Has your current mattress seen better days, and are you now looking for a new one? Then it’s time to choose an organic mattress that’s both sustainable and durable. Buying an organic mattress ensures a healthy sleep environment and is not only good for your health but also good for the environment. In this article, learn what makes a good organic mattress.
The Material of the Organic Mattress
The first step when buying an organic mattress should be to take a close look at the material composition. After all, not all organic products are created equal. There are some manufacturers who advertise their products as sustainable even though they contain synthetic materials.
An organic mattress can be made from a variety of materials. For example, there are mattresses made from natural fibers, organic cold foam, or coconut fiber.
Coconut Mattress
The core of a coconut mattress is made of coconut fibers that are separated from the fruit's core, soaked in saltwater for several months, washed, and then dried in the sun. The coconut fibers are encased in natural latex to form the mattress core, which helps maintain the core's shape while keeping the mattress elastic and breathable.
This material is chosen primarily for baby mattresses and mattresses for toddlers. However, the feel is often on the softer side.
Horsehair Mattress
Horsehair mattresses are rarely available these days. They provide a firm sleeping surface but can also adapt well to the spine thanks to their elasticity. They do not provide targeted support. Horsehair mattresses often require more maintenance than other organic mattresses.
Cold-foam mattresses
Cold foam mattresses are made primarily of synthetic polyurethane foam. This foam is produced from two-thirds polyols and one-third isocyanates. Cold foam is typically a product derived entirely from crude oil. However, more sustainable alternatives have been available for some time. It is possible to replace part of the crude oil with natural oil, such as sunflower oil. This helps conserve petroleum resources and protect the environment to some extent. However, the proportion of natural oil that can be used is rather small. Nevertheless, these mattresses are marketed as organic mattresses.
An organic mattress made of natural latex offers an even more sustainable and vegan alternative.
With natural latex, for example, there are various terms that manufacturers use to advertise a natural, organic mattress. These terms include:
100% Natural Latex Mattress
The term “100% natural latex mattress” refers to mattresses that consist of at least 85% natural latex (natural rubber). The remaining percentage consists of added synthetic materials. It is therefore important to ask about the actual latex content when making a purchase, as the addition of synthetic latex is likely. The maximum possible percentage of latex is 97%; the remaining 3% consists of the vulcanizing agents necessary to transform the latex from its liquid form into foam.
100% Latex / 100% Natural Origin
When you see labels such as “100% latex” or “100% naturally sourced latex,” you should also take a closer look at the composition. This is because both of these labels mean that the so-called organic mattress is partly made of synthetic latex. A red flag is especially present when the percentage of natural latex is not specified at all. Synthetic latex mattresses are made from a petroleum derivative and transformed into mattresses using numerous chemicals. Latex mattresses made from synthetic latex are not of the same quality as natural latex mattresses.
90% of mattresses sold are synthetic, meaning they are made from petroleum derivatives, as described above, and become hazardous waste at the end of their life. 40% of these mattresses are incinerated at the end of their useful life. The remaining 60% end up in massive landfills. This is a huge problem that isn’t discussed enough. Every year, around 30 million mattresses are disposed of in Europe. This mattress waste generates 450,000 metric tons of trash annually in Europe. If you stacked all these mattresses on top of each other, they would form a tower 6,000 kilometers high.
How to Spot an Organic Mattress
If you want to buy an organic mattress made of natural latex, be sure to look for quality seals. Natural latex is subject to strict quality controls. Various quality seals certify the purity of the raw material and confirm the absence of harmful substances.
The euroLATEX and QUL certifications are the most reliable seals that verify the quality of natural latex and confirm the absence of synthetic latex. The euroLATEX certificate verifies that the core of the Kipli mattress is made of 100% natural latex. Furthermore, it certifies that the organic mattress is manufactured within Europe. Asian manufacturers are not eligible to obtain this certification. The label verifies the absence of harmful substances—such as chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, solvents, nitrosamines, and volatile organic compounds—thereby guaranteeing that the mattress is a healthy, organic product.
In addition, euroLATEX verifies that the latex is transported and stored under safe conditions. In accordance with European law, euroLATEX also certifies compliance with fair labor conditions for all employees involved in the supply chain.
The QUL quality seal is similar to the euro-LATEX seal and is awarded by the Quality Association for Environmentally Friendly Latex Mattresses (Qualitätsverband umweltverträgliche Latexmatratzen e.V.). It certifies that the organic mattress is made of 100% natural rubber and contains no pentachlorophenol or harmful substances such as heavy metals, nitrosamines, or pesticides.
For example, youcan findahigh-quality, certified organic mattress made from 100% natural latex at www.kipli.com. This young, sustainable company manufactures organic mattresses from natural latex in Europe and offers them at a fair price. In addition, you have the opportunity to try out the mattress for 30 nights.
An Investment That Pays Off
Buying a high-quality, certified organic mattress often comes with a higher price tag and is considered a genuine investment. Mattresses made from synthetic materials are significantly less expensive than organic mattresses, such as those made from natural latex. However, when you consider the differences in quality and the fact that natural latex mattresses last up to three times longer, the higher price is certainly justified.
Furthermore, a high-quality, certified organic mattress is good for the environment and for your health. If the organic mattress is certified, it comes from a sustainable and fair production process in which the raw materials are natural and carefully monitored. By choosing a certified natural latex mattress, you’re making a sustainable choice, as natural latex is a plant-based and sustainable raw material. Toextract natural latex—similar to the process of harvesting maple syrup—a small, harmless notch is carved into the tree’s bark. This causes the tree to secrete what is known as latex sap.
The liquid latex is then collected in small bowls attached to the trunk. In addition, the trees provide an ideal habitat for animals and help preserve soil and water quality in these areas. The cultivation and use of the rubber tree prevent deforestation and boost the economy of the affected regions. This helps protect the environment. At the end of an organic mattress’s long lifespan, it is biodegradable, thus causing no environmental impact and helping to reduce mattress waste.
Not only is the environment better off with a high-quality organic mattress, but so is your body. This is because many pieces of furniture, bedding, and mattresses contain hidden household toxins and harmful substances, as various studies by renowned testing organizations—such as Stiftung Warentest—have shown. These substances are released into the indoor air primarily immediately after unpacking, but often continue to be released over a longer period of time as well.
The vapors consist of a mixture of potentially harmful solvents, formaldehyde, plasticizers, pesticides, flame retardants, and heavy metals. Exposure to these substances can lead to sleep problems, allergies, headaches, chronic infections, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, restlessness, and a rapid heartbeat. These toxins are invisible to the naked eye and, in many cases, are also odorless. Therefore, you cannot detect them without a specialized test for harmful substances.
That is why it is all the more important to be aware of the materials used before purchasing bedroom furniture. By choosing a certified organic mattress, you can be sure that these substances are not present and that there is no health risk to you.
The vapors consist of a mixture of potentially harmful solvents, formaldehyde, plasticizers, pesticides, flame retardants, and heavy metals. Exposure to these substances can lead to sleep problems, allergies, headaches, chronic infections, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, restlessness, and a rapid heartbeat. These toxins are invisible to the naked eye and, in many cases, are also odorless. Therefore, you cannot detect them without a specialized test for harmful substances.
That is why it is all the more important to be aware of the materials used before purchasing bedroom furniture. By choosing a certified organic mattress, you can be sure that these substances are not present and that there is no health risk to you.
Conclusion
A healthy home environment is important because synthetic materials can otherwise release many invisible toxins into the air and into your body. When purchasing an organic mattress, pay close attention to the material composition and certification, because only then can you be sure that the organic mattress is truly organic, without any synthetic additives.
If you have any questions about our organic mattress made from natural latex, visit us in the chat, call us at +49 (0) 32 21 22 96 570, or send us an email atkontakt@kipli.com.