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What is a sustainable mattress?

Others incorporate some of the practices above, but not all of them, to greatly reduce their impact.

Avocado Green Mattress

How much do sustainable mattresses cost?

Sustainable production practices and materials often cost businesses more than cheaper alternatives.

The higher quality the bed, the more premium the price tag.

Avocado Eco Organic Mattress

So, as you might imagine, sustainable mattresses are usually at a higher price point than traditional mattresses.

This doesnt mean that all sustainable beds are expensive.

Carbon Neutral

Carbon Neutral is a non-profit organization that assesses companies carbon emissions.

Layers of organic cotton used in PlushBeds Botanical Bliss mattress

This is usually achieved through official carbon off-setting as well as reducing carbon emissions throughout the production process.

GOTS and GOLS

GOTS and GOLS stand for Global Organic Textile Standard and Global Organic Latex Standard.

This will mean the brand prioritizes ethical practices, as well as sustainability.

Awara’s mattress certifications under a heading that says ‘Certifications you can trust’

Our number one rated organic mattress, theAvocado Green, is certified 1% for the Planet.

What are sustainable mattresses made of?

Sustainable mattresses use natural and plant-based materials, rather than toxic, chemical-based man-made materials like some polyfoams.

Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress cross section showing latex and spring layers inside

Even thebest memory foam mattressesaren’t always sustainable because of the production process for foams.

Thebest hybrid mattressesoften combine natural materials with recyclable steel springs, making them more sustainable.

Common materials in sustainable mattresses include:

Woolis often used as a natural, moisture-wicking alternative to synthetic padding.

Essentia Stratami Organic mattress

Cottonis naturally breathable and soft, making it the perfect sustainable material for mattress covers.

Its a great alternative to memory foam, offering cradling support that is responsive to a sleepers movement.

GOLS certifications ensure the latex is sustainably and ethically sourced.

Two women sit on the Nolah Natural 11 Mattress

How long do sustainable mattresses last?

Because sustainable mattresses use natural materials, they often last a lot longer than cheaper man-made alternatives.

A woman sits on the foot of the Saatva Classic mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom

Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress in a bedroom

A split image featuring the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress on the left and the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid on the right, leading into the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid vs Nectar Classic showdown

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom, a man and his young sun sitting on top of it, smiling. A Tom�s Guide price drop deals graphic (right)

Bed bugs

The Saatva Murphy Bed Mattress on a Murphy bed frame lying flat, in a bedroom

The image shows the Casper Hybrid with Snow Technology pillow on the left and the Coop Cool+ pillow on the right in a side by side comparison

A child lying on their side covering their eyes in bed

A woman with an afro sleeping on her side covered in grey duvet while she sweats in her sleep, thinking of a cooling mattress.

A woman with brown hair lies on her stomach on a grey colour Japanese floor mattress

A mattress we tested is dressed with neutral colour bed linens and pillows

Casper Wave Hybrid Snow review: woman lying on the mattress on her side, with her head on a pillow

Woman smiling while she sleeps with headphones in and her arms overhead

A person wearing rubber gloves uses a spray bottle and a clean cloth to clean the surface of the Emma Elite mattress.

NYT Strands on a cellphone