Natural beds: How to shop for a greener mattress
From organic cotton and wool, to latex, foam, horsehair, coco fiber and even seaweed, wading through all of the natural mattress options on the market today is enough to bring on a nap. Streamline the process of shopping for a natural bed by reading up on all of the basics right here: what all of those labels and rating systems mean, which materials are best for your health (and the environment), and how much it all costs.
Discover some of the best (and most unusual) green beds being made today, and determine which is the right bed for you.
Good to know:
- There are three basic types of mattresses: innerspring (what most of us are used to, with metal coils inside), foam or latex, and stuffed (like a futon). Among these types there is a lot of variation, but knowing generally which type you prefer can help narrow your choices.
- Many synthetic fibers are highly flammable, which is why the U.S. requires chemical fire retardants be added to certain products. All-natural mattresses rely on naturally flame-resistant materials (like wool), so they do not need any chemical additives. The most harmful fire retardants, known as PBDEs, are being phased out of production in many places, but it is worth checking to make sure the mattress you purchase does not contain PBDEs.
- The only way to be really sure of what you are buying is if the product has third-party certification from an organization like Oregon Tilth, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Greenguard, or similar.
