Clean Mattress Shopping Tips

Clean sleep is all about creating a healthy, toxin-free sleep environment. It involves using mattresses and bedding made from organic, natural materials that are free from harmful chemicals. Clean sleep promotes better health by reducing exposure to allergens and toxins, ensuring that your sleep environment supports your well-being.

What Certifications Matter Most?

Certifications ensure that your mattress meets certain safety and health standards. They can tell you if a mattress is organic, free from harmful chemicals, or supportive for your sleep needs. 

You want to prioritize first party certifications that are 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. 

What is a Second Party Certification?

You may have heard of CertiPUR foam, which emerged as a response to increasing awareness among consumers about the drawbacks of traditional polyurethane foam (polyfoam). CertiPUR foam is marketed as a certified product designed to be more environmentally friendly and beneficial for sleepers' health. As a result, some mattress brands tout this certification as making the mattress more "eco-friendly" or less toxic to the sleeper.

However, CertiPUR is driven by polyfoam manufacturers aiming to present a more eco-conscious image for their product. While some CertiPUR-labeled foams contain fewer harmful chemicals, it's essential to understand that no polyfoam is entirely safe or non-toxic, nor genuinely eco-friendly.

This "certification" does set standards for low emissions of some harmful chemicals like PBDEs, formaldehyde, and heavy metals, but the testing is only for 72 hours, compared to more rigorous standards like Control Union certifications, which test for 7 days or longer. CertiPUR certified foam may still contain harmful chemicals such as styrene, benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde. Clearly, this is not a standard for a truly healthy mattress.

Certification Tactics to Look Out For

Many companies are trying to keep up with the trend of consumers wanting more natural products, but they often try and do it through misleading means. Some mattress companies may boast and advertise certain certifications (e.g., GOTS or OEKO-TEX) but fail to mention that those certifications are awarded to the manufacturer or supplier of certain components such as the cotton or latex used in their products. Finding a mattress that is fully certified is important for this reason.

Benefits of Certified Mattresses

Certified mattresses offer several advantages that contribute to a healthier and more comfortable sleep environment:

1. Health and Safety:

• Reduced Exposure to Harmful Chemicals: Certifications like GOTS and OEKO-TEX ensure that mattresses are free from harmful substances like formaldehyde, heavy metals, and PBDEs.

• Allergen-Free: Certified organic mattresses are less likely to contain allergens, making them ideal for people with sensitivities or allergies.

2. Environmental Impact:

• Eco-Friendly Materials: Certifications often require sustainable and organic materials, which are better for the environment. For example, GOTS ensures the use of organic textiles.

• Low Emissions: Certifications guarantee low chemical emissions, contributing to cleaner indoor air quality.

3. Quality and Durability:

• Strict Standards: Certified mattresses must meet rigorous standards, which often translates to better quality and durability.

• Consumer Trust: Certifications provide assurance that the mattress has been independently tested and meets high standards for safety and performance.

4. Ethical Production:

• Fair Labor Practices: Some certifications ensure that the mattress is produced under fair labor conditions, which supports ethical manufacturing practices.

Conclusion

When buying a mattress, check for certifications to ensure quality, safety, and comfort for a restful night's sleep. Be cautious of certifications like CertiPUR that may not fully align with the highest health and environmental standards. By choosing a certified mattress, you invest in a product that benefits your health, the environment, and supports ethical production practices.