How do you choose a pillow?

This type of pillow, so common in our beds, can befilled withsyntheticmaterialor feathers from various animals; it is the traditional European pillow. It has the advantage of supportingthe shoulders, as well as the neck and head, and is therefore suitable for people who like to sleep with their upper body slightly elevated. However,it causes the neck to arch slightly, so it is not recommended from a clinical standpoint.   

More modern, it is often used alongside our beds asa complement to the traditional pillow. This type of pillow, with its rectangular shape, is the perfect cushion for resting both your head and neck at the same time. This model is the most recommended from a medical standpoint, asit keeps the line formed by the head, neck, and spine properly aligned.

The ergonomic pillow isalsorectangular in shape. However, its density (the distribution of the material) is not uniform throughout the pillow. It has been designed fortherapeutic purposes to provide ideal support for the cervical region during the night. In particular, it is designed toreduce neck and back pain. In recent years, it has become the most popular pillow model because it promotes restful sleep, ensuring you wake upfeeling fully refreshed.

For anyone wonderingwhich pillow to choose—especially those with sleep problems—the best recommendation is to use anergonomic pillowon a regular basisto maintain proper cervical alignment as much as possible and avoid more serious issues. There are options on the market that offer excellent value for the money; at an affordable price, they’ll helpyou sleep better.

In this section of the article, we'll help you learn about themain materialsused tomake the most common types of pillows in Europe, and you'll be able to decidewhich pillow is best for your sleep.

Whether square or rectangular, the synthetic pillow is themost affordable option, which has its pros and cons when it comes to purchasing one. Its affordable price is due to the fact that it is manufactured usingpetrochemical processes. It is made of polyester fiber or microfiber, a highly polluting material. 

Microfiber is especially soft, butit isn't very breathable, whichleads tomore sweating at night. Choosing a low-end pillow like this onewon't be durable, let alone biodegradable.

Be waryofbrands that often sell an "organic cotton pillow."Organic cotton isneverused as filling material. If you see a cotton pillow,it can only be the pillowcase. 

In some cases, cotton pillows arefilled with polyester fiber, which is a synthetic material that is not very—or at all—eco-friendly. It wouldn't make sense to choose a pillow that is misleadingly labeled as "eco-friendly" if its filling is made ofmaterials that are harmful to the environment.

A feather or down pillow (feathers and down are often mixed) ismore expensive than other typesofpillows, since this material is harder to obtain than polyester. 

It is acomfortable, high-quality pillow, but its production is not without ethical concerns. It requires theplucking of various animals, such as ducks or geese, before they are slaughtered. In addition, this pillowmust be replaced frequently, as the feathers tend to escape from the cover over time. 

  

In this case,before choosing a pillowlike this, it’s important not to confuse a memory foam pillow with an ergonomic pillow. An ergonomic pillow is one whose material density isdesigned to conform to the shape of the body. This type of pillow can be made of memory foam or latex.    

The memory foam pillow is made ofinjection-molded plastic. Memory foam pillows are not manufactured in Europe. Therefore, this pillow ishighly polluting and harmful to the environment, as it must travel a long distance from the factory to your bedroom.The environmental footprintofthese products does not justify the price compared to alternatives with a lowerenvironmental impact.

A latex pillowoffersthe same properties as a memory foam pillow. There are two types:natural latexandsynthetic latex. Natural latex is obtained from the sap of theHevea brasiliensis tree. It is collected by making asimpleincisioninthe bark. This natural material is heated to form a foam that, as it cools, produceshigh-quality, pure latex. 

Synthetic latex, which isless expensive to produce, mimics natural latex using synthetic components. It isless durableovertime anddoes not offer all the benefitsofa natural latex pillow. Lower breathability,the use of chemicalstoprevent bacterial growth, andreduced durability are among the disadvantages it has compared to a natural latex pillow.

There is no one-size-fits-all answertothe question, “Which pillow should I choose?” But as you’ve seen,a natural latex pillowoffersergonomic comfort and adapts perfectly to each person’s needs.

Of course, 

the Kipli team