues had been thought-about: (1) a mattress would wish to come back from a manufacturing unit that’s GOTS licensed, (2) if latex is within the product, the latex must be GOLS licensed, (3) the complete product must be GOTS licensed, (4) all of the mattresses they produce are GOTS licensed (or on the very least wouldn’t have sister firms producing polyurethane foam mattress) and (5) they don’t seem to be deceptive the general public.
Bonus factors for lifetime guarantee, a decrease carbon footprint, luxurious, and sturdiness. Most manufacturers had all sizes from California King to Twin XL.
• Not our favourite natural mattress manufacturers — Natural claims are unclear and largely unverifiable. For instance, one simple technique to inform is to test to see who the certification is made out to. If it would not have their identify, then it is not their certification however a provider’s certification. Simply because some supplies had been claimed to be purchased from an natural provider doesn’t suggest the complete mattress is a licensed natural mattress.
You may very simply check this out on the GOTS web site to seek for manufacturers which can be licensed. One other potential downside is the totality of the certifications. Simply because a manufacturing unit is GOTS licensed, doesn’t suggest that each one the merchandise that they produce are GOTS licensed. One other factor we discovered on this class was firms solely getting licensed to provide mattress equipment, however not the mattress itself.
As well as, firms that declare to be natural, however do not have certification made our not favourite class. We’ve got NO thought what declare is actual or not. With out certification, we definitely cannot be sure about different issues like flame retardants, harmful adhesives, or polyurethane foam. That is simply the class the place issues had been messy and never verifiable.
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Amerisleep |
Amore Beds |
Awara Natural |
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Bear Mattress |
Mattress and Wooden |
Brooklyn Bedding |
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Colgate |
Cozy Pure |
Customized Consolation Mattress |
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EARTHSAKE |
EcoBaby Organics |
EcoChoices Pure Residing Retailer |
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EcoCloud |
Eco Terra |
FloBeds |
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GOLD BOND |
Idle Sleep |
Pleasure Mattress |
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LA Child |
Latex For Much less |
Layla |
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Leesa |
Loom & Leaf (By Saatva) |
Luma |
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Moonlight Slumber (Moonlight Medical) |
Pure Dwelling by The Futon Store |
Naturalmat USA |
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Nectar |
Organique |
Pure Relaxation Organics |
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Saatva Latex Hybrid Mattress |
Sleeplily |
Hovering Coronary heart |
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Spencer’s Mattress (Churchill & Smith) |
Spindle |
Suite Sleep Inc. |
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Candy ZZZ |
The East Coast Natural Mattress Retailer Inc. |
Wool Mattress Firm |
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Zenhaven (by Saatva) |
• Higher mattress manufacturers — These natural mattress firms are higher. They’ve all their natural certifications of their names. However as a result of the mattress {industry} is as nonsensical as it’s, we began to take a look at possession and what the factories had been doing as properly.
This listing has manufacturers with factories which can be affiliated with or additionally promote different nonorganic merchandise or produce different mattresses produced from polyurethane foam. So in different phrases, they’ve one foot within the natural world and one foot within the standard world making polyurethane foam.
◦ Avocado Inexperienced Mattress — (Avocado is manufactured with Brentwood Houses which additionally produces mattresses produced from polyurethane foam.) (Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale, 10% off furnishings, pillows, yoga and extra, as much as 50% off bedding, as much as 50% off attire. Free transport on most objects (besides mattresses and furnishings).)
(GOTS licensed beneath Brooklyn Bedding and Helix which additionally produces mattresses produced from polyurethane foam.)
◦ Brentwood Dwelling — (Brentwood House is manufactured with Avocado inside the similar manufacturing unit the place they produce polyurethane foam.)
◦ My Inexperienced Mattress — (GOTS certification beneath a standard mattress firm known as High quality Sleep Store which additionally sells mattresses made with polyurethane foam.) (Take 10% off merchandise through the use of “mamavation” at checkout.)
◦ White Lotus — (Take a look at their GOTS natural futon mattresses! Use low cost code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off through the use of at checkout. This firm additionally produces mattresses with a Certipur certification.)
• One of the best guys — Mattresses offered by these firms are GOTS-certified natural in a manufacturing unit that doesn’t additionally produce mattresses produced from polyurethane foam. As well as, these firms meet the very best requirements of nontoxicity and sustainable forestry administration rules.
Every certification is related to all of the supplies within the mattress. Every certification pertains to the manufacturing unit that produces the mattress and never simply any of the suppliers. We did not discover any humorous enterprise or claims that had been outdoors actuality.
◦ Happsy — (SPECIAL BLACK FRIDAY DEALS: Use low cost code “BLACKFRIDAY” for 20% off + PILLOW with Mattress Buy) (On a regular basis Low cost for Mamavation: Use low cost code “MAMAVATION10” for 10% off your whole buy. Whereas provides final. Can’t be used with different promo codes. Can’t be utilized to previous purchases. Legitimate one time per buyer. Different restrictions might apply.)
◦ Naturepedic — (SPECIAL BLACK FRIDAY: Use low cost code “BLACKFRIDAY” for 20% off merchandise! Plus FREE Pillow(s) with Each Youngsters or Grownup Natural Mattress Buy) (On a regular basis Low cost for Mamavation: Use low cost code “MAMAVATION15” for 15% off your whole buy. Whereas provides final. Can’t be used with different promo codes. Can’t be utilized to previous purchases. Legitimate one time per buyer. Different restrictions might apply.)
◦ Obasan — (Use low cost code “MAMAVATIONBED” for 2 free complimentary pillows of your alternative if you buy an grownup mattress. Make certain they’re in your cart.)
Concerning the Writer
Leah Segedie is the President and Founding father of Mamavation.com. Mamavation produces award-winning content material and impartial client research analyzing the intersection of endocrine-disrupting chemical substances (EDCs) and on a regular basis merchandise introduced into American households. She’s been referred to by many as “the true FDA.”
Since 2008, Mamavation has been serving to on a regular basis mothers navigate the grocery retailer by commissioning client research on meals, drinks, private care merchandise and different such merchandise and thus democratizing science and testing for everybody.
