The concept of an organic mattress or a non-toxic mattress may seem foreign. Some individuals may imagine that one of these “green mattresses” is made from materials that lack the support and comfort of memory foam. A close examination of these beds ultimately reveals that certified organic mattresses can provide high-quality rest and non-toxic materials that keep the users safe.
The Natural Materials Comprising Non-Toxic Mattresses
Several major mattress brands have begun developing new mattresses from non toxic materials. These products are developed using several materials that mimic memory foam but without the dyes and harmful materials. Specifically, many of the eco-friendly mattresses integrate latex foam into their design. Latex foam is a very soft, OEKO-TEX-certified foam product that matches conventional mattresses in comfort.
Another one of the mattress materials frequently included in these mattresses is natural wool. New Zealand wool and others like it provide a comfortable mattress cover that sits on top of the product to give the user a comfortable sleep experience. They’re also utilized in the mattress toppers.
Lastly, organic cotton is utilized in the mattress industry as a safe, organic portion of a mattress. Not only is this comfortable and less likely to provoke an allergic response, but it has superior breathability. Organic cotton covers on pillow-top mattresses are very common and make for a fantastic overall bed.
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How An Organic Mattress is Safer
When considering how an organic mattress is made safe, one needs to examine the impacts that they have on the body of the person using them. Many regular innerspring mattresses do something called “off gassing.” That is where they slowly emit byproducts of making the mattress. For example, a memory foam mattress made without natural products could emit particulates known as VOCs, volatile organic compounds. This could be something as simple as the fire retardant used by mattress companies, or it could be something slightly more alarming such as pesticides. These VOCs can collect on dust mites that people will breathe in throughout the regular use of the product.
While they’re not necessarily life-threatening, they can cause allergies to flare up. Organic wool and natural latex mattresses tend to be safer in that regard and have reduced emissions and a higher mildew resistance relative to others.
This is especially true of beds that use chemical flame retardants like PBDEs instead of relying upon organic materials as equally effective fire barriers. Rather than use potentially harmful chemicals, organic mattresses use as many natural materials as possible to reduce the likelihood of a person breathing in silica, adhesives, or other harmful compounds like phthalates. In short, organic mattresses have many elements that make them safer than others that utilize toxic chemicals like formaldehyde in their construction.
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How to Tell If an Eco-Friendly Bed from Others
Whether you are shopping for a mattress pad or an entire bed, there are certain certifications and signs that you should seek out to ensure your comfort and safety. You need to find a low VOC, non-toxic mattress that suits your needs.
Some of the top picks for these sorts of mattresses include a hybrid mattress that adheres to the following standards for textiles:
- global organic textile standard (GOTS)
- global organic latex standard (GOLs Certified)
- oeko-tex standard 100
- Certi Pur-us
Any of the organic mattresses or crib mattresses that meet these standards could be considered a good place to start. You may or may not be able to find these in a box, but they are widely available online and at specific retailer locations.
Finding the right non-toxic mattress can take some work, but the effort is immediately rewarded by coming into regular contact with comfortable, safe products. You’ll know that the Dunlop latex, Talalay latex, and organic cotton was properly sourced and will help you and your family stay safe. That is something that money alone cannot buy!
