Non-Toxic Mattress Guide
updated 1/2024
Most conventional ( non organic) mattresses are still made with PU foam - this has been the standard fill for most mattresses since the 1960s
Some people will claim that once the chemical reaction of manufacturing PU foam takes place, the polyurethane foam is completely inert and harmless. However, many studies certify that many of these chemicals do migrate/ leach out for years. This is important because, unlike PU foam used in a sofa, when it is in a mattress, the user is exposed to these chemicals - at low levels- for many hours a day, every single day, for a lifetime.
In fact, Children and adults sleep on our mattresses anywhere from 6- 12 hours (or more!) a night. The problem with sleeping on a mattress that could be off gassing even small amounts of harmful toxins is that your head is really close to your mattress for hours at a time, breathing it all in for many hours every day…. cumulative exposure could be a concern
What leaches out of PU foam based mattresses and how?
Plenty. For his book Sleep Safe in a Toxic World, author Walter Mader sent a few mattress to a lab for testing and One memory foam model was found to emit 61 volatile organic compounds (VOCs)… and its not only the memory foam mattresses that create this problem!
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) conducted a study to assess the potential health risks that might result from consumer exposure to fire retardant chemicals in mattresses. They found that the average adult will absorb a daily dose of :
.802 mg of Antimony (the inhalation of Antimony causes lung tumors in animals and is considered a probably human carcinogen)
.081 mg Boric Acid (Roach Killer- a probabe reproductive and developmental toxicant in humans, Long-term exposure to boric acid is suggested to cause kidney damage. ), and
.073 mg DBDPO (Deca- considered toxic based on liver and thyroid effects in rodent studies, it is also a possible human carcinogen) from flame proof mattresses, every night.
Additionally, the study did find that five year old children will absorb .5 mg Antimony every night, this is 63 times more poison than the EPA says is safe. No studies have been conducted on children under 5
While these amounts are quite small for adults, they do add to our ‘toxic burden’ (that is the amount of chemicals we are exposed to day in and day out over a long period of time). And that is the point: while some of these toxins being emitted by PU based mattresses are very very low levels, they do add up.
Before diving into toxins emitted by PU foam based mattresses, its important to understand how they migrate out
Chemical additives like those used and mentioned below are not bound into the final product ( the foam) which is why we see them leaching as easily and for as long as they do.
Some will leech and migrate to the dust we then touch or breathe.
Others will be emitted into the air we breathe as potentially harmful volatile organic compounds, VOCs, sometimes for years
Finally, a secondary exposure route is that sometimes they leach into ocean water when these foams are thrown out ( affecting fish we eat) .
What additives? Well, PU foam manufacturers are not required to disclose the specific type of flame retardant nor additives used in their products, plenty of researchers have studied PU foam so we know what chemicals are commonly found in them.
Recently an international group of Researchers selected 50 plastic and rubber items that we use in our everyday lives and looked at the chemicals that leached from them once in the ocean.
Among their findings:
all items start to leach additives from the plastic as soon as they enter the water.
polyurethane foam mattress (#49) was among the ten most toxic extracts.
Some of the most concerning chemicals found in PU are:
4-(2,4,4-Trimethylpentan-2-yl)-N-[4-(2,4,4-trimethylpentan-2-yl)phenyl]aniline (CAS 15721-78-5, used in lubricants and greases). .. when not in ocean waters this would likely migrate to dust and air
substituted diphenylamines (SDPAs) additives used in many products such as plastics, rubbers, fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluids and industrial adhesives to prevent materials from undergoing oxidative degradation . These compounds are suspected endocrine disruptors and some have been demonstrated to affect reproduction in mammals [35].
4-methylbenzene-1,3-diamine (more commonly known as 2,4-diaminotoluene, CAS 95-80-7) This compound is commonly used in production of polyurethane foams, and is a known carcinogen
The antioxidant methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (CAS 6386-38-5, RI 1903, match% 85) This compound is classified by ECHA as toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Other studies have also found:
According the EWG , some mattresses have added fragrance to mask unpleasant odors.. these can cause allergic reactions and sometimes contain hormone-disrupting phthalates.
Flame retardants like antimony, Fiberglass, TBPP flame retardant , Diisocyanates10 are also used to make polyurethane foam more flame-resistant. Diisocyanates are highly reactive compounds that can cause health issues like respiratory problems, skin damage, eye damage, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, as well as increase the likelihood of cancer. Exposure to fiberglass could cause rashes, respiratory irritation and even property damage.
Solvent-based glue often binds the layers of a mattress. Some mattresses can contain up to 10 lbs of adhesives! These release VOCs and formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. The most common adhesives used are:
Methylene Chloride based adhesives: also found in paint strippers, high levels of Methylene chloride has been linked to cancer, cognitive impairment, and asphyxiation.
n-Propyl bromide-based adhesives: Classified as a VOC, it is is a reproductive toxin.
Acetone-based adhesives: while acetone is not considered a VOC, Some formulations based on acetone also contain other chemicals like hexane, heptane, and mineral spirits. These other chemicals may be classified as VOCs and some may be relatively toxic.
Better options? An organic mattress is definitely a better surface, from a toxicity perspective, to sleep on than a conventional mattress
But, the truth is that buying a ‘non-toxic’ mattress is one of the biggest investments you might make in your non-toxic living journey and it can also be one of the trickiest industries to navigate.
It can be confusing to figure out which mattress to buy, it can be confusing to figure out which claims and companies to trust. The mattress industry is unregulated and I have found it to be very sneaky: it is hard to find out what is inside mattresses and there are a lot of companies using terms like ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ very very loosely. Close to 40% of mattress companies refuse to fully disclose all materials used in their mattresses, failing mostly to provide information on how they make their mattresses flame resistant, waterproof or antimicrobial. As a general rule of thumb if a company is NOT disclosing everything, don’t buy their mattress.
In an ironic twist you might, literally, loose sleep over the issue.
Note on affordability: Organic mattress can cost more that non organic mattresses. Babies and young children are more vulnerable to toxins than adults ( Babies and children detoxifying system isnt as developed as an adults, Babies and children are physically smaller than adults, which results in greater exposures per kilogram of body weight to any contaminants in the air, water, or food compared with adults., Babies and children are more vulnerable to toxin exposure because they progressing through the complex, delicate, and easily disrupted stages of early development) so- if you have to choose/ prioritize, I would always choose getting an organic mattresses for your baby and child and then for yourself.
HOW TO CHOOSE A ‘NON- TOXIC’ MATTRESS
Materials and certifications: you want to search for a mattress made with any of these certified materials or a combination of them:
GOTS organic cotton: the Global Organic Textile Standards is the strictest organic certification available. Products with this certification must contain at least 95% certifies organic fibers and the remainder are highly restricted (no flame retardants nor PFAS chemicals are allowed)
GOLS latex: The Global Organic Latex Standard. Products that have this certification must contain at least 95% certified organic latex. (the remaining 5% of ingredients are highly restricted- no flame retardants nor PFAS chemicals are allowed, however synthetic chemicals are required to make tree sap into latex foam). There are two types of natural latex: Dunlop and Talalay. While they both come from the same sap from the same type of tree, the manufacturing process is slightly different. Additional processing used in Talalay latex can never be certified as organic. These latex bed can be Oeko Tex certified. Please note: natural latex still requires synthetic chemicals to produce
WOOL
Made Safe certification in another certification that has very strict standards and can be trusted. They certify both GOTS certified mattresses and natural latex ones)
Certifications and materials I do not recommend:
Certipur : this is a PU industry owned and regulated certification. Many of the chemicals it lists as banned are already not allowed in US foam products.
Soy foam / bio foam: Although it sounds like it could be ‘healthier’ soy foam is not much better than regular PU foam. Soy foam might contain up tp 20% soy content but can contain as little as 3-5% depending on the product. The rest is PU. A common trend is a mattress that contains, for example, a thin layer of organic cotton over PU foam or uses soybean oil as part of the polyurethane foam, and the mattress in marketed as ‘green’ or ‘natural’. If it still contains PU foam it will still give off VOCs. Soy foam also requires petroleum, so it too will off gas VOCs and the expansion of soy plantations in Brazil is partly responsible for de-forestation of the rainforest. Skip these.
BEST BRANDS
These companies are listed from lowest to highest price for a twin bed. Pricing and information has been updated 4.2021.
My Green Mattress (My Choice For My King Sized Bed: The Link Is An Affiliate Link. If You Use Code “” :
They offer all sized mattresses from cribs to Californian King.
Their entire factory has GOTS and GOLS certification which means all the material they are using have these certifications too.
After touring (live but virtually) their warehouse in Illinois, where all of their mattresses are hand made, I was impressed by their system for tracing every single component that goes into your mattress to the farm, source etc where it originated.
Emily crib mattress : $269
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full xl, Queen, King & CA King as well as bunk bed sizing for a lower price)
one or 2 sided
Kiwi Twin: starts at: $799
Kiwi Full: starts at $1099
Kiwi King: starts at $1599
Their more luxurious mattress model, made with GOTS certified cotton and GOLS certified latex. Has coils
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full xl, Queen, King & CA King
Natural Escape Twin: 1099
Natural Escape King: $1999
kids Pure Eco Organic Kids Mattress (8” high - safe for bunk beds and trundles)
GOTS and GOLS certified organic mattress
Available in full, twin, twin XL and queen sizes.
Twin $599
Queen : $974
Naturepedic (The Mattress Both My Boys Sleep On)
This company is one of the pioneers of organic mattresses. Almost 12 years ago when I first purchased an organic crib mattress from them, for my oldest, they were one of the few, trustworthy companies to turn to. Today they are just as trustworthy and have great alternatives to choose from. They also have Made Safe Certification
Classic Organic Crib Mattress, From $269
Organic Breathable Baby Crib Mattress (2-Stage) $359
Organic Breathable Ultra Baby Crib Mattress (2-Stage), $459
Mini Crib Mattress, $279
Oval Crib Mattress, $99
BAssinett Mattress fro Halo bassinet, $49
Double sided: One side is quilted the other side is waterproof.
Made with innersprings, GOTS organic cotton, and a waterproof surface on the bottom (made with a polyethylene coating that is made from non-GMO sugarcane and is applied using heat to avoid glues and adhesives. )
Available in Twin, Twin Trundle and Full
Twin: $799
Twin Trundle: $699
One sided, with coils, wool cotton and the water proofing layer made with PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane and is applied using heat to avoid glues and adhesives.
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen
Twin $999
Queen: $1499
Made with Organic Cotton, organic wool, coils, PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane and is applied using heat to avoid glues and adhesives. Has an added layer of GOLS latex
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King & CA King
Twin: $1399
King $2799
3 mattresses that are customizable (independently of your sleep partner.) and made with Organic Cotton, organic wool, coils and GOLS latex
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King & CA King
Twin: $2199 (classic)
King: $4299 (classic)
Made with organic wool batting, certified organicGOLS latex, and GOTS organic cotton
Available one or 2 sided. Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King & CA King
Twin: Starts at $899
King:starts at $1699
Avocado Crib Mattresses start at $349
Avocado Latex Mattress
no springs, all GOLS certified latex, plus organic cotton and organic wool
Vegan version made without wool available
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, CA King & split CA King
Twin: $1199
King: $2399
Avocado Green Mattress
GOLS certified latex, plus organic cotton and organic wool & coils (Vegan version available)
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, CA King & split CA King
Twin: From $1399
King: From $1899
Organic Latex Mattress: The Botanical Bliss
GOLS certified organic latex, GOTS certified organic cotton and GOTS certified organic wool.
Available in 2 firmnesses and 2 heights.
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full xl, Queen, King & CA King, Split King, Split Queen , Split Cal King
Twin: Starting at $1199
King: Starting at $1999
Suite Sleep:
They use GOLS latex and organic cotton (not GOTS certified) and wool.
Available in Twin, Twin XL, full, Queen, King, CA King
Twins start at: $1,899.00
Organic Cotton Mattress without Fire Retardant
Made with GOTS organic cotton, no springs
Available in Twin, Twin XL, full, Queen, King, CA King
Twin 6” mattress: $1856
King: $2915
Green Cotton & Wool Dreamton Mattress
Made with” Green Cotton” grown in the United States — it just isn’t certified organic and organic wool, no springs (more affordable but not organic. but no flame retardants nor VOCs from PU foam)
Available in Twin, Twin XL, full, Queen, King, CA King
Twin 6” mattress: starts at $732
King mattress: from $1616
All Wool Mattress
100% handmade mattresses filled with local EcoWool and encased in a 100% wool textile,
Available in Twin, Twin XL, full, Queen, King, CA King
Twin: $1550
King: $3100
They offer GOTS certified materials and GOLS certified latex (their Dunlop latex is GOLS - note their Talalay is not GOLS certified), models with and without springs, and customized firmness on each side for couples
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full xl, Queen, King & CA King
Serenity
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full xl, Queen, King & CA King
Twin: $1899
King: $3499
Unity Pillowtop
Customized on each side for couples in larger models
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full xl, Queen, King & CA King
Twin: $2599
King: $5599
All mattresses are coil free made with Certified GOTS Organic cotton, GOLS organic Latex Mattress & GOTS wool
Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full xl, Queen, King & CA King)
The Euro & Euro Soft Top
A pure latex mattress made without coils (soft top has an added padding)
Available in: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Eastern King, Cal King
Twin: Starts at $2236
King: Starts at $4396
The Lassen
Similar to the Euro models but with an added removable two-sided pillow top also made of GOLS-certified organic rubber latex
Twin: $2636
King: $4396
The Duet
Unique five-zone sculpted surfaces reduce pressure-point discomfort
Twin $2996
King: $5021
The Trio
all Latex. Has both five exclusive sculpted "sleep zones" reduce pressure-point discomfort and Three 3” certified organic natural rubber layers make the mattress fully customizable
Twin: $4236
King: $4796
Crib Mattress, $425
handcrafted in Canada from GOTS and GOLS certified organic latex, coconut husk and cotton
GOTS and GOLS certified organic materials' seal
Child Mattress, start at $1199
child mattresses feature different firmness levels on each side for evolving support as your kids grow
made for kids up to the age of 15, or up to a maximum of 150 lbs).
They're handcrafted in Canada from GOTS and GOLS certified organic
Adults, The Classic
Allows you to customized your mattress to suit you and your partner’s different preferences
Made in Canada with GOTS and GOLS certified organic cotton, wool and latex
Available in Twin, Twin XL, full, Queen, King, CA King
Twin: $2459
King: $4919
SOURCES
https://saferchemicals.org/get-the-facts/toxic-chemicals/methylene-chloride/#section1
https://p2infohouse.org/ref/17/16558.pdf
https://dtsc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2016/01/altn-adh-techn-executive-summary-v3.pdf
https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/matttabd.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/haps/health-effects-notebook-hazardous-air-pollutants
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653522014382
https://www.center4research.org/home-sweet-home-flame-retardants-home-can-harm/
https://phys.org/news/2023-12-toxicity-standard-plastic-products.html