When most of us hear the word “organic,” we automatically think of food grown without the use of dangerous pesticides. But a mattress can be organic, too. And the same considerations that might inspire someone to consume healthier fruits and vegetables also apply to mattress choices. After all, your skin\u2014your body’s largest organ\u2014is in close proximity with mattress materials for hours every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What sets organic mattresses apart is that they are made with natural materials like cotton, wool<\/a>, and latex that have been grown or processed without the use of harmful chemicals. The chemicals in some conventional mattresses are particularly worrisome since they can take years to break down. A recent study<\/a> out of the University of Indiana at Bloomington found that trace amounts of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from flame retardants were being passed to babies through their mothers’ blood via the umbilical cord\u2014more than a decade after such substances had been banned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why buy an organic mattress? Many people choose to purchase an organic mattress, or one with organic components, for that reason alone, but there are other factors to consider too, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The parts of conventional mattresses most likely to contain hazardous chemicals<\/a> are the fabrics and components that are treated with fire retardants, such as cotton covers and foam padding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While PBDEs have been banned for years, other chemical fire retardants are still used by some mattress manufacturers. In addition, many common types of foam and adhesives can “off gas” which means they can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. That’s what accounts for foam’s sometimes unpleasant “new” smell. VOCs in mattress foams can include petroleum, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), formaldehyde, benzene, methylene chloride, toluene, trichloroethane, naphthalene, and perfluorocarbons\u2014a bath of potentially harmful chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organic mattresses, on the other hand, use natural materials that still meet fire-retardant guidelines. Wool, for example, is naturally flame-resistant, as is wood pulp-derived organic plant thistle, which contains flame-resistant oils. Organic mattress covers are typically made from organic cotton or bamboo. Comfort layers within the organic mattress can be made from wool or organic latex, natural materials that don’t off-gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from natural latex, which comes from the sap of the rubber tree, there is no “organic” manmade foam. However, many manufacturers, including Saatva, use plant-based alternatives to create healthier memory foam options for organic mattresses. Foam that carries the Certi-PUR<\/a> label, for instance, contains no PBDEs, heavy metals like lead and mercury, or formaldehyde. It’s also certified to be low-VOC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Improve your sleep with these eco-friendly, nontoxic Saatva mattresses<\/p>\n \n Flame retardants and other chemicals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n