Best Organic Mattress Review
Written by Irina Webb
I have been researching the mattress industry since 2012, and have come to the following conclusions. First, choosing a safe mattress is of paramount importance because we spend one third of our lives on a mattress. Second, finding a safe and eco-friendly mattress is not that easy because not every certification automatically puts the mattress in the “safe” category. Third, looking for a mattress with a GOTS certification is a step in the right direction because GOTS has the strictest standards when it comes to potentially harmful chemicals in mattresses. Fourth, it is best when the GOTS-certified mattress company does not have a sister or parent company that makes mattresses with polyurethane foam. Finally, building personal trust with the company via consistent communication is what can help you be sure of the safety and quality of their products.
In this post, you will learn why GOTS certification is the best certification for mattresses and what options for GOTS certified organic non-toxic mattresses are available on the market. Additionally, you will learn about my personal top picks among several types of mattresses with organic certifications. And most importantly, why I consider them the best.
Organic Mattress Review
To begin, I have come across many so-called “eco conscious” mattress companies that claim to manufacture organic mattresses. What they really mean, though, is that some of the materials in their mattresses are organic. Or that their mattresses are made with natural materials, such as wool and cotton, versus petroleum-based materials. However, when I check if the entire mattress is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified by typing the company’s name in the GOTS certified suppliers database, it oftentimes retrieves a negative result.
In a nutshell, I believe that the GOTS certification is critical because as consumers we can’t verify whether a mattress is safe in the same way as GOTS can. What we can do is rely on the words of mattress companies when they say that they use natural, organic, and non-toxic materials and don’t use toxic flame retardants (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) or fiberglass).
GOTS organic certification sees to it that the entire supply chain – processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading, and distribution – is environmentally and socially responsible. Also, potentially harmful chemicals are prohibited in the sourcing, the manufacturing process, and the distribution of GOTS-certified products.
Thus, GOTS stands against the following in mattresses (and pillows):
- aromatic solvents
- toxic flame retardants (e.g., fiberglass recently banned by the state of California)
- formaldehyde
- GMOs
- heavy metals
- nanoparticles, and
- polyurethane foam.
In addition to owning a GOTS certification, it is best if the company has no parent or sister company that manufactures conventional mattresses made with polyurethane foam. If it does, in my opinion, it signals a lack of commitment to organic and sustainable practices.
Materials Used In Certified Organic Mattresses
Most conventional mattresses use polyurethane foam for the filling. However, polyurethane foam is toxic when it’s manufactured, used, and disposed of. Among other things, polyurethane foam emits potentially harmful chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In fact, a 2019 study showed that body heat significantly increases the release of potentially harmful VOCs from mattresses. You can learn more about this in my post Polyurethane Foam In Furniture.
Conversely, organic eco-friendly mattresses use a combination of the following materials:
- natural latex foams (e.g., Dunlop latex)
- certified organic cotton
- certified organic wool
- polylactic acid (PLA), and
- stainless steel for coils.
Latex In Organic Mattresses
Ideally, you want the natural latex foam in your eco conscious mattress to be certified by an agency accepted by GOTS. Such as the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Note that some people may be allergic to natural latex. As adults, we know whether we have an allergy, but babies don’t, and they can’t speak. Therefore, I believe it is critical to choose a latex-free organic crib mattress for your baby.
Certified Organic Cotton
While the certification by OEKO-Tex Standard 100 is a welcomed feature in a textile product, you want cotton in your mattress to be certified organic, not just OEKO-Tex Standard 100 certified. Indeed, the latter bans only some potentially harmful chemicals and restricts the use of others. Alternatively, GOTS certification ensures that the cotton is grown in accordance with organic practices. Further, GOTS bans potentially harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process as well as the distribution of GOTS-certified materials.
Wool In Safe Mattresses
By law, all mattresses must pass two types of Federal flammability tests – open fire and smolder. Oftentimes, mattress manufacturers add toxic flame-retardant chemicals to their mattresses to pass these tests. Some manufacturers claim that instead of flame-retardant chemicals they use “non-toxic flame barriers.” However, to this day, no mattress company has told me what those barriers are made of.
Because GOTS-certified organic mattresses do not use polyurethane petroleum foam, they are not highly flammable in the first place. Using wool or PLA in place of harmful flame retardants allows organic mattresses to pass the smolder testing because wool smolders rather than catches fire.
PLA In Organic Mattresses
First off, polylactide (PLA) is derived from non-GMO plant starch through the process of fermentation. In other words, they make it from a sustainable resource. The main indicator that PLA is safe in mattresses is that it’s approved by GOTS for use in organic mattresses.
Stainless Steel Coils
You may have heard about electro-magnetic fields (EMF) and their connection to innerspring mattresses. Since we own a metal spring mattress, I had certified bau-biologists come over to my house and measure four types of EMF levels. Their measurements showed that our coil mattress didn’t act as an EMF source or as antennas, nor did it increase exposure to EMF in any significant manner.
Thus, to answer the question about the safety of innerspring mattresses, in my opinion, they are generally safe for people without electric sensitivity. I also believe that it is important to make efforts to reduce EMFs at home. Especially in sleeping areas (e.g., by keeping smart phones, computers, TVs, and electrical devices away from your bed).
Additionally, coil-free mattresses are not comfortable for most people because coils offer the following: body-contouring, balanced support for proper postural alignment, breathability, and heat dissipation.
I believe it’s counterproductive to try to sleep on an uncomfortable mattress because good sleep is paramount for our health. As much as I want you to choose a truly safe mattress, I won’t judge you if you choose comfort over safety. The good news is, however, that you don’t have to choose between comfort and safety, and here’s why.
My Top Picks Among Organic Mattresses
When it comes to mattresses that eco conscious customers seek, the three main criteria based on which I can call a mattress “the best” include:
- GOTS certification
- no parent or sister company making polyurethane foam mattresses, and
- interviews with the mattress company’s founder.
Hence, my top picks are Naturepedic and Happsy because they meet all of these criteria.
Naturepedic Organic Mattresses
To start with, for me, communication with the company is significant because it allows me to see the heart behind the product. My consistent and open communication with the founder, CEO, and technical director of Naturepedic Barry Cik, has built my strong trust in this company. In other words, I am sure that they not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk as far as their commitment to sustainable organic practices is concerned.
In fact, I admire Naturepedic for their transparency. Quite frequently manufacturers withhold information from me. But Naturepedic has gone out of their way to provide me with every minute detail about their products. Barry and I have spent countless hours talking about the mattress industry and manufacturing process, organic certifications and material sourcing, natural latex foams and their potential health effects etc. Barry is always open to any question and is very precise in giving responses. His integrity and vision to provide customers with affordable, comfortable, and safe mattresses impressed me and won my trust. We are thrilled to own Naturepedic non-toxic mattresses (as well as Naturepedic pillows), and I hope you will be, too.
Naturepedic Organic Mattress Materials
First off, Naturepedic makes its organic mattresses in the US, specifically in Ohio. Instead of toxic foam with harmful chemicals, Naturepedic uses only the safest materials approved by GOTS:
- GOTS certified organic cotton and wool
- organic Dunlop latex foam certified to the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)
- PLA, and
- stainless steel coils.
As for PLA, Naturepedic provided me with actual test reports showing that the PLA they use adheres to my safety standards for gas emissions and heavy metals.
Actually, Naturepedic mattresses are the only mattresses that carry every possible certification in the organic mattress industry. Including, of course, GOTS, GOLS, FSC, Made Safe, and Greenguard Gold. They also provide up-to-date certification documentation right on their website (IREAD15 for 15% off).
No Toxic Flame Retardants In Naturepedic Mattresses
Next, there are no toxic flame retardant chemicals or barriers in all types of mattresses made by Naturepedic, of which you can learn more in my blog post called Naturepedic Mattress Review. (They also carry non-toxic crib mattresses described in detail in my blog post entitled Naturepedic Crib Mattress Review.)
Because Naturepedic organic mattresses do not contain any petroleum-based foam, they are not highly flammable. Therefore, they do not need harmful flame retardants to pass the Federal flammability test. And to pass the smolder test, they use wool and PLA.
In addition, Naturepedic does not have a parent or sister company that makes mattresses with polyurethane foam. This eliminates potential mistakes and cross contamination and testifies as to their commitment to sustainable organic practices.
Naturepedic Mattress Comfort
First of all, I want to emphasize that Naturepedic offers all types of mattresses: wool-free, innerspring-free, latex-free as well as numerous degrees of firmness/softness. In my Naturepedic Mattress Review, you can learn more about that.
Based on my own experience, Naturepedic non-toxic mattresses are super comfortable! Your task is to make sure you choose the right model for your needs. Funny enough, on the first night we slept on our Naturepedic organic mattress, we felt that the mattress didn’t have enough give. However, from the next night on, we’ve been sleeping on our EOS Classic Organic mattress as if we were in heaven!
One of the reasons Naturepedic innerspring mattresses are comfortable is that Naturepedic wraps coils individually for full body-contouring, isolation of movement, and balanced support for proper postural alignment. Please know that Naturepedic doesn’t use any adhesives or glues to wrap the coils.
Another reason Naturepedic non-toxic mattresses are very comfortable is that they come in different degrees of firmness for various body types and sleep positions. You can choose what works for your pressure points and even select dual firmness, as we did. My husband uses the side with medium firmness (namely, medium latex and plush coils). And I use the soft side (namely, soft latex and plush coils) because I weigh less. For your reference, we are both side sleepers. Although my husband was very skeptical about buying an organic mattress because of his back issues, he swears by it now.
Where To Buy And Price
We bought our mattress at a local store because we thought it was a bad idea to buy a mattress without lying on it first. In retrospect, I don’t think we gained anything by doing that. In fact, I’ve heard from people who bought from brick-and-mortar stores that they had problems with service and exchanges. That’s because every retail store has their own return, exchange, and warranty policies. If you decide to buy from a retail store, be sure to ask them about the policies first.
Naturepedic makes it very easy to buy online now because they offer unprecedentedly generous policies. Specifically, you can return or exchange your mattress within 100 days. Naturepedic offers a 100-night free trial on all mattresses (except for Halcyon) and accessories! In addition, for EOS Series mattresses (like ours), Naturepedic offers a flexible layer swap program to ensure you get the feel that’s right for you. Furthermore, Naturepedic offers great warranties that your retail stores most likely don’t offer. Last, your local store won’t honor the I Read Labels For You 15% off discount code.
Buy Online
That said, my advice is to buy Naturepedic organic mattress online (IREAD15 for 15% off the online purchases). You can always pay a visit to your local retailer to sit and lie down on Naturepedic mattresses first.
Because they have so many types of mattresses (check them out in my Naturepedic Mattress Review blog post), prices range:
- from $1,399 to $11,999 (adult mattresses)
- from $799 to $1,499 (mattresses for kids)
- from $269 to $499 (crib mattresses).
As it happens, Naturepedic has also taken care of your pets! Check out Naturepedic safe pet beds for your furry friends.
Happsy Organic Mattresses
You’ll be pleased to know that it was Naturepedic that founded Happsy. It means Happsy mattresses follow the same strict standards in safety as Naturepedic mattresses. Because the founder is the same, I trust Happsy products, too.
The idea behind creating Happsy was to provide a budget-friendly mattress option with an organic certification. Amazingly, Naturepedic was able to do it without sacrificing the quality of the materials.
Happsy Organic Mattress Materials
The fact that Happsy organic mattresses are certified by GOTS means that they are made in a GOTS-certified facility with GOTS-approved materials, including:
- GOTS certified organic cotton and wool,
- pocketed stainless steel coils, and
- natural latex foam certified to the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS).
No Toxic Flame Retardants In Happsy Mattresses
Just like with Naturepedic, there are no flame-retardant chemicals or barriers in Happsy. It does not contain polyurethane foam and, therefore, is not highly flammable. So it does not need toxic flame retardants in the first place. And to pass the smolder test, Happsy uses wool.
Happsy Mattress Comfort
One of the reasons the Happsy organic mattress is budget-friendly is that it comes only in one firmness – medium firmness, to be exact. However, toppers are available for additional softness. Keep in mind that based on the feedback I have received from Happsy customers over the years, many people need a much softer mattress than they initially thought they’d need.
Where To Buy And Price
The Happsy sales method is another reason this GOTS certified organic mattress is so affordable. Happsy does not sell their organic mattresses through retail, which allows them to avoid numerous retail expenses. In contrast, they sell online only, with a 120-day return policy and company-paid return shipping, which seems like a great risk-free deal.
The prices range from $899 (for Twin) to $1,699 (for Cal King). Shop with the IRL225 discount code to get $225 off!
Other Organic Mattresses Available On The Market
As a reminder, to check if the company holds a GOTS certification, type its name in the GOTS certified suppliers database. Be sure to click on “details” in the right-hand corner to see exactly which of their products or materials are GOTS certified.
Also, I would like to emphasize that I have not had personal interviews with the companies listed below. As I mentioned, a personal interview is crucial for me to build trust in a company like I did with Naturepedic. Which is why it is my #1 recommended and used brand (IREAD15 for 15% off the online purchases).
Some other available mattress options described as organic on their websites include:
- My Green Mattress
- Birch Mattress, and
- Avocado Green Mattress (read about the lawsuit against Avocado and what it means here).
My Green Mattress
On their website, My Green Mattress specifies that they hold GOTS, GOLS, Green Guard Gold, and Made Safe certifications. Their mattresses, including crib mattresses, are made in US (specifically, Illinois).
My Green Mattress offers “hybrid” mattresses, meaning they use both an innerspring system and latex. When I contacted them to confirm whether they have latex-free options, they responded that they had discontinued their latex-free mattresses. If you are looking for a latex-free mattress, please refer to my blog post Best Organic Latex-Free Mattress.
My Green Mattress Materials
The materials used in My Green Mattress include:
- GOTS certified organic cotton and wool,
- organic coconut fibers
- pocketed stainless steel coils, and
- natural latex foam (namely, Dunlop latex) certified to the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS).
No Harmful Flame Retardants In My Green Mattress
There shouldn’t be any harmful flame-retardant chemicals because there is no polyurethane foam. They use wool to pass the Federal smolder test.
Note that My Green Mattress has a parent company called Quality Sleep Shop that makes and sells mattresses with polyurethane foam. Although the foam is CertiPUR-certified, it is still unsafe polyurethane foam. In my opinion, when a company that offers organic mattresses has a parent company that makes mattresses with polyurethane foam, it shows its lack of commitment to organic and sustainable practices.
Personally, I am not very comfortable with companies that can go both ways. However, because I understand that some of you are looking for a low-cost mattress, I’ve included My Green Mattresses in this review.
My Green Mattress Comfort
To clarify, I have not had personal experience with My Green Mattress products. Based on the information on their website, both Natural Escape and Kiwi of My Green Mattress eco-friendly mattress model options provide medium firmness. Reportedly, they are designed for optimal comfort and support for all body types and sleep positions.
My Green Mattress designed the innerspring system in the Kiwi Organic Mattress and Natural Escape models to provide relief to your key pressure points. Additionally, individually pocketed coils offer not only excellent support, but also motion isolation ensuring minimal disturbance from your partner’s movements during the night. By the way, Naturepedic mattresses have that design feature, too.
As for Emily Crib Mattress, it is made with a layer of breathable, GOLS certified organic coconut pad made from organic coconut fibers that are bound together using GOLS certified organic latex. The eco-conscious mattress also has a firm innerspring system and is covered with GOTS certified organic cotton and wool. Please note that latex may be allergenic for children. I would consider one of the Naturepedic crib mattresses that are latex free.
Where To Buy And Price
My Green Mattress offers a 20-year warranty on adult mattresses and a 10-year warranty on their crib mattresses. Plus, they provide a 365-night trial period.
The prices range:
- from $799 to $1,599 for Kiwi eco-friendly mattress options
- from $1,099 to $2,099 for the Natural Escape model, and
- from $299 for Emily Crib Mattress (plus additional optional mattress protector and sheet set).
Shop on the My Green Mattress website.
Birch Mattresses
On their website, the Birch mattress company boasts holding such certifications as GOTS (they post it on their website, but you can also check the GOTS suppliers database), Fair Trade, Eco Institut, and Green Guard Gold. However, it is important to note that their parent company called “Brooklyn Bedding” manufactures conventional mattresses with polyurethane foam. That makes me uncomfortable recommending them to you.
They assemble their mattresses in US (specifically, Arizona), offer a 25-year warranty, and a 100-night sleep trial. Birch mattresses come in standard, luxe, and kid’s types of mattresses. Note that I haven’t had a personal interview with Birth mattress company and cannot speak from my experience.
Birch Mattress Materials
Based on the information on their website, the materials used in Birch mattresses include:
- organic wool (from New Zealand) (the website doesn’t specify what standard it is certified to)
- GOTS certified organic cashmere
- GOTS certified organic cotton
- individually wrapped steel coils, and
- natural latex foam, namely Talalay latex.
Note that the natural latex foam used in Birch mattresses is Talalay latex, not Dunlop latex.
No Harmful Flame Retardants In Birch Mattresses
Since they do not use highly flammable polyurethane foam and use wool to pass the Federal smolder test, there shouldn’t be any harmful flame-retardant chemicals, including fiberglass.
Birch Mattress Comfort
Both Birch Natural and Birch Luxe Natural models are of medium firmness. While the Birch Luxe Natural model offers targeted zoned lumbar support for your pressure points relief, I’d like to emphasize that most people seem to want a much softer mattress than they originally believed.
Where To Buy And Price
Currently, the prices on Birch types of mattresses range:
- from $842 to $1,373 for a kid’s eco-friendly mattress
- from $1,592 to $2,498 for Birch Natural mattresses, and
- from $2,436 to $3,748 for Birch Luxe Natural mattresses.
They can be purchased on the Birch Living website.
Avocado Green Mattress
First off, I believe you should know that a class action lawsuit was filed against Avocado Green Mattress company in April 2023, alleging that Avocado Green Mattress had falsely advertised its latex mattresses, pillows, and mattress toppers as being free of synthetic and nontoxic chemicals. By August 2023, the class action lawsuit had been dismissed. You can read about what it means and my husband-the-attorney’s take on it here, but my trust in the Avocado Green Mattress company has been shaken. Even more so that I reached out to the company for a personal interview when they came to the market, but the interview’s never happened.
Avocado Green Mattress Materials
According to their website, the materials include:
- natural latex foam, namely Dunlop latex, certified to the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)
- FSC-certified Talalay latex
- GOTS certified organic wool, also certified to the OEKO-Tex Standard 100
- GOTS certified organic cotton, also certified to the OEKO-Tex Standard 100, and
- individually wrapped steel coils.
No Toxic Flame Retardants In Avocado Green Mattresses
Reportedly, at Avocado Green Mattress they do not use toxic chemical flame retardants or fiberglass. Instead, they use GOTS-certified organic wool. Yet, it is not clear to me what they use for flame protection in their vegan wool-free mattresses.
On the other hand, their sister company called Brentwood Home makes polyurethane foam mattresses. As I’ve mentioned above, I don’t feel at ease with the companies that go both ways.
Avocado Green Mattress Comfort
It seems that all Avocado mattresses feature coils, individually encased in fabric pockets and arranged in multiple gauges for seven pressure points. There are three types of mattress firmness: firm, medium firmness, and plush.
Where To Buy And Price
As of today, the Avocado Green Mattresses are available on their website and the prices range:
- from $1,399 to $2,699 on firm mattresses
- from $1,799 to $3,299 on medium mattresses, and
- from $2,310 to $3,999 on plush mattresses.
Before you decide to buy an Avocado Green mattress, please read about the lawsuit and its dismissal here.
Organic Mattress Comparison Chart
Here is a handy chart summarizing the information above.
- Shop for Naturepedic with the IREAD15 discount code for 15% off!
- Shop for Happsy with the IRL225 discount code to get $225 off!
- Read about Avocado Green Mattress lawsuit here!
To learn my opinions on Awara, Eco Terra, Essentia, Latex for Less, Organic Mattresses Inc. (OMI), and Plush Beds, head over to my blog post Are Organic Mattresses Worth It?.
Conclusion About Organic Mattresses
My Favorite COTS-Certified Organic Mattresses Are Made By Naturepedic and Happsy.
To sum up, you have learned why GOTS certification is the best certification for mattresses as well as what options of GOTS certified organic mattresses are available on the market today. Additionally, you have found out my personal top picks among several types of mattresses with organic certifications, and most importantly, why I consider them the best. Namely, they are Naturepedic (IREAD15 for 15% off) and Happsy (IRL225 for $225 off).
My husband and I sleep on Naturepedic, and my husband says, “I travel a lot for work and know that some mattresses are comfortable, and others are a recipe for a restless night and stiffness the next day. Our old mattress was pretty comfortable, although it was starting to show its age. I was resistant to giving it up for something that might or might not ultimately work out. As it turns out, I’m thrilled with this organic mattress, and we’ll never buy one from anyone else.”
Our son used to sleep on a Naturepedic crib mattress, and now he sleeps on the latex-free 2-in-1 Organic Kids Waterproof mattress (IREAD15 for 15% off). He loves it, and I have peace of mind that he sleeps on a non-toxic mattress. As always, I invite you to read the latest posts at I Read Labels For You blog. In addition, browse our non-toxic products shop section, e-books, and take advantage of our services!
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Have you come across any all natural or organic mattresses in a size wider than standard king, such as Wyoming king or Texas king? I’d like to purchase an all natural mattress, but my partner and I need a little more room than a king provides, and I haven’t found any good organic options.
Hi Lindsay,
Naturepedic makes customized mattresses. Please, contact them directly to discuss this option.
Thank you for the hard work you do on behalf of the consumer. After a mold exposure left me highly reactive to chemicals and smells, I got a wool mattress and pillow from Shepherd’s Dream. I’ve been very happy with them but wondered what opinion, if any, you could offer.
Hi Julie! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels for You and for your kind feedback! We really appreciate it! As for your question, it sounds like a good opportunity to take advantage of our email product review service, of which you can learn more here: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/ingredient-review/ We hope this helps!
Hi Irina,
I’m looking to buy a new matress but can’t download your guide. It only lets me sign up to be notified when the new guide is available. Is there a way we can still buy the old one? Or could you share the names of the other companies who had GOTS certified matresses so I can look inot them myself? I appreciate any help you can offer!
Hi, Danielle! Thank you for your interest and trust! While our number one choice is still Naturepedic or its branch Happsy, we think Avocado mattresses are worth looking into, too. Please, check out our Healthy Sleep category in the IRLFY shop: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/product-category/healthy-sleep/ You can also book a private consultation with Irina who will be happy to walk you through the mattress choosing and purchasing process: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/consulting/
Hi Irina! Thank you for all the research you do on natural products I love reading your reviews 🙂 I am now looking to replace my 17 year old sleep number bed with something less toxic and I have it narrowed down between Naturepedic and Avocado. I’m curious to know if you looked at avocado as well and if there were any negatives that stuck out (besides the coils and EMFs) to knock it out of consideration? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hello, Kim! We appreciate your interest and trust! Based on our multi-year research, we recommend Naturepedic and its branch Happsy. If you want to know the details that are not described in the post, you are more than welcome to book a consultation with Irina: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/. Thank you!
Thank you for this article. Do you know if Naturepedic supports any organizations or causes? I am on the fence between them and Posh & Lavish. Any thoughts on that brand as well?
Hi, Kelly:
Yes, Naturepedic is supporting a number of great causes. They donate 1% of their sales to the planet and I also like that they donate funds to childhood cancer research. You can read more about that here. By the way, Posh & Lavish mattresses are not organic and that means that they are fully natural. You can read about that in my ebook: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/the-savvy-consumer-fast-track-mattresses/ ~Irina
Hi Irina,
I prefer medium-firm mattresses. It’s been a while since I’ve stayed in a hotel, so I’m not sure about that comparison. I’m also considering Avocado mattresses now too.. thoughts?
Thank you!
JoAnne
My husband had back problems, too, and that’s why we were careful to choose a comfortable mattress for him. He loves Naturepedict. His side is medium-firm, too. Avocado mattresses are certified organic, too, but I do not know how comfortable they are, and I do not trust them as much as I trust Naturepedic. By the way, today is the last day to get 20% off on Naturepedic mattresses. Or you might want to choose Happsy mattress as their all mattresses are medium-firm. They have a deal, too. ~Irina
Hi Irina,
I’m in the market for a new organic mattress and have narrowed it down to either the Happsy organic mattress or the Naturepedic Chorus mattress. I see that you have recommended both brands.. Which do you think is more comfortable for the back, and also lighter in weight? The current mattress I have is so heavy that I have a hard time lifting the corners to make the bed, so weight is a factor for me. The weight of the mattress is one piece of information that they don’t seem to provide.
I’m curious if you might know why Naturepedic only has a 10 year limited warranty, while Happsy has a 20 year limited warranty?
Thanks for any advice and info!!
Hi, JoAnne: Some people with back pain issues prefer something that’s firm, but other people just don’t like a firm mattress. Do you know whether you want a firm mattress? If it’s hard to judge, just think of a typical hotel mattress. Do you think those are too soft or too firm? Thank you ~Irina
Hi Irina. I am looking to buy an organic latex mattress this weekend. I have been doing a lot of research on different companies. Naturepedic looks great but they are expensive. I am looking at PlushBeds and Saavy Rest. They are both certified organic with GOLS, GOTS, Oeko-Tex and GreenGuard Gold certifications. Both have 2 options – either organic latex, organic cotton and organic wool or organic latex and pocketed coils, organic cotton and organic wool. (I like the idea of no coils for emf concerns). Both also ship directly to your home with free returns if needed. Have you looked into these organic companies? Both have GOLS and GOTS certified factories and they make their own mattresses.
Hi, Deana: I answered your questions in detail in the Savvy Consumer Fast Track: Mattresses ebook. I have compared 12 mattresses side by side on many parameters including PlushBeds and Savvy Rest: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/the-savvy-consumer-fast-track-mattresses/ You can save yourself money and save your yourself from headache if you read the ebook. I highly recommend reading it before committing to a major purchase like that. Thank you. Irina
Couldn’t agree more! I also did a lot of research when choosing a mattress as it’s such a big investment. Ultimately, went with Naturepedic. My husband and I went to their showroom in NYC to help with our decision in selecting the style. We choose the EOS classic.. they do offer more higher end mattresses but we didn’t think they were worth the higher price point and i didn’t find them to be more comfortable. I love a firm mattress and my husband likes it less firm we with the EOS we were able to customize that. Initially, my husband was very resistant to the purchase due to the significant higher cost than standard mattress but after the first night he said it was the best sleep he’s ever had..
Highly recommend getting the mattress cover. We also purchased their latex pillows which we are very happy with.
Thank you, Irina, for letting us know! I’m so happy that you and your husband like the mattress. My husband was the same way. He was skeptical until slept on it. ~Irina
My husband and I have had our Naturepedic mattress for a couple of months now. We absolutely love it! I can’t tell you how much research I did when it came to mattresses, so I was glad to see Irina recommends the brand as well. We ended up buying ours from the store, so we could lay on them to see what one was the most comfortable for us. I no longer have back pain and sleep a lot better. We have such peace of mind knowing we aren’t breathing in tons of toxins and chemicals. Also, knowing that they are small company where almost all of their products are made in the USA, is a plus. I won’t hesitate to buy more of their products in the future. It was well worth the investment especially because the one we bought should last 20 years!
Do you have any input on PlushBeds if you go with the Botancial Latex mattress? Says GreenGuard Good and GOLD certified? Thanks!
It looks like some PlushBeds are made with organic latex. If that’s truly the case, it can be a good option. Although to have peace of mind that mattresses truly are as described, it is best when mattresses are GOTS-certified and made in GOTS-certified facility. I can’t speak about how comfortable they are obviously. I hear from many that mattresses without innerspring are not comfortable. Let me know what you decide. ~Irina
Do you have any input on PlushBeds if you go with the Botancial Latex mattress? Says GreenGuard Good and GOLD certified? Thanks!
Hi Irina, what are your thoughts on the Nest Bedding Hybrid Latex? We would love organic but can’t afford Naturepedic, so willing to make some compromises. I’ve had a bad experience with European Sleep Works and prefer a bed with coils and latex (vs just latex). Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi, Kat: The Nest Bedding Hybrid Latex is a step in the right direction but I can’t recommend it. What is your budget for a mattress? And what size are you looking to buy? I might be able to help stay within the budget. ~Irina
Irina,
What are your thoughts on the Essential Line with the coils wrapped in polyester vs the EOS with coils wrapped in PLA. Since polyester is synthetic and derived from plastic and PLA is synthetic as well. I’m having a hard time deciding if PLA would be any better then polyester for the price difference.
Hi, Amy: Hmm… I would say in this case it is more important to avoid polyester for environmental purposes. However, if the price is a big factor, I totally get it. Let me know what you buy and how you like the mattress. Are you buying in a store or on-line? ~Irina
Hi Irina,
I’m just wondering if you felt one was more safe or less toxic if any then the other. I am not sure if the price difference is worth it if polyester and PLA is neither harmful and it just comes down to an environmental issue. I haven’t decided on where to purchase yet as I am just narrowing down the options.
To know for sure I would need to see test reports side by side. Considering that polyester they use is what clothing is made of and that the polyester is inside the mattress, I think they are about the same. Does it help? ~Irina
Hi Irina,
Would you be willing to provide which Naturepedic model you ended up purchasing? Also, did you ever research Brentwood Homes (I was considering the Cedar model).
Thank you for all that you do!
Hi, Miranda: we bought a Naturepedic mattress from EOS series with dual firmness. I have not researched Brentwood Homes yet. This is a big purchase so I understand you want to get it done right. Ask them for certifications they have and make sure they are current and certify the mattresses, not the facility or raw materials. When a manufacturer says their mattresses are made with organic or natural materials, they should be able to provide relevant certifications to prove that. Let me know if you need further assistance: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/consulting/ ~Irina
PS- main difference is that the latex isn’t GOLs certified.
Thanks so much!
Hi, Amy: since the latex is not certified, we have to rely on their word that it is truly natural without any synthetic additives. ~Irina
Hi Irina,
You are amazing! Thanks for all your hard work.
I’m considering the Avocado as a more affordable option than the Naturepedic. Similar design and setup. Any thoughts?
Thanks so much!
Hi Irina, Do you have an opinion on Smith & Oliver Mattresses? They say organic, foam complies… Here is their web site
http://oliverfurniture.com/en/produktbeskrivelser/mattresses/
They are also on Amazon. I am looking for a mattress for my young adult son. Safe and reasonably priced. (Better than he would buy for himself.) Also how important is it to buy an organic box spring? Could it be covered in something organic? Thank you very much.
Hi, Sandy:
It depends on what you looking for. From looking at the mattress description on the website, it does not look like this mattress is organic and the foam is made of organic or even natural rubber. The foam is Oeko Tex certified but not clear to which standard. Also, it would be good to know if use any flame retardant chemicals to pass flammability tests. Let me know if you need more help on shopping for mattresses and we can go over your options within your budget on a phone. I know it is a big decision and you want to get it right. Good luck! ~Irina
Is what they are calling “polyester” and “polypropelene” to wrap the coils made from PLA? They describe PLA as being used in the “comfort layer” and when I click on the PLA link, it says “PLA Batting.” When I asked one of their reps, they said PLA is woven with cotten and wool in the mattress cover but had no idea about what is used to wrap the coils. I’ll try to find out more…
Hi, to my knowledge there is no polyester in Naturepedic mattresses. I sent an email to them to help you get better answers. ~Irina
Hi, KM: Sorry for not providing you with this information earlier. I confirmed with Naturpedic that their coils are wrapped in polypropylene, which I deem the safest types of synthetic materials. GOTS approves of polypropylene to be used as linings. This material is neither organic and nor “natural”. It is synthetic. But remember that while there are synthetic materials that are toxic, there are also synthetic materials that are not toxic – in other words, they may be synthetic but they are not made with harmful chemicals. GOTS approves of non-toxic synthetic materials for certain uses in GOTS certified products. Does it help? ~Irina
Hi, I was about to buy several new mattresses from the Natural Mattress Store when I remembered to check your site first and I’m so glad I did. I am now considering Naturepedic based on your recommendation. However I noticed they use polyester to wrap the microcoils (in some of the higher end models, when the customer doesn’t want latex). How do you feel about the use of polyester? Seems odd when the rest of the mattress is organic. Thanks!
Are you talking about PLA polyester that is made from potatoes? ~Irina
Hi, I was just wondering if you had looked into the intellibed? Thanks
Yes, I have and Naturepedic is still my favorite by far. ~Irina
We are also considering an Intellibed, and wondering what the pros and cons are, versus the Naturepedic bed. What were your reservations about the Intellibed?
Hi, Emilie: I did not feel like sleeping on plastic. Last time I looked, there was no disclosure what Intellibed mattresses are made of and no safety information. Let me know if you have any other questions. It is a big purchase, and you want to get it right. ~Irina
I think you mean “circuit breakers.”
LOL Thanks!
Hi Irina,
I’m needing a new mattress and have a 17 month old baby who we share a bed with, so our mattress needs to be as non-toxic as possible. I see in the comments above that you were scheduling an EMF inspector to visit your home. What was found in regards to the metal innerspring mattress in terms of EMF’s? I’d appreciate you sharing so much!
Hi, Sandra:
Thank you so much for asking! The EMF inspectors who came to our house did NOT find that our innerspring mattresses amplify signals sent by FM radio or TV towers. In fact, they said that they had not seen any innerspring mattresses act as antennas for external signals. On the other hand, the EMF said that metal in mattresses as well as other metals (e.g. metal in our nightstands) can amplify AC (alternating current) electric fields commonly produced by in-wall wiring, extension cords, power lines, clock radios, lamps, TVs, computers, refrigerators, ovens, electric beds and electric heating pads. And our innerspring mattresses amplify the AC electric field; however, even if we were to remove our innerspring mattresses the problem of AC electric fields would be still present in our house. Anyway, we are glad that had the inspection because now we turn off circuit breakers before we go to sleep, and we are not exposed to AC electric fields at all. I became so confident that Naturepedic mattresses are the best in the terms of price, safety, and confort that I got my son a twin-sized mattress. Let me know what you think. ~Irina
Thank you for your due diligence in this area. It has been extremely helpful in our mattress search. The price point is the only thing holding us back from buying a Naturepedic mattress at the moment, which has led me to a new player on the block that I am hoping you could give some insight on. The Joybed definitely doesn’t look as nice as the Naturepedic, but the price is 1/3 less. They are not an apples to apples comparison, but for the price do you feel it might be a decent alternative?
Thank you again for your great site!
Kim
Hi Irina, thanks for the post! I just want to caution your readers when purchasing these types of mattresses to ask about what type of bedframe is appropriate. We bought a mattress from the Natural Mattress Store in San Rafael a few years ago (I forget the brand but the materials sound similar to yours). I had also just purchased a new bedframe that had a solid wood (?) base to support the mattress. After a couple of years, I noticed some mold growth on the underside of the mattress (yes, totally gross). When I called the store, they told me that I was using the wrong type of base for this mattress – as the materials need to ‘breathe’ and have circulating air. There is a special type of base for the mattress allows for this air circulation (that they also sell). I wish I had known this when I bought the mattress. I was able to get it cleaned, replace the base, and salvage the mattress, but it was a huge hassle and unneeded expense.
Just wondering how you cleaned it. I have this situation with my Naturepedic mattress. Obviously using the wrong base and now the underside of the outer cover has mould growth.
Irina, Thank you for this post. It is well timed as I am starting to think about replacing our mattress and wantng to go chem free. I am curious as to your process whenyou pose your questions directly to the company? Do you have them formed ahead of time?
Also curious if you heard of Lifekind from Savannah’s post?
Lastly, what do you think was the cause of the first night on the Naturepedic? Sounds like both of you were uncomfortable. Were you warned ahead of time?
Not being difficult but mattress comfort is a huge issue for me.
Hi Maria: great to hear from you again. It is always better to do your homework before talking to vested interests. 🙂 Please read my How to Buy a Non-Toxic Mattress guide for questions to ask. Yes, I have looked into Lifekind but found them more expensive and did not like the fact that there were no showrooms around to feel their mattresses before buying. Sleeping on a comfortable mattress is something absolutely crucial to our health and vitality. I have no idea what happened that first night. But I think what matters is that from night 2 and on we have been loving our mattress. ~Irina
Thank you for the research! Have you looked into Colgate mattresses at all? Specifically the Eco Classica?
Yes! Unfortunately, Colgate Eco Classica mattress are made with Certi-Pur foam, which is polyurethane foam. And Certi-Pur is an industry certification, not independent. ~Irina
I would love to know which other brands you have considered, decided against and why.
Also, I would be concerned about the EMF being intensified with an innerspring mattress. The video above, (it seems to me) the guy is measuring a magnetic EMF, not electric EMF. I think if he measured electric EMF, the result would be much different. And proximity of that mattress spring to an electrical outlet or wiring inside the wall/floor/ceiling would also have an effect from my very limited understanding of the subject. But then again, I could be wrong.
Hi, Elena! Yes, you are right that in the video, they are measuring a magnetic field, not a radio electric field. Thank you for pointing that out. And yes, the measurement of a radio electric field would probably fluctuate depending on the distance from the surface of the coils and locations of sources of electric fields.
In 2009, Swedish researchers published an article that concluded that left-sided breast cancer and melanomas of arms and feet are linked with standing radio electric waves created above innerspring beds. The researchers concluded that standing radio electric waves are produced by coils in mattresses as they reflect signals sent by FM radio and TV broadcasting transmitters. As people normally sleep on their right sides (the researchers found), these parts of the body are further removed from mattresses, where the standing waves are strongest. In fact, if you sleep on your tummy or back, you are better off on the innerspring mattress than on a non-metal bed, because your body is below the harmful part of the wave.
This study was published in 2009 and the Swedish researchers called for studies of a possible association between melanoma incidence and sleep duration on mattresses with coils as well as detailed measurements of electrical fields around a human body resting on a metal spring mattress. It would also be helpful if there were a long-term study comparing the frequencies of these maladies between people who sleep on inner spring mattresses with those who don’t. It does not appear that this work has been done yet.
If you search the Internet, it might seem that there have been numerous studies done. In fact, all mentions of this phenomena lead to the original study, leading one to conclude that while there may be something to this, that further study is needed before we understand this fully.
For our part, we bought a metal spring mattress because we concluded that with our active and busy modern lives, we need to be well-rested every day, and that is crucial for our health and vitality. At first, I was thinking of buying a natural latex mattress such as those made by Pure Rest and The Foam Store but I was told by several people who bought natural latex foam mattresses that they were not comfortable, which made sense to me, since there is very little flexibility in the mattresses. If anybody owns a natural latex foam mattress please share with us how you like it.
The other mattresses I looked at were OMI (way too expensive), Lifekind (no chance to try them and their return policy not sufficient), McRoskey Mattress Store (materials were not up to my standards), The Natural Mattress Store (certifications were not up to date and more expensive than Naturepedic) and others I am having a hard time recalling now as it was over a year ago.
With that said, I am definitely concerned about EMFs and we do not keep TV, computers, or cell phones in our bedroom. The only thing we have is an old fashioned alarm clock with no radio, which we keep 3 feet from the bed.
We have also scheduled an EMF inspection of our home, specifically to learn from the EMF professionals about ways to reduce exposure to EMF in the bedroom and the house in general. I am also curious to learn about the locations of FM radio and TV towers and how they may interact with my mattress.
So thank you for your tough question, which motivated me to resume looking into EMF concerns.
To read the hypothesis by the Swedish researchers, visit here and here.
Warmly, Irina
Hi Irina,
Please see this Snopes article about the swedish study:
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/coil-mattresses-cause-cancer-amplifying-radio-waves/
where this study’s assertions were rated as FALSE.
Thanks
Thanks. I read the Swedish study in original and had bau-biologists in my house to measure EMF levels. ~Irina
What would you recommend for someone who can’t afford the best brand? There’s a lot between a $200 BigLots mattress and this $1600 one.
Good afternoon Irina,
The timing of your post could not have been better as I was just this morning regarding an article for which I have provided the link regarding best organic mattresses. This guy recommends a company called Essentia which I haven’t research yet myself or viewed the pricing. However, it sounds like a great product.
I would love to know your opinion on this mattress and if you have ever heard of it before.
We did purchase the Naturepedic mattress and changing pad when our son was a baby. (He’s probably very close to your son’s age). And have purchased another now that we’ve converted his crib to a full sized bed. However, my husband and I find the mattress to be very hard and uncomfortable if we lay with him for any length of time. But we’re currently sleeping on a 7-year-old Tempurpedic that is in need of replacement.
Hi Misti: thank you for your question. Latex foam is not absolutely harmless. While it is derived from the sap of rubber tree, there are volcalizing substances used to convert sap into foam. Naturepedic latex foam is certified organic and their mattresses are certified to the Greenguard Gold standard for VOCs. I do not see the same level of quality with Essentia. I might be wrong. Ask them if they carry these certifications. As for EMF being amplified by mattress innerspring, I have seen enough evidence to convince me that it is not true. Here is one of the tests: https://youtu.be/Tl_Ticwzvi0. And again, the Naturepedic mattress we own is super comfortable. ~Irina
My husband and I have had a LifeKind organic mattress for ourselves, and also one of their crib mattresses for several years now. They are both wonderfully comfortable, and are completely organic, with no questionable materials. Even the workers in the factory they are manufactured in are required to not wear perfume, to avoid and chemicals from contaminating the products. Nothing is hidden, they are completely open about all their products and materials. Just another option.