You're always looking to live your life a little healthier and sustainably, and it's never been easier to bring the lifestyle to your bedroom. We're talking about the best organic mattresses, and it seems like there are more options than ever that cater to showcasing the best in natural mattresses.
Of course, that begs the question, what is an organic mattress? Like the food you buy and the organic buzzwords you see carrying over into your favorite clothes and soft goods, many of the same certifications apply to mattresses as well. An organic mattress is made with organic and non-toxic materials, and will usually have undergone rigorous testing and certifications to back up its product.
Organic mattresses offer a range of benefits beyond the typical pressure relief and temperature regulating features we typically seek out when choosing the best mattress for your needs. They're eco-friendly, produce less VOCS (and off-gassing odors), helpful for individuals with sensitive skin or allergies, naturally sleep cooler, and are ultimately longer lasting due to higher quality materials. They tend to feature organic cotton, wool, latex, and bamboo.
We set out on a journey to catalog the top options when it comes to choosing the best organic mattress you can buy, taking into account their materials, special features, and who they might suit best. They're a great choice for being more sustainable at home. Most of our picks feature latex and wool, and if you're searching for vegan mattresses, well, we've denoted if the mattress of your choice is vegan, or available without wool or feathers.
Don't forget to flip your mattress, protect your mattress with one of the best mattress protectors and to continue the eco-friendly choices by opting for sustainable bedding, too.
Best organic mattresses of 2023
Avocado Green has come the de facto pick for all things organic sleep, and they're a carbon-negative business meaning they voluntarily offset more than 100% of their emissions, from resource extraction to shipping. Each mattress is handmade in LA, and comes with a lengthy list of eco-credentials regarding the materials and processes to make your new mattress. It's also ace at sleeping cool and offers relief from aches and pains.
The Avocado Green Mattress is made with a combination of GOTS-certified cotton and wool (though a wool-free vegan option is available too), plus latex that has been responsibly and sustainably harvested. The mattress is hand-tufted in up to 32 locations to bind the various layers together, without any chemical adhesives, and it improves durability.
The top latex layer is gently yielding and sits on top of a layer of tempered steel coils, while five zones support different areas of the body to give overall comfort and prevent motion transfer.
The mattress is a medium-firm, the company puts it at 7 out of 10 on the scale, so a good option for back and lighter side snoozers as well as stomach sleepers. We noticed it offers great support on your back and stomach and when you flip to the side, the mattress molds to you without that sinking feeling that makes it hard to get back out. Those looking for additional comfort will be delighted to know there's an option to opt for a European-style pillowtop, which offers an additional two-inch cradling layer of latex rubber foam for even better pressure relief. However, it does come at an extra cost.
(opens in new tab)
The Birch Luxe Natural Mattress is everything you could want in a mattress: it sleeps cool, features luxurious eco-friendly materials (cashmere anyone?) and offers the right amount of support, just where you need it.
The Birch Luxe is the premium upgrade to the Birch Natural Mattress and features a quilted organic cotton Euro top with a matelassé woven cotton cover, three organic cashmere and wool comfort layers, zoned lumbar support for enhanced contouring, and full edge support for structure.
The Birch Luxe is well-suited to all sleep types with a medium-firm feel, though some reviewers found it too soft for their liking. The bed itself is naturally cooling and temperature regulating, with its combination of cotton cover, ultra-fine cashmere, naturally hygroscopic wool, and buoyant Talalay latex that allows for better airflow.
While we tend to gravitate toward hybrid designs, if you're looking for a completely latex design, the Saatva Zenhaven mattress is made from 100% natural latex, which is organic, hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. The latex is also far more durable, breathable and buoyant than any type of polyurethane foam.
The Zenhaven utilizes five different zones of varying latex density, such as increased lumbar region support and a latex support core for added durability. A layer of New Zealand wool serves as a nontoxic flame retardant barrier while the breathable cotton cover is treated with Guardin, a nontoxic, botanical antimicrobial treatment to inhibit any mold or mildew growth.
The design is flippable, depending on your desired firmness. Though most sleepers opt for luxury plush for a zero-gravity feel, those looking for a firmer mattress will enjoy the gentle firm, which Saatva claims is 18% firmer to give stomach and back sleepers more uplifting, pressure-free support.
The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss offers one of the most customizable options in terms of depth and firmness, and even size, to find the best mattress for your sleep needs — and it's completely organic.
The latex mattress is hand-crafted with a GOTS certified organic cotton cover, over 10 pounds of temperature-regulating GOTs certified wool (also a natural flame retardant), and three layers of latex, including a Talalay latex layer for comfort, followed by two Dunlop latex layers for pressure support. The depth of each layer depends on the mattress thickness you choose, with the thickest 12" mattress also featuring a layer of latex.
The mattress is available in both medium and medium- firm comfort levels; however you can unzip the cover to rotate and further customize the layers of latex. The interchangeable layers make it a top pick for all sleep styles, and those unsure about which mattress firmness to choose. And if you have a partner who prefers a completely different mattress feeling, the availability of split queen, king, and California king models ensures that everyone can sleep happy.
The Latex offers a buoyant feeling that gently cradles the pressure points of your body for a responsive feel that won't leave you feeling like you're sinking. However, you may experience some motion transfer.
For those looking for a vegan option, the Natural Bliss Mattress (opens in new tab) is comparable in construction and design and uses a combination of hydrated silica and plant fibers as a natural fire barrier instead of wool.
(opens in new tab)
Could the Nest Bedding Owl Natural Latex Hybrid be the very last mattress you ever buy? In addition to a lifetime warranty, Nest Bedding uniquely offers the ability to swap out a new comfort layer, called the Lifetime Renewal Exchange (opens in new tab), which can be redeemed either during your first 365-night trial period or years after.
This effectively extends the lifespan of your mattress and keeps mattresses out of landfills.
The latex hybrid is available in three comfort layers: firm, medium, and soft according to your sleep preferences. Couples who sleep on a King or California King bed will have the option to split layers. The latex utilizes a method referred to as Continuous Pour, which evenly distributes latex particles within the manufacturing process and creates the most consistent density possible. It is suggested to rotate or flip the comfort layer every six months to distribute wear evenly.
Below the natural Dunlop latex comfort layer, the reinforced steel coils are sandwiched between an eco-friendly Certi-PUR transitional comfort foam and a support base foam, that is purely structural.
The Awara Premier Latex Hybrid Mattress is all-natural, organic, and non-toxic, and is insanely well-priced among it's competitors. A queen costs just over $1,500! In this design, organic Dunlop latex and innerspring coils create a cool, natural night's sleep.
The Awara mattress is a medium firmness mattress and provides more "give" than other latex hybrids on the market. The Premier uses a 4" layer of Dunlop latex at the top (the thickest of any latex hybrid on the market). As a result, it makes an excellent pick for any side and stomach sleepers, as well as an excellent choice for lighter-weight back sleepers (or anyone under 200 lbs).
Plus, since it's a hybrid, the motion transfer won't be as good as a memory foam mattress, but you'll make up for it with extra bounce and edge support.
While latex is known to be more breathable than memory foam, the coil spring base promotes even more airflow, which will soothe hot sleepers.
Organic materials
The certified-organic cotton cover is filled with a naturally fire-retardant wool comfort layer. It is free of chemical flame retardants, formaldehyde, and polyurethane-based foams.
It's true that the organic mattress industry is dominated by latex models, but that isn't always the case. Naturepedic may be most well-known for its eco-friendly baby bedding, but their organic mattress collection, including the Naturepedic Chorus Mattress, a traditional innerspring, is one of the best organic and non-toxic options you can buy. The universal design with a firmer comfort level should suit most slep types.
The top cover is made from organic wool, organic cotton, and PLA (a fiber made from non-GMO sugarcane), followed by a layer of micro-coils designed to help relieve pressure. The combination of natural cotton fiberfill and an inner coil construction also makes it very breathable.
Naturepedic manufactures its own encased coils, made of high carbon content steel, heat-tempering, and extra turns to ensure long-lasting durability and good motion isolation. They also manufacture mattresses that are made without adhesives or glues.
Due to the organic nature, some buyers have noted an initial farm-like smell due to the wool that does dissipate, and others mentioned the edge support could be better.
Canadian mattress brand Essentia prides itself on being the only maker of organic natural memory foam mattresses. The secret: latex replicates the feeling that memory foam lovers just can't and won't give up. And this latex-based foam sleepers cooler and reacts faster.
The natural memory foam utilizes Hevea milk, known as the Milky white "sap" of the Rubber tree, collected much like Maple tree sap, that is mixed with other essential natural and organic ingredients that once combined help to achieve the distinctive feel and proper consistency.
The Classic 8 mattress is best for stomach and back sleepers and offers a firm feel that molds to your body to offer excellent pressure relief and spinal alignment. It also sleeps cool, with the ability to sleep up to 3 degrees cooler than your internal body temperature over an 8-hour sleep cycle.
In addition to being vegan, the mattress is allergy friendly and hypoallergenic, and completely resistant to dust mites and other allergens.
If you're after an indulgent treat and a certain cloud-like feeling, Avocado's softest design ever features up to 21 layers of premium organic materials including organic and natural latex, wool, mohair, silk, flax, and cotton. It's appropriately named the Organic Luxury Plush Mattress, and it also has up to 3,136 individually pocketed coils arranged in five zones for support and motion isolation.
The mattress is rated at medium-soft, and customers have referred to it as "magic," "divine" and "blissful," noting its perfect combination of firmness and support. Now, if you want a full-on soft mattress, you can add on an additional pillow top, which pushes the mattress to 17" thick, and also features a second layer of low-profile pocketed coils in the topper for added contouring support.
Both versions will require deep-pocketed sheets. Also, to keep the warranty, the mattress must be rotated head-to-toe, once a month for the first six months, then every other month, to ensure even wear.
Brentwood Home's Crystal Cove hybrid mattress has a vegan-certified construction, meaning it has no wool, and bonus, was specifically designed to keep those with active lifestyles in mind.
The Crystal Cove mattress is flippable, with a medium soft side for active recovery featuring two inches of naturally cool activated charcoal-infused plush CERTI-PUR-US memory foam. Or for a more supportive experience and additional pressure relief, flip to the gentle-firm side with 2-inches of natural Dunlop latex. Between the two materials are hundreds of individually pocketed coils that provide zoned support and edge control.
In place of wool or any hazardous materials, the flame-retardant barrier is made from natural silica quartz — completely free from chemical flame retardants.
We also love the charitable component that comes with every Crystal Cove mattress: for each mattress purchased, Brentwood Home builds one complete Relief Bed (opens in new tab) for charity, which benefits the needs of the homeless, impoverished, shelter residents, and victims of natural disasters.
Organic Mattress FAQ
Why buy an organic mattress?
There's both environmental and health reasons to opt for an organic mattress.
They're non-toxic
The mattress industry is notoriously known for not being the most transparent about its materials and manufacturing processes, and a lot of it comes down to sneaky chemicals. Luckily, organic mattress companies are working to hold brands accountable industry wide as consumers ask more questions about how their mattresses are made.
People choose organic mattresses because they want to avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals. They're also less likely to negatively effect those with skin sensitivities and allergies.
Organic mattresses are made from natural products containing no pesticides. Organic mattresses will be free of any chemical flame retardants and PBDEs, formaldehyde, and benzene, and even common materials that can pose a hazard like polyurethane. Looking for certifications like MADESAFE or GOTS/GOLS ensure that the materials have been rigorously tested to be better for you.
They have no odors
Most memory foam mattress require an off-gassing period after being compressed and an unpleasant odor lingers for a few days. Many organic mattresses are GreenGuard certified, meaning they are certified to be low chemical emissions.
They tend to sleep cooler
Whether you choose a latex mattress or a hybrid design, organic mattresses tend to sleep much cooler than memory foam designs, as latex by default is cooler than memory foam, which can trap heat.
They're sustainably made and ethically sourced
An organic mattress should be produced with sustainability in mid. For instance, sourcing natural, renewable materials like latex and cotton is better on the environment. They'll often be made in fair-trade environments, some use biodegradable materials, and really take into account their environmental impact by working to offset their carbon footprint, and working to keep product out of landfills.
What to look for in an organic mattress
Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
What to look for in an organic mattress
A mattress can be labelled and marketed as organic if it contains just 30% organic material. For instance, some "bamboo" mattresses are actually mostly rayon. To recognize if your mattress is partially organic or fully (the ideal), you'll want to look for the following.
No chemical-based flame retardant chemicals
Instead look for wool, or other natural alternatives such as natural graphite powder or hydrated silica
Made with certified organic materials
Check that the mattress in its entirety is organic, and not just the cotton cover. Look for cotton, wool and latex, certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) Certified cotton or wool, GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) Certified Latex, and CERTIPUR-US foams if you can't part with memory foam.
How can I tell if an organic mattress is legitimate?
Keep an eye out for these organic mattress certifications:
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): A GOTS organic label is the gold standard when it comes to textiles like cotton and wool, and requires that 95 percent of materials be certified organic and that that the other 5 percent of materials do not contain certain chemicals. Mattresses can also be given the “made with organic materials” label, which means the product contains 70 percent organic natural fibers. For certifications, mattresses must meet various ecological and social criteria, use organic fibers, cover all processing stages, and meet a third-party certification.
- Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS): only applies to latex products— and it means that the product contains at least 95 percent organic latex. To get this certification, companies also have to follow similar standards as above.
- eco-INSTITUT: applies to mattresses, bedding, furniture, and floor coverings and maintains that these items fulfill the strictest requirements on pollutants and emissions going far beyond legal standards. It's actually more stringent to qualify than GOTS (below), and ensures that products are low-pollutant and low-emission, making them safe for those with allergies and children
- GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold: Products with this standard are scientifically proven to meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards to reduce indoor air pollution from VOCs and the risk of chemical exposure. GREENGUARD Gold specifically includes health-based criteria for additional chemicals and also requires lower total VOC emissions levels to help ensure that products are acceptable for use in environments like schools and healthcare facilities.
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100: This common certification means that the entirety of the product has been tested for harmful substances and that it has been found free of any toxic materials.
- FSC: The Forest Stewardship Council allows this certification to designate products (such as latex) that come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits
- CertiPUR-US: applies to all-foam-based products including foam mattresses, and certifies that the polyurethane foam was made without ozone depleters, flame retardants, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and is Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality.
- MADE SAFE: This certification is geared for everyday products and means that a product is made with ingredients not known or suspected to cause human health harm.
- Rainforest Alliance: This seal typically refers to agricultural and forestry products that were produced using methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.
- Responsible Wool Standard: a certification for wool, guaranteeing that wool is sourced from farms that adhere to the Five Freedoms of animal welfare, pay their laborers fairly, with supply chains checked by an impartial third party.
- USDA Organic: can apply to agricultural products grown using organic standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and can cover cotton and wool, though most commonly food products. A product that is certified organic contains 95 percent organic ingredients.
- Wool Integrity NZ: tracks the journey of wool production from farm to finished product and ensures that the wool supply chain has been sustainably and ethically produced.
Why use a latex mattress?
Latex has grown immensely popular in mattresses as it sleeps cooler than memory foam, is durable, supportive, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, dust mite resistant and mold resistant.
Latex is a natural material made from rubber tree sap. Extracting the sap does not harm the tree, making them an extremely ecofriendly and sustainable material. There are also two core types of natural latex, Dunlop and Talalay, which refers to how they were made.
Dunlop latex has a springy feel, that is relatively dense and firm, making it ideal for support but less so for comfort. The manufacturing process, is akin to baking. It's made by filling a mold with liquid latex before using a vulcanization process, leaving the mode denser on the bottom and lighter the top.
Talalay latex has a bouncy, softer feel thanks to its less dense design. It's also considered to be more breathable. It's usually more expensive to produce due to the extra step in the manufacturing process, where air is added to the mold, and ultimately creates a uniform fill and density.
However, not all latex is natural, so when searching for a latex mattress you will want to make sure the type of latex is specified. Some mattresses are partially or completely composed of synthetic latex foam, which is typically made from SBR, or styrene-butadiene rubber. Note, none of the mattresses in guide feature synthetic latex.
Can you buy vegan mattresses?
Vegan mattresses simply means that no animals were involved with manufacturing, and will not use materials like feathers, wool, or down.
Not all vegan mattresses are organic as most organic mattresses use wool as a natural, non-toxic flame retardant and incorporate it into the design for it temperature regulating characteristics. On the other hand, memory foam mattresses can technically be vegan, but they're more likely to feature conventional materials that may feature the chemicals you're looking to avoid.
Now, we imagine if you're looking for a vegan mattress, it's likely that you care that it has been produced in a sustainable and nontoxic way too. We've noticed that some brands like Avocado (opens in new tab), Naturepedic (opens in new tab), Plushbeds (opens in new tab), Brentwood Home (opens in new tab)and more offer vegan mattresses that utilize cotton, and plant-based, nontoxic materials. We've also noted whether each of the mattresses in this guide are vegan, or have a vegan alternative.
Can memory foam mattresses be organic?
Memory foam mattresses are not organic, because at their core they are manmade, but they can be eco-friendly. If you can't quite give up the feel of memory foam, seek out makes that only use CERTIPUR-US foams in its mattresses: meaning they're low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for minimal offgassing and free of ozone depleters; PBDEs, TDCPP, and TCEP flame retardants; mercury, lead, and other heavy metals; formaldehyde; and phthalates.
Alternatively, brands have created their own "memory foam," such as Essentia (opens in new tab) with its proprietary latex memory foam formed from hevea milk, the milky white "sap" of the Rubber tree, or even Amerisleep (opens in new tab) (though not on this list) that uses its own plant-based foam blend.
Memory foam mattresses are not organic, because at their core they are manmade, but they can be eco-friendly. If you can't quite give up the feel of memory foam, seek out makes that only use CERTIPUR-US foams in its mattresses: meaning they're low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for minimal off-gassing and free of ozone depleters; PBDEs, TDCPP, and TCEP flame retardants; mercury, lead, and other heavy metals; formaldehyde; and phthalates.
Alternatively, brands have created their own "memory foam," such as Essentia (opens in new tab) with its proprietary latex memory foam formed from hevea milk, the milky white "sap" of the Rubber tree, or even Amerisleep (opens in new tab) (though not on this list) that uses its own plant-based foam blend.
- You've reached the end of the page. Jump back to the top ^
-
-
American Style: Schumacher
Schumacher is one of America’s most iconic design houses and is a byword for style, quality and innovation
-
'Designers are saying gray is dead – I say long live gray-green': how to use the new gray
Timeless, elegant, calming – there is a lot to love about a serene gray green
