There are many benefits to purchasing an organic mattress, and when you are looking at an Essentia organic mattress you are getting a healthier, more durable, sustainable, hypoallergenic, and more comfortable mattress. Choosing an organic mattress is an investment in your sleep quality and overall quality of life. As they are more durable, an organic mattress can last you well over 20 years! Considering we spend a third of our life sleeping, shouldn’t your mattress be just as important as purchasing your car?
One thing we know is that the mattress shopping journey can be a confusing one, so many things sound the same but the pricing can vary drastically. There are a few reasons for this, and we want to be sure you are fully armed to understand why every mattress labeled ‘organic’ ‘natural’ or ‘eco-friendly’ are not created equally.
Buying a natural mattress can be overwhelming, especially with the vast array of standards and regulations that many companies include on their website, it can be difficult to navigate what is legit and what really just isn’t.
Here we will go over what to be on the lookout for when purchasing a high-quality organic mattress with proper GOLS and GOTS certifications.
Buyer Beware: How to Tell the Difference Between a “Supplier Certificate” and Product Certification
Unfortunately, a lot of brands on the market today are trying to pass their products off as GOLS or GOTS certified by using logos and some form of certificate upload. In many cases, this is actually a supplier certificate, or a certificate provided by the supplier that this brand is purchasing from claiming that the component they are purchasing is designated organic.
The reason a supplier certificate is a big red flag is that it is only proving that at one point in time this brand did purchase the organic component from that supplier but does not prove that the brand is still purchasing that component or that it is actually being used in the mattress you are purchasing.
You should always be looking for the brand to hold a certification that has the company's name on it and that certified both their manufacturing process as well as final products.
Are All Certifications the Same?
No, not every certification you see on a mattress website is the same. In fact, they can be classified into 3 different categories:
- First-Party Certification - This type of certification is the manufacturer's promise that they adhere to safe and ethical production practices. These certifications are great to show the company's values, especially when it appears in conjunction with proper third-party certifications. Here at Essentia, we have our Beyond Organic® promise which accompanies the GOLS and GOTS certifications.
- Second-Party Certification - These are issued by an association of which the company is a member. These are great to know as in most cases it shows a company is interested in giving back or green business but there is still a conflict of interest as many of these are dependent on a financial contribution or in the case of the CertiPUR-US certification it is administered by the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam who has a vested interest in certifying the polyurethane foams used in mattresses. Keep in mind though that CertiPUR-US does not certify the mattress, only the foam, and if the mattress also has a layer of vinyl, it will likely still off-gas potentially toxic chemicals.
- Third-Party Certification - These are the most trusted certifications as they are issued by independent organizations. This means you can feel confident that certain manufacturing standards are enforced. This is true for the GOLS and GOTS certifications which are managed by Control Union who also audit the manufacturer yearly.
What Does It Mean to Be GOLS or GOTS Certified?
GOLS and GOTS are two of the most well-known and respected organic certification standards in the world. They both set high standards for the production and processing of organic materials, and they both require that products be made with a minimum percentage of organic materials.
Both GOTS and GOLS are third-party certification standards, which means that they are independently verified by a qualified organization. This ensures that products that are certified to these standards meet the high standards that they set. That is why it is also important to look the for proper Control Union number on the certification to ensure the certification is legitimate:
GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. It is a certification standard for textiles made from organic fibers. The standard covers the entire production chain, from the harvesting of the raw materials to the manufacturing and labeling of the finished products. GOTS-certified products must be made with at least 95% organic fibers, and they must meet strict environmental and social standards.
GOLS stands for Global Organic Latex Standard. It is a certification standard for latex foam products made from organic rubber. The standard covers the entire production chain, from the harvesting of rubber trees to the manufacturing and labeling of the finished products. GOLS-certified products must be made with at least 95% organic rubber, and they must meet strict environmental and social standards.
If you are looking for an organic mattress, it is important to choose one that is certified by GOTS or GOLS. This will ensure that you are getting a product that is made with high-quality organic materials and that meets strict environmental and social standards.
Essentia Organic Mattress GOLS & GOTS Certifications
Essentia is proud to hold both a GOLS and GOTS certification managed by Control Union, CU#847578.
Essentia is a GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified facility, able to manufacture organic finished goods. Every Essentia mattress and pillow is GOLS-certified verifying that they are made with >95% certified organic latex. Essentia's production process follows a globally recognized standard for organically grown, natural rubber latex products. The GOLS standard certifies a clear path from the farmer to the factory, ensuring organic processing and manufacturing. See Essentia's GOLS certification here.
Essentia holds a GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) 6.0 factory certification. This ensures that Essentia’s entire supply chain and production processes demonstrate the proper practices to track and manage all organic materials. The certification for organic fibers, GOTS is the leading textile processing standard. All of Essentia’s mattresses are GOTS-certified organic, and Essentia’s organic sheets are 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. See Essentia's GOTS certification here.
Now that you know what to look for, you can continue on your mattress shopping journey. You’ll want to explore Essentia’s organic mattresses including the Stratami which has held the top ranking on Consumer Report’s foam mattress ratings for 6 years.
