As people get more serious about looking after the planet, they want things in their lives to be eco-friendly too. This is even happening with mattresses – many people are ditching the old-fashioned sort for eco-friendly mattresses which are better for the environment.
Key Takeaways
- Eco-friendly mattresses are a win-win—they not only benefit the planet but also help you to enjoy a restful sleep.
- These mattresses boast sustainable materials and eco-conscious production processes.
- Often, they’re hypoallergenic, which is fantastic news if you suffer from allergies.
How do you find a real eco-friendly mattress?
When hunting for a genuine eco-friendly mattress, focus on two critical aspects: specific labels and the materials used. This approach aids in distinguishing between mattresses that are truly eco-conscious and those merely masquerading as such.
Labels to Look For
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): This certification means the fabric part is made with authentic, planet-friendly materials. Only fabrics containing mostly natural ingredients can secure this label.
- Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS): This tells you the latex (the cushiony part) inside the mattress meets high standards and contains all the right, eco-friendly materials.
- Greenguard Gold: This label indicates your mattress releases no harmful chemicals, significantly improving your room’s air quality.
It’s All About the Ingredients
Opt for eco-friendly mattresses that prioritise natural materials and chemical-free construction. These often feature natural latex, sourced from rubber trees, offering support without the risk of nasty chemical emissions.
Go for organic cotton and organic wool, as they’re renewable, biodegradable, and cosy. Organic cotton covers, in particular, are soft and toxin-free. For a vegan choice, choose mattresses that omit animal products and instead use plant-based natural fibres.
Choosing mattresses with recycled or recyclable fibres is another stride towards eco-friendliness, cutting down on waste. All these materials are cultivated and manufactured adhering to strict guidelines to dodge harmful chemicals, ensuring you’re investing in a genuinely eco-friendly mattress.
Why Eco-Friendly Mattresses Rock
Eco-friendly mattresses don’t just benefit the planet—they’re also really good for you too! Designed with special materials, they maintain environmental integrity and promote a comfortable, healthy sleep.
- Natural mattresses often use hypoallergenic materials, reducing the chance of allergic reactions. Materials like organic cotton, wool, and natural latex are favoured for their antimicrobial qualities, promoting a cleaner sleep setting.
- These materials excel at regulating temperature, keeping sleepers cool by enhancing airflow. Additionally, the design of these mattresses typically concentrates on providing better pressure relief, supporting the body and diminishing joint and back pain.
Caring for the Planet
- No harmful chemicals: Eco-friendly mattresses often avoid substances that could contaminate the air and pose health risks, e.g. flame retardants and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
- Longer lifespan = less waste: Thanks to their quality construction, these mattresses don’t end up in landfills as rapidly as their cheaper counterparts.
- Happy Earth, healthy farmers: The production of eco-friendly mattresses avoids the use of pesticides and harmful fertilisers, preserving water and soil quality. Manufacturers also contribute financially to environmental protection efforts, like 1% for the Planet where they commit to giving back to Earth-friendly causes. It’s a win-win situation!
Eco-friendly mattresses are an excellent choice for those seeking quality sleep while doing good for the planet.
Types of Eco-Friendly Mattresses
When considering eco-friendly mattresses, focus on materials that minimise environmental impact. They typically fall into categories like latex, hybrid, and innerspring or pocket coils, each offering unique benefits for sustainable rest.
Types of Eco-Friendly Mattresses
- Lovely Latex: Latex mattresses are renowned for their green credentials, often made from natural materials such as Dunlop latex or Talalay latex. These materials are harvested from sap from rubber trees, making them a renewable resource.
- Hybrid Heaven: Imagine a perfect blend—supportive coils topped with layers of foam or latex. An excellent example is the Snoozel Green Organic Hybrid Mattress, striking a balance between comfort and affordability.
- Classic Coils (with an Eco Twist): Traditional springy mattresses receive an eco-friendly overhaul! Look for options featuring natural materials over harmful foams. The Silentnight Eco Comfort Mattress 1400 exemplifies this, combining classic springiness with cosy, eco-friendly layers.
How to choose the perfect one for you
Choosing a planet-friendly mattress isn’t just about the environment. Here’s what else to think about:
- How firm do you like it? If you sleep on your back, and you suffer from back pain, opt for a medium-firm or firm mattress that helps keep your spine aligned. Heavier sleepers generally require firmer support, whereas lighter sleepers might prefer something softer. Side sleepers may find medium firmness more pressure-relieving, while front sleepers need extra firmness to prevent back strain. Pocket springs are excellent for couples, minimising disturbance from partner movement.
- Material and durability: Opt for mattresses made from natural materials like cotton, wool, and latex, which are not only better for the planet but also tend to have a longer lifespan than cheaper, foam-based options. Foam mattresses, particularly memory foam, can degrade quickly and release unpleasant chemical odours (a process known as off-gassing).
- Sleep habits: Everyone sleeps differently. Back sleepers need strong lower back support and might enjoy a plush pillow top for added comfort. If you tend to overheat at night, seek out breathable materials like cotton and wool. And for those who sleep near the edge of the bed, a mattress that maintains its shape along the sides is crucial.
Top Eco-Friendly Mattresses on the Market
There are now more eco-friendly mattresses than ever! Whether you’re on a budget or have specific needs, there’s a perfect green mattress for you. This section will break down the top brands and what makes them tick.
Mattress Brand Overviews
Silentnight
The Eco Comfort Mattress 1400 has a unique Mirapocket spring system, ensuring individual support for sleepers by allowing each spring to move independently. Ideal for those seeking a blend of firm support and gentle comfort. The Eco Comfort Fibres are highly breathable, so you can enjoy a fresher, cooler night’s sleep, and are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles providing comfort that won’t cost the planet. Rated firm it’s ideal for front or back sleepers.
Around £274 single/£375 double
Buy from Amazon Here
The Eco Comfort Miracoil Ortho Mattress uses Silentnight’s Miracoil zoned spring system to provide extra firm support for those suffering from back pain, and is designed to support spinal alignment and posture. Its EcoComfort Fibre layer is made with sustainable fibres, which are extra breathable, to keep your sleeping environment at a comfortable temperature. The mattress is hand tufted with a luxurious damask cover.
Around £190 single/£264 double
Buy from Amazon Here
Jay-Be
The Benchmark S5 Hybrid Eco Friendly Mattress is a great choice for those who are looking for a great mattress that will keep them cool and comfortable at night without breaking the bank. With medium firmness, it has a deep E-Spring core topped with Micro E-Pocket springs which adapt to the body’s gentlest movement throughout the night.
Around £163 single/£225 double
Buy from Amazon Here
The Benchmark S7 Tri-Bid Eco Friendly Mattress is completely foam and chemical-free and has breathable layers to reduce moisture, and an open cell structure for temperature regulation. Behaving like memory foam, its e-fibre construction results in 90% less carbon dioxide emissions and 99% less water and land use when compared to cotton. It’s rated medium for firmness.
Around £199 single/£360 double
Buy from Amazon Here
Snoozel Green
Their Organic Hybrid Mattress is a premium eco-friendly hybrid product made with natural latex from FSC sustainably managed rubber tree groves, GOTS certified cotton and organic wool from free-roaming sheep on the Himalayan foothills. As no toxic chemicals or fire retardants are used it is naturally hypoallergenic & antibacterial. It has a medium-firm rating. Snoozel Green offers a 101-Night free trial and 5 Year Guarantee.
Around £699 single/£899 double
Buy from Snoozel Green Here
Panda
The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress consists of six layers of optimised airflow, orthopaedic grade support designed to transform the way you sleep. Their bamboo infused BioCell Foam™ is thermoregulating and anti-bacterial, while individually enclosed premium springs reduce motion transfer, keeping you supported and preventing disturbances from even the most restless sleepers. It comes with a 10 year comfort guarantee, and is rated medium-firm. Panda offers a 100-Night Trial on this mattress.
Around £950 single/£1290 double
Buy from Panda Here
Ethical Bedding
The CocoCore Natural Bamboo Mattress is a Best Buy for vegans, and is National Bed Federation accredited. Hand made in the UK, they have 7,000 Pocket Springs to evenly and gently distribute your body weight. They are made with recycled and recyclable materials, using a unique combination of bamboo, coconut, recycled denim, organic flax, hemp and cotton. This mattress has a medium firmness. Ethical Bedding offers a 15 Year Guarantee on this product and will remove & recycle your old mattress (£50).
Around £999 single/£1399 double
Buy from Ethical Bedding Here
Mother Nurture
Looking for an eco-friendly mattress for a child’s cot? This Essential Eco-Fibre Cot Mattress from Mother Nurture may well fit the bill. It’s hypoallergenic, water resistant, breathable, has a removable cover, and is machine washable. It keeps your baby firmly and safely supported as they grow, while the Eco-fibre core cradles them with cloud-like comfort. Eco-fibre is a recyclable, chemical free alternative to foam. Suitable for children of 0-48 months.
Around £29
Buy from Amazon Here
Little Green Sheep
The Natural Twist Cot Bed Mattress for Babies and Toddlers by Little Green Sheep is one of the best eco-friendly mattresses for kids, and it’s suitable for children from birth to five years old. Handmade from coconut coir, latex, and hypoallergenic wool which disperses moisture away, keeping the mattress clean and dry. This mattress is DUAL-SIDED, with one firmer side, perfect for supporting newborns as they grow, and one more softer side for supporting toddlers as they develop. It won Gold for Best Sleep Product in the Mother & Baby Awards 2021
Around £197
Buy from Amazon Here
For more Green Insight into eco-friendly living delve into our take on the world of sustainable home textiles here. For those readers interested in eco-friendly-lighting-solutions, click this this link. Our dive into eco-friendly home decor is here.
Eco-friendly Mattress FAQs
When looking at eco-friendly mattresses, you must consider a variety of factors, including materials, certifications, and brand reputation for sustainability. The following questions address key considerations for those in search of a more environmentally conscious sleep solution.
What should I consider when selecting an eco-friendly mattress?
Individuals should look for mattresses made from natural or organic materials, such as organic latex or cotton, and check for certifications like GOTS or OEKO-TEX to ensure the mattress meets environmental and health safety standards.
What are the top-rated brands for non-toxic mattresses?
Brands such as Ethical Bedding have garnered accolades for their sustainable practices and high-quality, non-toxic mattresses, being recognised multiple times as a top bed manufacturer. Silentnight is another brand offering an eco-friendly Miracoil mattress that combines sustainability with comfort.
How can I find a balance between affordability and sustainability in a mattress?
To balance cost with eco-friendliness, shoppers may look for mattresses that incorporate both natural materials and more affordable, yet sustainable, synthetic alternatives. Brands often offer varying price points to cater to different budgets without compromising on their eco-friendly credentials.
What are the benefits of choosing an organic memory foam mattress?
Organic memory foam mattresses typically use plant-based materials, free from harmful chemicals, providing comfort and support while also promoting better indoor air quality and reducing the sleeper’s exposure to toxins.
Which mattresses are considered the healthiest for a restful sleep?
The healthiest mattresses tend to be those that are free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are made with natural fibres that offer breathability. These materials not only create a restful sleeping environment but also support overall health and well-being.
What are the best options for an organic mattress suitable for side sleepers?
Side sleepers should consider organic mattresses that offer adequate support and pressure relief, such as those with a medium-firm feel, like the Snoozel Green Organic mattress, which is constructed with certified organic materials tailored to side sleepers.