Organic always means certified organic. To call any product organic it must be certified by an organization that certifies products to be organic, a third-party organic certifying agent.
Eco-friendly, environmentally friendly and natural are just claims.
Make Sure They're Certified Organic!
Organic mattresses like ours are GOTS (global organic textile standard) and GOLS (global organic latex standard) certified.
Look for these logos.
Most claiming to have organic mattresses contain both organic materials and natural components in their organic mattresses.
Always make sure the organic certifications are not expired!
I've seen many manufacturers buy certified organic latex for the first batch and then buy non-organic latex for the next. You can tell by looking at the expiry date on their certification.
Organic Mattress Components that are NOT Organic
Natural latex foam is a component you’ll typically find in almost all "organic mattress".
To be labeled a mattress organic it must be certified organic. Control Union is the only company certifying latex as organic under the Global Organic Latex Standards or GOLS for short.
Certified organic latex means 95% of the latex should be made from certified organic ingredients.
Most companies include very little certified organic latex to reduce the cost. For example.... 1 of the 8 inches of natural latex will be GOLS certified organic latex.
Keep in mind that latex foam can be made natural, synthetic (man-made), or blended for a combination of natural and synthetics ingredients. learn more about latex foam.
2 Components that are Usually Organic
1) Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is grown without synthetic chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides and is not genetically modified in any way.
It’s healthier for you as residue from chemicals used in organic cotton agriculture can be taken into the body through the skin.
Unbleached organic cotton is even better as it ensures no harsh bleaches have been used on the cotton.
2) Organic Wool
There are pros and cons to organic wool used in mattresses.
Pros - Wool is good at wicking away moisture and helping you keep cool. How does it do this? It contains a natural wax called lanolin. It’s a greasy yellow wax produced by sheep which keeps their hairs dry and soft through harsh weather.
Cons – Wool is an animal fiber. With this comes maintenance. Wool, like any animal fiber, needs to be washed at least once a year. Many are also allergic to wool so finding an organic mattress that doesn't contain wool is difficult.
Considering a mattress with wool? You’d be amazed to find out what sheep go through.
So what’s in Organic Mattresses?
Organic mattresses are typically made from GOLS certified organic latex foam as a support layer, topped with certified organic wool to soften it up and wrapped in certified organic cotton.
3 TIPS on how to shop for an organic latex mattress:
If they stumble when answering any of these questions or cannot back up their claims with certifications like these, RUN!
Organic Mattress with Springs
Innersprings may be used as a replacement to latex foam for support.
You need to keep in mind that springs do not come close to offering the durability and pressure relief natural latex offers.
It’s also a nesting ground for dust mites and their feces to accumulate, providing a large, warm, open area. We aren't allergic to dust mites, we're allergic to their feces so this is not ideal sleep environment for kids or adults with allergies.
If you'd like the best to both worlds, comfort and health, check out how our mattresses are made.
