What Makes a Mattress Organic?
It’s important to understand that the “organic” label doesn’t immediately mean that the mattress you’re looking at is 100% organic. In fact, 100% organically made and processed mattresses cost a fortune compared to others, yet the actual value between those is almost identical.
While there are a number of different definitions of natural mattresses, they are all based on the same set of principals – the manufacturer utilizes eco-friendly materials, the manufacturing process is organic, and the product doesn’t contain harsh, aggressive chemicals.
Recommended Mattresses
These are some of the most recommended mattresses:
A mattress is considered organic if it complies with some, or all, of the above-mentioned criteria to a certain extent, enough to earn a specific certification (or a number of them) issued by an USDA-approved representative.
CertiPUR-US Certification
CertiPUR-US applies to mattress foams, and bans the use of harmful chemical compounds including PBDEs, and requires testing for many other chemicals. This certification can be considered the minimum requirement for non-toxic mattresses.
Greenguard (Gold) Certification
Greenguard and Greenguard Gold test a finished mattress for specific emission limits of a number of volatile chemical compounds which can cause respiratory illnesses and memory impairment, and are linked to smog and ozone pollution.
Organic Content Standard 100
This certification is issued based on the percentage of certified organic materials used by the manufacturer. Generally, the higher the percentage, the more eco-friendly the mattress is, and the higher the price.
Oeko-Tex Standard 100
Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is basically a combination of CertiPUR-US and Greenguard as it sets tight emission limits for volatile chemical compounds and bans a number of chemical retardants, colorants, dyes, and allergens that can severely harm your health. This certification can be regarded as the medium standard of the best organic, green mattresses.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
GOTS ensures that at least 95% of raw materials are organically certified, and prohibits the use of certain harmful chemical compounds in the remaining 5%.
Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)
GOLS ensures that the latex contained in the mattress is at least 95% organic while placing a number of restrictions concerning various chemicals on the other 5%. Both GOTS and GOLS are considered the highest standards for natural, ‘green’ mattresses.
Great Mattresses to Choose From
PlushBeds
For best-in-class luxury latex mattresses, PlushBeds has a lot to offer. The family-owned, California-based sleep brand produces a variety of mattress types, but specializes in natural and organic latex mattresses.
Latex is naturally cooling, provides structured spinal support, minimalizes motion transfer, and is a generally healthier option than synthetic foams and fabrics. It is also anti-microbial, mold and mildew-resistant, and has no VOCs or off-gassing.
All of PlushBeds’ mattresses feature natural, organic, and sustainably-sourced materials. This attention to health has earned the brand a long list of certifications, including GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard), ECO-Institute, and GreenGuard Gold.
PlushBeds’ trademark latex mattresses offer luxurious comfort with soothing pressure relief and spinal alignment to encourage rejuvenating sleep. They are made of varying constructions of organic cotton, thermoregulating organic wool, and the highest quality Dunlop latex. Depending on the model, sleepers can even customize the firmness and/or height of the mattress.
For American-made, natural, and organic mattresses, you pay for what you get. For a PlushBeds latex mattress, that price can look a little steep, starting at $1,749. However, they often hold sales that can earn customers over $1,000 off. Qualified customers can also purchase a PlushBeds mattress with monthly payment plans. All orders come with free shipping and returns, a 100-night trial, and a 25-year warranty.
Saatva
The American, handmade Saatva luxury CertiPUR-US mattress is built with an emphasis on comfort and sustainability. The cover is made from cotton fabric and the manufacturer utilizes a unique coil-on-coil construction feature to offer maximum relaxation every night.
The lower coil unit represents a connected, hourglass-shaped steel support base that’s further enhanced with lumbar support made of a high-quality memory foam layer. This layer provides exceptional pressure relief, stress reduction, and decreased tension from the lower back. The upper coil unit features an individually wrapped coil mechanism that precisely contours and responds to your body while almost completely eliminating motion transfer.
The price of the queen-size mattress is typically $1,199 with discounts, which is pretty impressive compared to other luxury brand choices in the category. The shipping and delivery process includes free white-glove delivery, removal of your old mattress, and installation of Saatva in your desired spot.
All mattresses are custom-made depending on your selected specifications including size, height, frame/foundation (if desired) and firmness. You can also test the mattress for free for 180 nights.
As for the certifications, Saatva’s most notable certificate is the CertiPUR-US.
Zenhaven
If you are an environmentally-conscious buyer, then Saatva’s Zenhaven line of OEKO Tex Standard 100-certified, luxurious latex mattresses is a good fit for you. It uses materials including Talalay latex, New Zealand wool, and cotton covers to give a comfortable sleeping solution at an affordable price.
Zenhaven’s mattresses don’t use any ozone depleters, PBDE flame retardants, phthalates, formaldehyde, mercury, lead, or other heavy metals, or any volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Zenhaven mattresses are very good at temperature regulation and prevent users from sensations of heat from the mattress. This is primarily because of the latex’s temperature regulatory features. Upon pushing gently into the mattress, you can feel the softness of the woolen cover, and as soon as the pressure starts to build up, you can sense the latex responding. Zenhaven mattresses boast very good support, high-quality bounce, and can support most body types and sleeping positions, all while maintaining a pretty low motion disturbance.
One of the most unique aspects of these mattresses is that you can choose different comfort levels for each side of your mattress, basically creating two mattresses in one. All mattresses include free, white-glove shipping along with mattress removal of your old mattress.
Zenhaven is a bit on the pricey side in comparison to its competitors, with a queen-sized mattress costing $2,199 with the normal discounts offered. But the dependability of the mattresses, the responsiveness of their customer support team, the comprehensive features, and the fact that you basically get two mattresses makes up for it.
Conclusion
Sleep is one of the most important, yet highly underrated aspects of our lives. While comfort, relaxation, and stress relief are what you should be expecting from a premium quality mattress, non-toxic, healthy, organic materials and manufacturing processes will not only enhance those attributes but help preserve your health and well-being. That’s an investment definitely worth considering.