When it comes to our beauty rest, we have an abundance of options at our disposal. Mattresses come in all shapes, sizes, and firmness. But our personal pea (cue Princess and the Pea reference) is the impact mattresses can have on the environment. So, for this integral part of our nightly routine, should it be organic? (The answer is yes.)

First… what makes a mattress organic?

You may be thinking to yourself, “only food can be organic! Right?” Well, wrong. There are tons of products that can have organic certifications, including textiles. Some brands might slap around the word “organic,” but unless you’re seeing a certification body behind it, it just doesn’t mean that much. Before we dive into organic certifications, yes, we know, the whole sneaky greenwashing thing is exhausting.

The leading, most rigorous certification when it comes to organic textiles is GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard. To get this certification, a product must contain at least 70% organic materials and meet all of the ecological and social well-being criteria. This includes, but is not limited to, workplace safety, wage gap assessments, wastewater treatment, and limitations on conventional fiber products. These criteria are based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The GOTS certification offers two label grades – “made with organic materials” which requires at least 70% organic fiber content, and “organic” which requires a minimum of 95% organic fiber content. For more information on the GOTS certification, check out our handy-dandy glossary.

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) is another organic certifying body. According to the USDA, a certified-organic textile must contain specific fibers in the finished product that are certified organic, or a certain percentage of the fibers must be certified organic (with the explicit amount stated on the label).

So, when it comes to mattresses, why does this organic certification matter, and what should we look for to keep in mind human and planetary health?

Mattress Yes’s and Nos’

Mattresses are more than just a comfy slab to lay our pretty little heads on. Mattresses can be made of metal coils, cotton, fiber layers, vinyl, and synthetic materials like polyurethane foams. Some of these materials can cause some pretty harmful environmental impacts (that we’ll get to in a second). All in all, that organic certification on your mattress means not only is it likely made from materials like organic cotton or latex, but that the certification behind it is also protecting the human lives that made that same comfy slab. Let’s get into the whys.

Yes: Organic Cotton and Latex

When it comes to that organic certification, we’re looking for the latex and cotton in our mattresses to be organic. When looking for organic cotton, check out the GOTS certification. In general, plant-based materials like cotton require less energy to manufacture compared to petroleum-based alternatives like polyester. However, the production and maintenance of cotton products require a lot of water compared to these alternatives. Luckily, some cotton is grown in ways that can be kinder to our planet. In an LCA looking at the differences between organic cotton and conventional cotton, the Textile Exchange found that organic cotton is 46% less harmful to global warming, creates 70% less acidification of land and water, the potential for soil erosion drops 26%, surface, and groundwater use falls 91%, and the demand for energy can drop by as much as 62%. Organic cotton ensures that the crop is grown without the use of harmful chemicals, leaving the soil, air, and water free from contaminants. It also produces around 46% less carbon dioxide compared to conventional cotton, which can contain nasty pesticide residues that can lead to endocrine disruption and cancer.

Similarly, organic latex can be certified by the GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard). The latex production industry has faced criticism for contributing to deforestation, carbon emissions, and biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia where the majority of rubber trees are grown. In Cambodia alone, rubber tree plantations have led to a quarter of the country’s deforestation. While global demand for latex has led to these issues, rubber is still a highly recyclable material, which is definitely a plus if disposed of properly. To avoid nasty additives, like volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, look for latex products with a Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) certification. GOLS certifies social and environmental standards across the entire supply chain so you can rest assured that everyone who worked on your product did so in safe conditions free of harmful chemicals. This certification also ensures that the product is made from 95% organic latex, with stringent chemical restrictions as well. Those chemical restrictions made sure that your mattress doesn’t contain flame retardants, which are known carcinogens – aka, cancer-causing materials. No thank you indeed.

No’s: Polyurethane Foam

Speaking of VOCs, let’s talk polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam, aka PUF, is a common material in mattresses, and, unfortunately, a significant source of VOC emissions. Why do VOCs matter, you ask? According to the EPA, exposure to VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and nausea, not to mention liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. Some VOCs are also carcinogens… which is so not what we want in our sacred sleeping spaces. Interestingly enough, the environmental conditions of sleep can actually influence VOC emissions – including elevated temperatures, humidity, and CO2 concentrations (from sweating and respiration). Additionally, low ventilation in bedrooms and the coverage provided by, say, a snuggly blanket, can cause higher concentrations of VOCs emitted.

What type of organic mattress should you buy?

At the end of the day (literally), everyone is looking for something different in a mattress. Some may want a firmer mattress, and some may want something closer to a pillow. And, when it comes to ensuring you’re getting the sleep you need, you deserve to channel your inner goldilocks. What you may not want to compromise on is how that perfect mattress impacts people and the planet. So, when in doubt, look for organic-certified cotton and latex, avoid polyurethane foam, and check out our favorite mattresses in our Top Products list. An important disclaimer before you go: You might notice that some of these mattresses on our list have the ingredients we recommend avoiding. That’s because many major brands haven’t (yet!!) heeded our recommendations or started paying attention to the science, and because our rating system currently only works on Amazon (more retailers coming soon!).