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It's about time you showed your sleep setup some love.
It's a fact that we spend nearly one-third of our lives fast asleep in bed (and if you’re like me, even more time than that watching Selling Sunset from the comfort of my queen bed). So, besides being comfy, your mattress needs to be the ultimate safe space. Obvious, no? But regular mattresses usually contain materials like polyurethane foam (made from petroleum) and chemical flame retardants. Some research has even linked these chemicals to respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health issues, according to Barry Bridges, a sleep science coach certified by the Spencer Institute.
Not in the mood for anything sus in your mattress? Now is the time to organic. Organic mattresses swap potentially icky materials with organic cotton, wool, and latex—making them a healthier choice for most people and a “game-changer for people with breathing problems, skin conditions, or allergies,” says Bridges. For example, if you struggle with eczema, he says that some materials in conventional mattresses could act as an irritant and cause a breakout. An organic mattress might make it possible for you to get a truly restful, itch-free sleep.
Another bonus: Organic mattresses are better for the environment, which is ~huge~ when you consider that the U.S. alone adds 18.2 million non-recyclable, non-biodegradable mattresses into landfills every year. Organic mattresses are mostly biodegradable, and their production processes have a “vastly smaller environmental impact” than the petroleum extraction needed to make conventional mattresses, Bridges says. Hooray for looking after Mama Earth!
Before you buy, beware: Companies can market their mattresses as “natural” and “eco-friendly” without actually backing up that claim. Bridges says to look for third-party organic certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) on the label to confirm that your mattress is legit.
So, if you’re a little skeeved out by the thought of nasty chemicals lingering in your mattress, read on for some certified organic (and certified dreamy) mattress recommendations...
Behold: Your new natural bedding necessity. Bridges recommends Avocado because the company possesses every major organic certification, is carbon negative (meaning it offsets more carbon than it produces, yay!) and has been recognized by the Forest Stewardship Council for its sustainable practices.
Their wool even comes from the company’s own sheep farms in Argentina. The mattress is great for stomach and back sleepers, and its cotton encasement will keep you cool. It’s on the firm side, so if you want something a little more on the softer side, you can order your mattress with a built-in plush pillowtop. Problem solved!
Glowing review: I was nervous that the mattress would be too firm, but for us it is just right (I am a 125 lb female side sleeper and my husband is a 210 lb stomach/side sleeper). The construction is top notch. There isn't a hint of sagging or divots and we rotate the mattress minimally. Temperature control has been fantastic, as well - no getting too hot at night.
It’s tricky to track down a mattress with the pressure relief and support that side-sleepers need. Finding an organic mattress that checks all the boxes? It's hard, but not impossible, thanks to this innerspring mattress. It's made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and wool, not to mention GOLS-certified latex. At a medium firmness, it’s ideal for side-sleepers, and you have a 120-night trial to give it a test run. Side-sleepers who want a very soft mattress (it me), can add a plush topper to their order. Glowing review: I was SO hesitant to buy a new mattress (big investment for me and what if I hated it???), but Happsy ticked all the right boxes. I love that they are a small, family owned company and that they put so much good stuff into their mattress.
The Birch Natural Mattress is literally and figuratively cool, thanks to its temperature-regulating GOTS-certified cotton top layer, moisture-wicking organic wool comfort layer, and breathable Talalay latex for pressure relief. The mattress is also GREENGUARD Gold- certified, so you can rest easy knowing there aren't chemicals you don't want floating around your pretty lil bedroom.
Glowing review: Absolutely fantastic! I have been tracking my sleep for close to 5 years, and within the first two weeks I had multiple ‘100% sleep quality’ nights in my Birch mattress.
Not a big fan of wool? The PlushBeds Natural Bliss swaps sheep wool for GOTS-certified hypoallergenic cotton and GOLS-certified Talalay latex. It has a nice buoyant feel, like you’re sleeping on a ~literal~ cloud, and you can completely customize the firmness when you place your order. Queens, Kings, and Cal Kings even come with a “split” option, where each partner can choose the optimal firmness for their side of the bed. Glowing review: Love the mattress. Plushbeds even sent me out a different layer to make the bed softer. Love it.
This is a great one for people who want a foam mattress to cushion their bones and joints, but don’t wanna feel like they’re snoozing in a sandpit. Made from 11 inches of Talalay latex, organic cotton, GOTS-certified wool, and individually wrapped innerspring coils, it’s designed to provide firm support and relieve pressure that might cause back pain. Bonus: This pick is a solid sleeping rec if you struggle with allergies.
Glowing review: My husband and I are quite different in size and sleep positions but we’re very comfortable with the Natural 11. We really like memory foam but wanted a natural, safer mattress (health wise). We were pleasantly surprised at how movement does not transfer. Shipping was very quick.
Naturepedic is sort of the OG organic mattress brand, founded two decades ago by an environmental engineer who knows a thing or two about avoiding chemicals. The EOS line is fully customizable and GOTS and GOLS-certified organic. You can change the firmness of your mattress whenever you want. Just unzip the encasement and change around the comfort layers, each of which has its own firmness level, to get the feel you want. Queens, Kings, and Cal Kings come with split sides so partners can tailor their side of the bed, and if you’re allergic to wool or latex, you can also have the bed made without those materials. So! Many! Choices!
Glowing review: The mattress was comfortable day 1! I am very impressed with the quality and comfort of the product and the ease of set up when received, definitely recommend!!
Now that you've invested in an organic mattress, you're gonna need some equally as organic sheets to round everything out. These Tuft & Needle jersey sheets are made from 100% organic cotton, and are designed to feel like you're fast asleep in your coziest t-shirt (even if you're not). This breathable bedding is sweat-wicking too, making them a solid sheet set for spring and summer months.
Just an FYI that brands are out there trying to fool ya. “Terms like ‘natural’ and ‘sustainable’ and ‘eco-friendly’ aren’t necessarily interchangeable with organic,” Bridges says. “It’s possible for a company to say its mattresses are natural and sustainably produced without actually meeting the recognized organic standards.”
To know it meets those standards, check for GOTS, GOLS, and USDA Organic certifications. CertiPUR-US, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, GREENGUARD, and GREENGUARD Gold indicate the mattress is safe from chemicals. Bridges adds, “If you see any other certification badges, do some research on them to make sure their standards satisfy yours.”
You can't just buy a whole mattress without getting the DL. Bridges recommends reading independent mattress reviews by professionals, sleep science coaches, and actual users to know what you’re getting yourself into.
“Remember you’re buying a mattress, not just an organic mattress,” Bridges says. “The main point of getting a mattress is to sleep on it—preferably well.” Ask yourself: does this mattress have the right firmness level, is it good for my sleeping position, does it have a good warranty and sleep-trial length, and do I even like being on it? Good point there.
Barry Bridges is a certified sleep science coach by the Spencer Institute. He is also a mattress-tester and performance editor for MattressAdvisor.com.