A guide to the best organic and natural mattresses out there so you can sleep greener and healthier. Already know what you want? Check out the full list of featured organic mattresses here.
#Fact: we spend almost one-third of our lives sleeping (!) so there’s really no reason not to have the highest quality mattress. Yet studies show that the average mattress is full of toxic chemicals and flame retardants that can lead to all sorts of problems like skin irritation, respiratory problems, and skin irritations.
So how can you avoid the toxic cocktail of chemicals found in the standard mattress? By purchasing an environmentally-friendly organic mattress, of course! Whether you’re looking for the best non-toxic or all-natural mattress, an organic mattress is better for the environment and better for you.
Why choose an organic mattress?
It’s easy to think that all mattresses are the same. However, traditional mattresses are usually made from artificial materials such as petroleum-based polyesters, polyurethane foam, and nylon. When new, these materials give of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which contributes to that “new” smell that things like mattresses and carpets often have. This is also known as off-gassing.
Also, traditional mattresses are generally treated with a slew of yucky chemicals so that they are fire and flame retardant, like silicone, phosphates, and boric acid. And then you’ve got the material that’s used in the barrier cloth covering of a mattress like polyvinylidene chloride and melamine. I mean, if it’s too long to pronounce, why would you sleep on it?
The materials used to make traditional mattresses are bad for your health and bad for the environment.
Enter: the organic mattress.
Luckily, many of the best green, non-toxic, organic, and/or natural mattresses are designed to avoid chemical-filled, petroleum-based materials but they are also actually more comfortable to sleep on making them a great healthy, natural, comfortable and environmentally friendly sleep solution that will last years.
We know that a mattress can be a pretty big up-front investment so we’ve put together a list of the best mattresses that use safer materials like bamboo, natural latex, and organic cotton while avoiding toxic chemicals and flame retardants. You’re going to sleep better knowing your mattress is healthier, greener, and longer lasting made from natural ingredients.
What makes a mattress organic?
A green mattress is generally made from materials that have a) been produced without the use of pesticides prior to constructing and b) don’t use chemicals in the manufacturing process. You might also see the words organic, non-toxic, natural, and all-natural mattresses thrown around too. These are basically all the same thing. That’s not to say that all organic (green, natural, non-toxic, or all natural-mattresses) are made the same – just that the worlds are roughly used to describe the same thing.
Another important distinction is between mattresses that are made mostly from natural materials such as organic cotton, wool, and latex and those that use artificial materials that aren’t “natural” but produce minimal environmental side effects. It’s up to you to decide which type of mattress you’re more comfortable but either way, the end result is the same – you, sleeping with fewer chemicals 
Going green in the bedroom starts with thinking about the way you sleep, and at the very foundation (quite literally) of this idea, is thinking about the mattress you sleep on and its environmental footprint from the factory to your home.
Choosing an organic or natural mattress is one of the very best ways to promote a range of holistic benefits from the physical effects of a healthier night’s sleep through to a significantly reduced impact on the environment.
For real, the best way to promote better sleep and all the related health and wellness benefits of sleep is to invest in your mattress. We say the greener the better!
Conventional vs organic mattresses: what’s the difference?
So what are the main differences between a conventional mattress and an organic mattress? While maybe not obvious to the mattress uninitiated, conventional or traditional mattresses are usually made from a combination of artificial materials such as petroleum-based polyesters, polyurethane foam, and nylon.
The problem with this is that all of these materials are far from environmentally friendly and here’s why.
As well as giving off VOCs (volatile organic compounds) – which incidentally tends to be a particularly bad side-effect when a mattress is new – conventional mattresses are also usually treated with any number of fire resisting and flame-retardant chemicals including silicone, phosphates, and boric acid.
Add to this list the materials used in the barrier cloth coverings of many mattresses such as polyvinylidene chloride and melamine and you soon end up with a pretty environmentally unfriendly (albeit comfortable) sleeping solution.
The good news is that many of the best green, non-toxic, and natural mattresses are specifically designed to not suffer these side-effects and are often actually more comfortable than their conventional counterparts, providing healthy, natural, comfortable, and environmentally friendly sleep for years.
This means the best organic mattress or naturally considered sleep solution is going to deliver an overall better experience when it comes to sleeping green.
Best organic mattresses
A mattress represents a considerable financial investment – and rightfully so when you consider how much time we spend sleeping during our lives. With this in mind choosing the best organic mattress for your specific needs and requirements is important for ensuring that the solution you end up with will represent the best combination of comfort, durability, cost-effectiveness, and of course, environmental credentials.
When you consider that we spend around a third of our lives sleeping, the importance of choosing the right mattress for both you and the environment becomes obvious.
We’ve taken a look at the very best natural and eco friendly mattresses out there, bringing together the brands that favor environmentally conscious and safer materials such as organic cotton, natural latex, wool, and bamboo to deliver sleep solutions that aren’t harmful.
Avocado Green Mattress
Why we love it | One of the most affordable natural and organic mattress made from certified organic cotton, 100% natural latex, 100% joma New Zealand wool
Handmade in the USA by people paid a fair living wage, the Avocado Green Mattress is one of the most affordable organic mattresses on the market. Despite being affordable, this is a luxury mattress that is made without petroleum-based polyurethane foam and toxic chemicals like flame retardants or pesticides. The company is Greenguard Gold certified and members of the 1% for the Planet which actively gives back to support environmental and social initiatives. They also offer a 100-day sleep trial as well as free shipping and returns.
Happsy Organic Mattress
Why we love it | Made without the use of polyurethane foam, formaldehyde, flame retardents, pesticides, GMO’s, glues or adhesives
This certified organic mattress from Happsy provides medium firm support using high quality natural and organic materials for delivering the perfect night’s sleep. Support comes in the form of pocketed springs (which are made without the use of glues and adhesives) that are topped with two inches of organic wool batting and organic latex. The end result is an incredibly comfortable and supportive sleeping experience which delivers the benefits of comfort without the usual environmental trade-offs. Once you move beyond the core of the mattress the surface covering itself is formed from organic cotton which provides a host of benefits ranging from increased overall comfort levels to superior breathability. Similarly, the unique design of the Happsy – combining organic materials with a pocketed spring system – promotes cool sleeping. This benefit is in direct opposition to many traditional modern foam mattresses which actually insulate heat and can make for a less comfortable sleeping experience. What you end up in the case of the Happsy is a breathable system which utilizes the natural moisture wicking properties of wool to the max to deliver a solution that dissipates heat keeping you cool in throughout the night. The organic and non-toxic certification of the Happsy mattress range (GOTS and GOLS standards) are met thanks to the brand’s policy of making their mattresses without the use of polyurethane foam, formaldehyde, flame retardents, pesticides, GMO’s, or glues and adhesives.
My Green Mattress Pure Echo Organic Cotton Two Sided Natural Mattress
Why we love it | This mattress is made with organic certified cotton and locally sourced wool
The Pure Echo is a GOTS certified organic cotton twin mattress offering a medium-firm level of support and includes no toxic fire resistant materials or polyurethane foams, favoring natural alternatives in both instances.
A 3-zone, pocketed coil innerspring at the core of this organic mattress provides lumbar support, allowing the mattress to naturally contour to the body while reducing motion transfer.
Natural wool sourced from California & Oregon acts as a natural flame barrier and means that no toxic chemical flame retardants have been used in the Pure Echo. This wool is even washed in a GOTS Organic Compliant soap which is both mild and biodegradable.
The Pure Echo is made in the USA and in terms of organic manufacturing credentials, checks all of the major boxes you’d expect from one of the top natural mattresses in this size category.
Greenguard Gold certification means that this mattress has passed tests for low emissions, while a 10 Year Warranty and 100 night sleep trial mean that you’re covered and can sleep easy from the moment your new organic mattress arrives at the door.
EcoTerra Natural Latex Luxury Hybrid Mattress
Why we love it | GOTS certified organic cotton and natural latex construction make this mattress is a great choice for a better night’s sleep
Combining a construction of 100% natural latex and fabric encased coils, the EcoTerra Hybrid Mattress has no additives, no fillers, and doesn’t off gas.
The latex comfort layer in the EcoTerra is plant derived, hypoallergenic, and works in a similar way to more conventional foam alternatives, effectively creating a layer of support and pressure relief to encourage restful sleep.
On the surface layer, the EcoTerra mattress utilizes ultra-soft, GOTS certified organic cotton which is quilted with a soft foam backing for comfort. As organic cotton is naturally soft and breathable, what this means in practice is improved sleep quality and comfort from the first night.
The inclusion of fabric-encased coils looks to eliminate the usual disturbance that you get when a partner moves in the bed meaning you’re going to benefit from better sleep with minimal disruption.
Each EcoTerra Natural Latex Luxury Hybrid Mattress comes rolled in a box for ease of delivery and setup (no assembly required – just unroll and sleep) and includes a 15 year non pro-rated warranty.
Naturepedic Verse Organic Kids Mattress
Why we love it | A natural children’s mattress that offers both comfort and support for a better children’s sleeping solution
Naturepedic are one of the leading manufacturers of organic and natural mattresses and the Verse is their organic mattress specifically designed for growing kids or teens.
The organic cotton filling of this mattress provides both comfort and support over premium encased coils for providing a firm yet comfortable support that promotes airflow to reduce overheating. In addition to this, a quilted surface utilizes wool batting to provide superior temperature regulation for good sleep all night.
The Verse is certified organic and has been designed without the use of glues and adhesives, flame retardant chemicals, or other questionable materials.
If you’re looking for a non-toxic children’s mattress, certification that meets the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the reassurance you’re after and the Verse has this covered. Add to this the fact that this mattress is also certified to the GREENGUARD Gold standard and meets the UL Formaldehyde Free standard, and it’s clear that this is one of the very best organic mattresses for kids currently on the market.
Newton Wovenaire ‘Beyond Organic’ Crib Mattress
Why we love it | A natural crib mattress from from toxic chemicals and allergens make this a better choice for babies and young children
The Wovenaire Crib Mattress from Newton has been designed around a unique food-grade polymer that gives its internal structure resilience and means that the mattress form itself is effectively 90% air.
It’s this unique composition that gives the mattress its highly breathable design and reduces the risk of both suffocation and overheating.
The Wovenaire is completely washable and hypoallergenic and doesn’t contain any foam, springs, latex, or glues in it’s construction, while GREENGUARD Gold certification means that this crib mattress is free from toxic chemicals or allergens and won’t off-gas as is often the case with other conventional mattresses.
A removable cover means that cleaning is incredibly straight forward with the mattress offering the ability to clean the exterior either in a machine, in the tub, or spot cleaned as and when needed.
What this combination of unique design and durability means is that the Newton Wovenaire is ideally suited as a green crib mattress that your child can grow into as a toddler and that will still have the staying power for use by other children in future years.
Colgate EcoClassica III Crib Mattress with Organic Cotton Cover
Why we love it | A versatile organic crib mattress that develops with the needs of your child as they grow
The Eco Classica III utilizes a unique ‘dual firmness’ design that means it can be used for both babies and toddlers alike, adjusting to the different needs of your child as he or she grows.
An orthopedic style design offering six inch thickness forms the basis of this crib mattress and the standard size is designed to fit regular sized cribs and toddle beds right out of the box.
In terms of the eco credentials of this green crib mattress, the EcClassica III is GREENGUARD certified, meaning it’s passed all standards for indoor air quality and over 10,000 volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
A certified organic cotton cover with a waterproof backing encloses the mattress itself and means that baby will remain super comfortable while the cover will always protect the mattress and won’t let anything through.
The foams used within the EcoClassica III have passed CertiPUR-US certification for safety and are made from non-food plant oils as opposed to petroleum based oils used in conventional crib mattresses.
Colgate have a long established reputation in the crib mattress making business and the durability and quality of the EcoClassica III is testament to why this is. With this in mind, if you’re looking for an organic crib mattress that will allow years of use, this solution is a great choice at an affordable price point.
