Honesty – Obasan US
LINK:
obasan.com/pages/honesty

Nicole — I’m currently doing research as well and came across Birch Living. I’ve looked them up in the GOTS database and they’re there under their parent company Helix. They seem to fall into the Good Stuff category but maybe not necessarily great because they don’t appear to have material tracking from source to end user.

I’d like to see GTGS’s review, too. They seem to be a viable option. What did you end up purchasing?

I am looking at this mattress as well. I’m wonder if this or Nod by Tuft and Needle (sold through Amazon) would be a better option.

“Foam Top Layer: The top layer of the Topper is our signature Recovery Foam™. This is a high quality, high-density, US-Certipur certified viscoelastic foam that is free from harmful chemicals, no off gassing or strong odors and perfect for gently cradling even the most sensitive areas of your body without that “sinking, stuck” feeling.

Octaspring Technology Layer: We use US-Certipur certified polyurethane foam in two distinct densities to create a zoned layer of all-foam springs for proper spinal alignment, comfortable cradling and maximum breathability so that the topper does not retain heat and sleep hot. There is no latex in any of our foams.”

I am wondering if you know any more about Dormeo and how safe their materials are? I would appreciate anything you can share with me.
Thank you very much for your help.

Helix now has a “Birch” line with GOTS and Greenguard Gold certification. I am wondering what the author’s thoughts are on this new one?

Me too! Would love to know what the softest options are. We bought the Naturepedic EOS Classic with soft coils and soft latex, but it’s not as soft as our old (toxic) mattress that we threw away. Only have a few days to return the Naturepedic, and struggling to find a mattress that will be softer for side sleepers.

I wanted to update this as I purchased the Brentwood Home memory foam topper and despite its certifications, it smelled very strongly of chemicals. I could not keep it or even fully unwrap it from the plastic, due to the chemical smell. Also I believe Tuft and Needle is owned by Serta Simmon and Bedding and unfortunately they plan on applying a chemical to their mattresses. https://sleepretailer.com/mattress/serta-simmons-bedding-to-develop-u-s-first-antiviral-mattress/

So it makes sense now why you wouldn’t recommend these brands, it’s just soo hard to find a mattress without chemicals, flame retardants or other poor quality materials.

Harvest Green is ok but certainly does not carry the top-shelf certifications we look for. For about the same price you can get a very similar mattress that has all the best certifications. I’ll be happy to help.

Several of the certified manufacturers can custom fabricate whatever size you need. I’ll be happy to help.

Marriott mattresses most definitely would not make our Best Stuff, Good Stuff, or even our OK Stuff list. From what I can gather, toxins are simply not on their radar. Their website does not address the issue. They are priced the same or well above fully certified nontoxic mattresses. Are considering buying one?

Could you please mention which certifications are missing? Brentwood Cedar Natural has both GOLS and GOTS made out to them. This Brentwood mattress seems to have the exact same certifications that Avocado has (sister companies). They have been making many updates including removing hydrated silica and relying on wool for natural fire retardant properties.

Could you please describe why Avocado is not in the Best category?
You have updated Avocado info with the news that they have GOTS and GOLS, so is it still not in the BEST category?

Could you please describe why they are not in the Best category?
You have updated Avocado info with the news that they have GOTS and GOLS, so is it still not in the BEST category?
Both these companies have been very responsive and forthcoming with any questions that you may have. Brentwood was not on my list until I started looking into them. I’d appreciate any further insights . Thank you.

I emailed “customer service” only to be told they don’t sell the cover with the topper anymore and was directed to a separate company to purchase the cover (“latex for less”). Weird but thought maybe is was a sister company. When I went to it, ALL the photos of the separate company are identical, same listings, same site practically. It’s so sketchy. So my friend who was looking for purchase FIVE mattresses for her new beach house called the company to ask a few questions. They were rude, aggressive and ended up hanging up on her, pretended they had never even heard of “latex for ess” even though “Ken” from their customer service directed us to them in the first place. She went to another company to buy her mattresses (Saatva). It seems like the company outsources their “customer service” to another country, but the service is horrendous and I would return this topper if I could. Super sketched out and don’t even know that I received what i was TOLD the product is. I know there’s TONS of comments but hopefully it saves someone from getting duped. Be super careful with this brand, something sketchy is going on for sure.

Yes, Best Stuff:)

They indeed got additional certifications and we are updating our guide!

No this mattress does not have PBDEs.

Best STuff:) See above for coupon codes.

They appear to have updated their certifications and are now at least Good Stuff, possibly even Best Stuff (we are reaching out to them now to sort out where they belong in our updated guide!).

Yes, it looks like their certifications have been updated. We are reaching out to them now and will update our guide accordingly.

Yes, this is part of the reason we are no longer recommending them.

Thank you!!

They’ve updated their certifications and we are updating this page accordingly:).

Yes, they’ve updated their certifications. We are in the process of updating this page to reflect all the recent changes!

Karl-I am going to remove the prior comments where we say that Sleep on Latex does not have the proper certifications in order to avoid confusing our readers.

Wanted to update you here Karl–We are seeing that your mattress now indeed has all the certifications written directly in your name. This is great–we will update our guide:)

I will take a look and make any appropriate changes.

Revere would not make our Best Stuff or Good Stuff list.

John,

We have gone back and forth over your statements about our company several times in the past. I remain confused and disappointed by the misinformation that you continually put out about our company. Time and time again, commenters on this page have pointed out that your statements about us are either false or contridictory.

The fact is that we have every single certification that you currently recommend (and more). Below is a list of our certifications (all of these certifications cover our complete mattresses):

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) – License #OT-034423 – Issued Directly to Sleep On Latex

GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) – Certification #C868773GOLS-02.2020 – Issued Directly to Sleep On Latex

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class 1 – Certification #15.HUS.60646 – Issued Directly to Sleep On Latex

Greenguard Gold by UL – Certification #80101-410 – Issued Directly to Sleep On Latex

Karl Shevick
Founder & CEO
Sleep On Latex

Saatva does not have the independent 3rd party certifications we need to see in order to classify them as “Best Stuff”.

I don’t think Awara and Avocado are the same manufacturer???

Brentwood Home does not have the proper certifications to be included on our “Best Stuff” or “Good Stuff” categories.

see below

see below

My Green does have the proper certifications so don’t worry about your purchase. They are going to be recategorized on our site because we are going to improve a couple aspects of our categories. Your mattress is fine, Do not worry! : )

Is that a brand of mattress?

I am unfamiliar with a “water cooler type mattress”. Can you post a link?

Thanks,

Hi Laura,
Flexus does not have the independent 3rd party certifications we look for in a mattress that would make our “Best Stuff” list.
Take a look at the “Best Stuff” category in our Safe Mattress Guide to see options. I think that 1 or 2 of those options should have a King for $1800
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/mattresses/

No, Stephanie, they didn’t lose any certifications. Unfortunately, we’d had an upsetting business interaction with them that’s made me question their integrity. But, we have no reason to believe their mattresses are toxic.

I’m a huge fan of your website and spend so much time reading your posts. My husband and I finally decided to switch out our old mattress and go non-toxic. After reading your reviews and assessing our budget, we went with a king size and two twin size mattresses from my green mattress. We used your code and got a great discount, thank you so much! I was curious as to why they were removed from your product guide. I would hate to find out that they’ve lost certifications or something of that nature after I invested in them. Thank you in advance!

– Stephanie

Will add to our list to do a full review, but yes almost certainly better than conventional:) .But like you said, the oversees certifications are not as good as one that’s written directly to the manufacturer itself.

Whenever you get around to it, I would love to know where you would place Harvest Green Mattress. I guess it’s a newer company (2018). It states it has a number of certifications but they are written to the overseas product supplier – which I know you said is worrisome.
Would love to know if it you’d still consider it good stuff, okay? Better than conventional – which we have now.

Thanks so much for the work that you all do!

We totally agree. Fiberglass in your mattress should definitely be avoided…as should any memory foam mattress.

Correct. Awara does not have the certifications we look for.

Yes I would like to know this as well!

Thanks.

My green mattress also offers the Kiwi Bunk Bed Mattress in twin size which is 8 inches high.

Interested in these as well!

Thank you for letting us know. We will reach out to them and make sure that we update our site. Sorry that you had this experience with them.

& I see Plush Beds on the best stuff, does this go for all of plus beds mattresses’? Some of them are not certified “organic”.

Thank you!

Thank you for all your help and the work that you do.
Have you looked into the Brentwood Cedar Natural Luxe Mattress?

Thanks!

https://sleeponlatex.com/products/natural-latex-mattress

Good question… Brentwood Homes has no mattresses that qualify as “Good Stuff”. They do not have the certifications we look for. Trundle mattresses are usually smaller and thinner than standard sizes. This often requires a custom build. Custom builds usually cost a bit more rather than less.
Having said that, we work with a company that has good certifications that makes very nice wool toppers that make great trundle mattresses. We own two and I’ve always maintained that because they are so comfy they would suffice as a mattress! They might be the perfect thing and they will cost far less than a mattress. If you send me your dimensions I can get a price for you. Send to john@gimmethegoodstuff.org

Zinus makes memory foam mattresses…therefore there is no way they would make our “Best Stuff” or “Good Stuff” lists.

Hi Rachael, Generally speaking, most mattresses are relatively firm. This is certainly true of nontoxic latex mattresses. A topper is recommended for those who want a softer experience.

These were Good Stuff last time we checked, but we’ve had communications issues with this brand.

Also, what are the thoughts on Sleep Number and what category they would fall into, particularly as compared to Brooklyn Mattress?

Thank you in advance!

Saatva does not have the independent 3rd party certifications we look for. Not all latex has an odor.

Unfortunately Awara does not have the 3rd party certifications we look for.

Take a look at these. There are 2 versions. Only 4 inches thick. We sleep on the latex one!
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/?s=shikibuton

Thanks for your time and all you do

Thanks!!

Google fiberglass coming out of these beds, that is what turned me off from buying one.

I have a question about boric acid. When a mattress is treated with boric acid and you cover it with a non toxic mattress protector, will you protect yourself from inhaling this boric acid? I look forward to your response as I was not able to find any information on the net about it. Thanks for putting together this information, and thanks for your sharing your research!

Hi Gwen,

Have you looked at Obasan? Their organic mattresses are made in Canada. I have one and couldn’t be happier with it.

I would like to see a comment on this from the Maia as well, since I am considering SleepEz and would like her take.

I am a little skeptical of SleepEz at this point–their sales associates really seem as if they don’t understand the products. For example: Three weeks ago, I called the company to ask from where they sourced their latex. I mentioned that I currently have a Savvy Rest, and have been happy with it, but am looking for a new mattress for my bedroom, and the SavvyRest will go into the guest room. The gentleman on the line immediately said, “We source our latex from the exact same company that Savvy Rest does, so if you like your Savvy Rest, you’ll like our mattress.”

I called Savvy Rest, and discovered that they source their latex from Radium Foam from the Netherlands. The Savvy Rest rep told me they used to get their latex from Latex International ,but that company had horrible distribution issues and filed for bankruptcy.

I then returned to SleepEz’s website and read: “We source our latex from the top 4 global latex suppliers who we have worked with for decades. Our close relationships mean we get the best latex at the best price, and pass along the savings to you.”

Huh? Four suppliers? Why four? Who are they? I thought SleepEx sources from the same folks as SavvyRest–which only uses ONE supplier.

I emailed the company to find out.

This time, the gentleman who responded told me they source their latex from both Radium and Talalay Global. When I asked how I would know which source my latex came from, should I order a bed, he said, “Well, right now we’re out of Radium, so you would get a Latex International mattress.” I asked about Latex International going bankrupt, and he quoted a website called the “Mattress Underground” that indicates Latex International is now Talalay Global. (Why would he need to quote an external website? Shouldn’t HE know that info?)

A few days later I had other questions, so I emailed SleepEz to ask about the composition of the their talalay. (Talalay isn’t organic, and in their process, they need to add some other element such as clay.) I asked, “What is the percentage breakdown of your blended talalay? In other words, what percentage is natural latex and what percentage is fillers? His response: “Their (Talalay Global’s) ration of man-made rubber to natural rubber is 30% natural rubber and 70% man-made rubber. The finished product ends up consisting of 98% rubber, with the remaining 2% of ingredients being things like natural fatty acids, natural soaps, and natural reinforcing agents needed for manufacturing.”

Their products have multiple certifications, which you can read here: https://sleepez.com/pages/sleep-ez-latex-mattress-certifications/

Although their customer service seems to be exceptional, I am still just a little uneasy about the company. Maybe it’s nothing, but the whole confusion over their suppliers left me hesitant. No one ever did tell me who all four suppliers are–only two.

I live in Canada, so it’s nearly impossible to get these mattresses. Either I have to pay exorbitant duty and don’t get the option to test it. Or I have to pay the duty, test it and the lose the 100’s I spent on the duty.

SO… I’m trying to find a mattress that ships from WITHIN Canada. Do you know anything about Silk & Snow, or Haven mattresses? I see they don’t have all the certifications, but I’m not sure why. I know Essentia is on the list (and they ship within), but they charge you to return it if you don’t like it. Which is just poor service in my opinion.

Thanks for making this list!

May I add for those that live in the Southern Hemisphere, there are stores like
Organature
Blessed Earth

Which make chemical-free mattress that essentially use only two materials- cotton and steel. You need to care differently for these matress as they need to breathe more, and even avoid contact with a bedbasr that has such wood as treated pine, but it is well worth the investment , it’s trasnformed my life.

Happsy makes the most certified organic mattresses. Certifications include GOTS, GOLS, MADE SAFE, Zero Toxics Product Registry, GREENGUARD GOLD, UL Formaldehyde Free, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Rainforest Alliance. Happsy is recommended and advocates along with 1% For The Planet, Green America, Women’s Voices For The Earth, American Sustainable Business Council, and Sustainable Furnishings Council (Gold), Happsy Certified Organic Mattresses use certified organic cotton fabric, certified organic cotton batting, certified organic wool, certified organic latex, and encased coils. Happsy products do not contain polyurethane foam, flame retardants, formaldehyde, pesticides, GMOs, glues/adhesives, etc.

Hi, Thank you so much for a great research! I’m struggling to find the plushest option possible as my mattress is super firm. I really like the feel of memory foam and wondering if any of the “green” companies stating there is no offgasing or VOCs are actually true?
Specifically, https://www.saatva.com/bedding/mattress-topper
or https://www.keetsa.com/collections/mattress-toppers/products/keetsa-3-luxurious-topper

Also, what are your thoughts about featherbeds ( https://www.scandiahome.com/down-pillowtop-featherbed?quantity=1&color=68) in terms of toxicity?

which option would you recommend?

Thank you!

Hi! I was wondering if you knew anything about Happsy mattresses? Thanks!

What’s your view on waterproof covers for mattresses? We have a new soaring heart bed with a flannel cover and our dog peed in our bed yesterday. It leaked thru the flannel protector and onto our wool topper… not sure what to do here. Thanks for all of your helpful insight!

typo above should read Saatva

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170623005095/en/Tuft-Needle-Complete-Mattress-System-Earn-STANDARD

Also–you failed to mention they hold GreenGuard as well. We’ve had this mattress for 2 years, and it’s been great. It’s a great option for families on a budget.

Exactly… but I see no answers here to ANY questions.

“How can you know which mattresses are really organic and eco-friendly? Look for these organic and low-environmental impact certifications: the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), CertiPUR US, GreenGuard, and the OEKO-TEX Standard 100.”

But then they only state that they use Certipur foam. The do say their flame barrier is GreenGuard Gold certified.
https://purple.com/blog/mattress-materials-safest-sleepers

I would also like to know

I would appreciate if you have any feedback.
Thanks,
Janice

Thanks!

After reading your post, I am wondering if we need to call the organization that provides GOLS certification.

Oops flormeldahyde

I’m also curious about Obasan mattresses, specifically the crib mattress. Please let us know if there are any concerns or if it would be considered “good stuff,” thank you!

I bought their Juniper twin mattress a few years ago. Now I need to buy another twin, and wondering if I should purchase from there again. It was much less expensive than a lot of other “green” brands.

Perhaps at the time of writing, it was different, but isn’t the Metta Bed mattress GOLS certified via their parent company OMI?

I’m looking at the GOLS and GOT certifications area at the bottom of the page at:
https://www.mettabed.com/products/the-metta-bed-mattress?variant=6256504471591
GOLS Registration No.: 82430

If so, would that move it from The Good Stuff to The Best Stuff category?

So I did what any normal person does and I contacted 24 memory foam and latex mattress providers on Amazon and asked them these questions: Do any of your memory foam mattresses contain fiberglass, modacrylic, or silica in the covers or any other part of the mattress? What countries are your memory foam mattresses made in? 🤪

Then I compiled the answers into an Excel spreedsheet to help me make a decision. After it was all said and done I decided to share my findings so I published the Excel spreedsheet in table form on my non-mattress/fiberglass related website just in case it could help others. I also included snippets of the replies I received. Here’s the link if anyone is interested: https://www.jsnowcreations.com/reviews/which-memory-foam-mattresses-do-not-contain-fiberglass/

What are your thoughts on Brentwood Home mattresses?

I bought their Juniper twin mattress a few years ago. Now I need to buy another twin, and wondering if I should purchase from there again. It was much less expensive than a lot of other “green” brands.

Haven’t heard back from you after sending an email. We are trying to find a replacement bed so that we can return the Botanical Bliss Plush Bed which is still off gassing and sleeps like a furnace.
Can you recommend something else we can try? We had a Tempurpedic prior to the BB which was comfortable, but did off gas a lot originally and had developed dips. I don’t like the uncomfortable edge where the BB zips as it leaves a depression on my knee when sleeping on the edge. Also, we like a smooth surface without any depressions and a bed where you sleep on top and not in a rut. Any ideas for us? We are sleep deprived and desperately want to find another bed.
Thank you for your help.

We live and work in South Africa. Our business is importing mattresses from Switzerland that are European Ecolabel certified.
There is so much educating that needs to be done about what lies beneath the covering of mattresses. We will share this with our clients and friends.

Hi Joy, John here… The world of “natural” mattresses can be a scary place. Many manufacturers rely on consumer ignorance and confusion. I will be happy to help you find a truly nontoxic mattress. john@gimmethegoodstuff.org

We’ve had a Botanical Bliss Plush bed for a month and are very unhappy with it. It still smells like a tire shop and sleeps extremely hot. Nothing like advertised. We’re going to return if we can get their customer service to respond.

It’s so fantastic that you for all your information and educating customers. Dishonest marketing and misinformation makes it really difficult for the average consumer.

I represent Elite Beds and Sleepwell which are both Swiss brands and certified chemical free with European Eco label and other certifications.

https://www.zenhaven.com/eco-purity

I was looking at the avocado website and I see they have the global organic standard logos in their page. Maybe the got the certification after this publication…

I bought an Avocado mattress as well as the pillows and am very happy with them. Very minor smell when I took the plastic wrap off but that went away quickly, especially since I keep green plants in my bedroom which absorb VOC’s. No smell and quite comfortable.

Hi Kristen- did you end up buying a mattress from Avocado? I am interested in their Green Mattress, but am unsure because of Maia’s review above. Thanks!

Great post. I appreciate your overview and in-depth research. Have you hear of Obasan? It is a Canadian Compant, based out of Ottawa. I was just curious if you had any thoughts on their mattresses?

Thanks,

I aired it out for about 2 weeks and while it’s no longer offensive when I enter the room it still smells. Maybe the remaining smell isn’t off gassing and is just mattress smell but it scares me! What are your thoughts on this? Anything different than what you have written here (since it was written last March)?

Thank you!!!

I’ve been researching non toxic mattresses after 2 weeks of sleeping on a new Casper mattress that seems to be causing recurrent headaches 🙁 what do you think about the Joybed mattress? Is the glue they use in the spring wrapping (less than .01 of the mattress materials) super toxic? Because I love that it is foam free and budget friendly!

Thanks!

I know my green mattress makes one without latex. Also all of Joybed’s mattresses are latex free.

I was looking for a mattress without latex as well. I’ve decided to give Joybed a try. Even though I ordered the plush one that contains wool, they offer one that is completely cotton and springs(no wool) for a decent price. And I know they are not completely organic but I still feel they are a safe choice with natural materials and no flame retardants.

https://birchliving.com

I’m considering buying a mattress, and theses seem to be pretty affordable.

Thanks!

All of this information for latex and wool mattresses is all well and good, for those who do not have an allergy to either of these materials. Unfortunately for me, sleeping on latex makes me feel even sicker than on foam, and I am allergic to wool. I came to this conclusion after purchasing the most expensive BioSleep mattress (Amboise), in King size and trying it repeatedly over the span of two years. Every time I slept on it, I would feel ill, with a multitude of symptoms. I finally gave up and sold it. I have also struggled to sleep on most traditional mattresses in the past few years, when visiting hotels and family, they too have made me ill. So I am at a loss. I remain on a 7 year old foam mattress, that has been the lesser of all other evils. The only exception to my mattress experiences has been in one hotel chain, with a Simmon’s Beautyrest, where my body breathes (does not overheat), and I feel well rested and energized in the morning, which I never do at home. But several attempts to purchase such beds for home use, have all had to be returned or donated, as the chemicals in the mattresses made me sick. I thought I would add my commentary, because for some of us, these natural products are not the solution either. And latex bed manufactures will try to tell you that as long as there is no direct contact with the skin, you SHOULD be fine with it. That is misleading information, because I am proof, and I have read stories of others like me, that they too were sick from simply sleeping or being in a room with latex products. I also want to mention that I never had any issues sleeping on any mattress, at home or away, until around 7-8 years ago, and believe that the chemical tampering and flame retardants that are now added to all mattresses, have been the factor that changed this for me and others like me. I am presently considering buying a Magniflex mattress, made in Italy, with Oeko Tex 100 certification on the entire mattress, in hopes that this may finally be my solution. If any one has had similar experiences to mine and found a solution, I welcome hearing about it.

Thanks!

Very interested in whether Brentwood makes the good list! Please let us know if you can.

I actually found one- are you familiar w the organic brand nook? Looks like they have an organic mini crib with multiple certifications backing the product. I’d love to hear your input on this California brand.

CertiPUR-US certification, while perhaps abused in marketing, is actually very difficult to achieve for a foam supplier. You can read our article for some insight into the CertiPUR-US certification rationale.

https://directbed.ca/certipur-us-foam-can-foam-really-be-toxic/

Thank you for this fantastic post. I was set to purchase a tuft and needle for my family, and then came across this post.

You claim that tuft and needle only has certiPUR-US, but their site claims to have greenguard gold and standard 100-oeko TEX. Wondering if that claim is false, or if it’s more recent than your research?

Thanks again!

Hi there,

I was just looking at Tuft & Needle myself and saw the claim that entire mattress is Oeko-Tex Standard certified. They sure seem to be affordable. Curious is John saw your comment?

Warm regards,
Victoria

Hi Jackie,
I found this blog that might give some clarity on the EMF issue with innersprings.
https://www.healthychild.com/emf-mattress/

Thanks so much!!

Did you ever hear back or buy a Happsy?

What is the healthiest memory foam mattress? What about Tempur-Pedic??

I inquired about GOLS and Avocado answered that, “Currently, our factories are GOLS certified but our products aren’t. We are planning on getting out products GOLS certified hopefully by mid-2019.
At present, our Dunlop latex is eco-INSTITUT certified.
http://help.avocadogreenmattress.com/mattress-health-safety-and-sustainability/sustainability/can-you-show-me-your-eco-institut-certification ”

I clicked on that link and looked at the certificate and became skeptical. I asked the following questions:
1) So since your factory are GOTS certified, are your entire mattresses GOTS certified or just specific components of the mattress GOTS certified?

2) The Eco-Institut certification is not to Avocado but to Lien A. company in Vietnam. Why is that?

3) Why is the name of the seller whited out for the GOTS certification?

Avocado decided not to answer these questions after asking them multiple times. Guess Avocado might not be that trustworthy after all.

https://www.global-standard.org/public-database/search/database/search_result/27268.html

http://help.avocadogreenmattress.com/mattress-health-safety-and-sustainability/sustainability/can-i-see-your-current-greenguard-gold-certification-from-ul-environment

Do you think Avocado should now be on the “Best” list?

Hi Katherine,
Obasan does what many manufacturers do. They have ok products but they do not have the top independent 3rd party certifications for their latex mattress cores. Because the latex is such a high percentage of what a mattress is made of, we prefer to better certifications.

Hi Julia,
Thanks for the kind words. My Green does not have the best possible independent 3rd party certifications but they likely do not use toxic flame retardants…so that’s good.

Hi Jen,
Thanks for the kind words about our work. Unfortunately Casper does not get anywhere near our standard. They are a very successful (profitable) company but toxins do not seem to be their major concern.
The mattresses you see on our website could be shipped internationally but I fear that the costs may be prohibitive.

This post is amazing, I am from the UK and only familiar with Casper, do you do a list like you have for UK mattresses or know of someone who has? Or should I import one?
We are looking for new mattress and this is the only impressive comprehensive one we found

Hi John,
Thanks for putting together such helpful information. I just bought the below My Green Mattress based on what I thought your article recommended but then saw this comment from you in 2016 that the company is not actually necessarily safe so now Im confused.

I was just wondering why Nest in is the “Sneaky” section and not the “Okay” section? Aren’t there some companies in the “okay” section which also rely on Certipur?

Thanks!

And I found one more thing to make me feel (reasonably) rest assured (until your reply): Yes, Naturepedic owns Lullaby Earth and that’s a reasonably safe brand. Naturepedic is offering Lullaby Earth as an option for people who cannot afford the Naturepedic brand. Lullaby Earth mattresses are a better alternative to mattresses with PU foam. There is no polyurethane foam or flame retardants in Lullaby Earth mattresses. Are Lullaby Earth mattresses as good as Naturepedic mattresses? No they are not. Naturepedic uses organic cotton and Lullaby Earth uses PET, made from recycled pop bottles. In addition, the polyethylene waterproof surface of the Naturepedic mattresses is now plant-based, made from non-GMO sugar cane. But if you can’t afford a Naturepedic mattress, the best option for safety is Lullaby Earth.

I found a little more on it: it is water and stain resistant, not waterproof; fire retardant without chemicals (which I assume is the wool) and a recycled core made of used water bottles. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I did appreciate the environmental impact. Also… I was able to find the model number. As mentioned, I bought it from an independently run store that was recently bought out (so sad) by Well.ca. Here it is: https://well.ca/products/simmons-health-assure-platinum-30_66219.html. Another, more comprehensive description of it on this site: http://www.betterbabyhealth.ca/simmons-health-assure-platinum-edition-organic-cotton-crib-mattress.html

I have used your site for formula (Holle) and bum cream just for when we have extreme bad diaper rash (we normally use fair-trade, organic coconut oil I buy from a local health food store). I could not be happier and I have shared your site with EVERY mom I know. THANK YOU!

I am so upset. I could cry. I have done extensive research on everything. Formula, bum creams, clothing (we mostly use used/thrift/handmedowns), everything! When it came time to buy my mattress for my first (now 3), I went to my local “eco” baby store that sells great products (even some you do recommend). There was a made in Canada mattress claiming NO VOCs, non-toxic, sheeps’ wool fill, organic cotton top, with NO waterproofing, which is what I wanted. I couldn’t find anything to show me any concern when I did my research, but it appears to be made by Jupiter, FOR Simmons. You have them on the bad list. I am so worried now as my daughter slept on it for 2.5 years and now my 1-year old is sleeping on it. I do also have Polyurethane-backed, organic cotton topped, mattress protectors on them which I got based on this knowledge: https://www.healthychild.com/waterproof-mattress-protectors/ Now I am scared I have screwed them up!

I came down your site again looking for a big girl mattress for my daughter and that’s how I came across the scare of Simmons. This seems to be the only site I can find the mattress that is the closest to what I bought: https://www.amazon.ca/Jupiter-Simmons-Wholesome-Dreams-Mattress/dp/B06ZZ3QXKY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1546264873&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=jupiter+crib+mattress+organic+cotton+wool

I would love your thoughts.

And I am buying one of your recommended mattresses for my daughter, regardless. And I am SO GRATEFUL!

Might have found something better in Naturelle mattresses! Thoughts on them?
Thanks!

I should also mention that I only liked it with the mattress topper they offer. I found it to be much too firm without it. It is an extra $425 (with the recurring 15% off special they have). You can also use Ebates for even more cash back. If you don’t have ebates yet, it is free to signup: https://www.ebates.com/r/MEGJ41?eeid=28187 . Right now they are giving an extra 4% cash back for Happsy purchases! (It was only 1 or 2% back when I purchased ours)

I got a Happsy and I thought it was great. My fiance thought he wanted something a little softer so we ended up ordering a Naturepedic. Since we had to wait so long for hte Naturepedic, now he says he doesn’t mind the Happsy so much (figures!). It is a great option especially for the price! I emailed them and they provided me with all the certificates, so they are legit. And their return policies are awesome. You get 120 days to sleep on it and if you aren’t happy, they give you a full refund (and donate the mattress to a local charity/homeless shelter!). I would give them a shot, can’t hurt!

On a totally different note I can’t find organic wool dryer balls that are GOTS certified. Is there such a thing?

What were you able to determine about Happsy?

What was determined about Happsy?

Hi Kelly,
John here…
We are not fans of polyester and avoid it whenever it is reasonable to do so. This is why we only offer the cotton/wool versions. Snuggle Me also makes a polyester version but we do not offer those on Gimme the Good Stuff.

Hi there, Just wondering if you could provide any more info on polyester in general and if it considered non toxic. It seems like it is everywhere – in the snuggle me organic, all kinds of kids clothes, bedding, etc. but I do not see it in your glossary or elsewhere mentioned in your site so I am curious! Any advice would be much appreciated!

Here was response from PlushBeds:
“Please find attached the certifications for the different components for the Botanical Bliss mattress. The certifications are issued to the manufacturer of the individual material. For example for the Dunlop latex. We don’t tap the trees and pour the liquid latex ourselves that is done by Richard Pieris. We use the Dunlop latex to build the mattresses. We are inspected quarterly for our processes and materials used in order to keep our Green Guard status.”

Hi Rosemary, Thanks for the questions. There is a lot about this report that we don’t know. It is critical to know who conducted the tests, when were they conducted etc. It is also critical that a mattress have the correct truly independent 3rd party certifications. From what I can tell, they do not.
Beyond that, these sorts of tests are conducted with fairly narrow parameters. I am forwarding the results to our friendly helpful inlaw scientist (runs a major stem cell lab in NYC). I will be interested to hear his views on whether or not this test is rigorous enough to tell us much. I’ll report back once I hear his opinion.

Hi Jennifer,
Obasan makes claims that might lead a consumer to conclude that their products are as nontoxic as possible. They lead us to believe that they have GOLS certification for their latex products.
Here’s what they, and most others, are NOT telling you…
There are two very different versions of GOLS certification. One version is vastly superior to the other. If you go to Obasan’s website you can see the actual GOLS certificate. You might note that it is written to: Lalan Eco-Latex in Sri Lanka. It is NOT written to Obasan. This is a critical distinction for several very important reasons.

Obasan is not alone in using this sort of marketing. Most manufacturers who are courting consumers who desire nontoxic products are using this exact same marketing scheme. Many of them are not even aware that there is a distinction…(certainly their sales people don’t), so I will not say they are intentionally deceiving us. Their “intentions” are beyond my ability to know…but the bottom line is that unless the GOLS certificate is written to the actual manufacturer (rather than a supplier), it is not worth nearly as much as they’d like us to believe.

I searched your article and all the comments and found 7 different people asked about the Obasan, but none of them got responses from your team. And you don’t mention the brand anywhere on your list, not even in the sneaky stuff. I’m wondering why that is? I hope you can take the time to help me!!

So Obasan’s twin mattress is 100% natural latex and they have the GOTS and GOLS certifications, but now I’m a bit concerned because I looked at the certifications and they aren’t actually made to Obasan themselves, but to companies in other countries. I gather from your article that this can be problematic.

I’d really appreciate if you could help me figure this out and know how you would rate this company.

I’m a single mom and don’t get child support, so price is definitely a factor, and I know you said in the article that coils in the bed doesn’t pose an issue related to EMFs, but our apartment complex has smart meters right downstairs, and I just would feel better if she didn’t have metal in her bed. Some people say it’s a problem, some say it’s not, so I’d rather not take chances. Otherwise I’d go with the Naturepedic in a heartbeat.

I’m now considering the Lifekind, as it’s in the same price point as the Obasan, but I can get a free wool mattress protector with the Obasan, so… that would help. But if Lifekind is truly more pure, then I’ll bite the bullet… In any case, I’d really like to get your input on the Obasan because it seems strange that it’s not on your list when so many people mentioned it.

Thank you so so much!! I hope to hear back from you soon!!

Thank you so much John! That makes sense!

The basic naturepedic is the only option in your store that is within my budget but I have seen reviews online about them being too small for many cribs (safety concern) and lots of complaints about sagging after only a few months of use, so I am hesitant.

Also, is polyester a huge concern? I see it is used in the Snuggle Me Organic that you sell.

Thanks again for all the great info! I am learning so much!

Have you considered any of these?
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/?s=+crib+mattress

If sizing is a problem we have manufacturers that can make any size.

Thanks

While this futon/mattress would not qualify to be on our list of Best Stuff, from a toxins perspective, it is better than some. I seems that there are no toxic flame retardants. On the downside, their wool and latex both lack the credentials that we look for. They also use polyester in their cover, and elsewhere.

https://www.thefutonshop.com/wool-mattress-futon-chemical-free-tranquility2/
https://www.costco.com/Juniper-Kids-Mattress—Twin.product.100365853.html

Zenhaven is Oeko-Tex Standard 100, an international textile standard for purity and safety.

Our latex contains no formaldehyde, heavy metals or any toxic chemical. We’re also a member of Sustainable Furnishing Council!

Would very much love to hear your thoughts! A nontoxic mattress is so important to me, but I also need to stick to a budget.

Happsy is a marketing company that has Naturepedic “private-label” mattresses for them. They are NOT simply Naturepedic mattresses with a different label. They are not the same quality.

Happsy is a marketing company that has Naturepedic “private-label” mattresses for them. They are NOT simply Naturepedic mattresses with a different label. They are not the same quality.

Hi Kathryn,
You can contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org and I’ll be glad to walk you through it.

Soooo, what’s the verdict with Happsy? Love your blog. about to replace all mattress’ in my home as well as sofas.

Carolyn what did you end up going with? I’m in very same boat.

The last time I checked Ikea mattresses did not fit our criteria fro “Good Stuff”.

You can contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org for help finding a mattress.

There price point is really good considering that they have put the effort into obtaining these certifications. I suppose that makes me nervous, however, it really shouldn’t. I guess I should explain why, but it’s a long story.

I worked for a major American automobile manufacturer in the late 80’s , which was when Toyota began to shake up and ultimately dominate the automobile manufacturing market . Toyota’s cars had better safety profiles, were more reliable and back in the day, had a better price point as well. Here is the most interesting part. I went to work for Toyota after leaving my employment at one of the “Big Three” automobile manufacturers.

Toyota treated their average employees to higher wages and better benefits. We also had a shorter work week of only 37 hours versus 40 hours! All this was done will making a better product at a better price point. Much was said and written about the Japanese automobile success story during that time and of course, a confluence of factors contributed to that.

I suspect one of the factors that helped them turn a profit while making good cars and treating employees well was due to their pay difference between those at the the very top and those at the very bottom. The difference was much less pronounced than as it was for the “Big Three'” automobile manufacturer that I had previously worked for.

My takeaway from this life experience is that on occasion , you have to discern whether or not the old adage, “you get what you pay for”, is always true. It’s just too simplistic sometimes. I’m truly hoping that’s the case for the good price point on Happsy’s mattresses!

I spoke to some at Happsy today and they are going to email me copies of all their certificates! I was very pleased they were so willing to do that for me. They are very reasonably priced as well, so I hope they aren’t too good to be true. I hope your Happsy mattress works out well for you. 🙂

https://www.naturalmattressmatters.com

So where exactly do they fall and why? I am debating between Happsy and them right now. I am looking for the best option that is not over 2000. All of the “best stuff” is over 3000 it seems.

Moonlight Slumber now lists UL Green Guard Gold as a certification for their mattresses.

Do you have any thoughts or info on Modway?

Hi Shira – I just saw your comment. My husband and I have been sleeping on our CozyPure for nearly 2 years now, since October 2016. We love it, and my husband always complains when we go out of town and have to sleep on other beds. We also bought a 2nd CozyPure mattress for our toddler. Before I bought the first one, I had a long conversation on the phone with cozy here, and they were able to answer all my questions and spent maybe half an hour talking to me. They very polite and knowledgeable about everything I asked. I definitely recommend calling and talking and asking every question you have before making a purchase from any company. Also, it’s important that they are very explicit about what is and what is not in their mattresses. I don’t work for CozyPure; I live in Alabama and wasn’t even able to go to a showroom for them, or any natural mattresses, to try out before ordering. It just seems that no one makes them in the south, which is annoying.

I’m back on this page now cuz my mom is wanting a natural/organic mattress, and of corse I recommend the CozyPure, which is the only one I’m familiar with, but she’s wanting to explore other options and probably get something cheaper, so she sent me a bunch of questions about different ones.

I am also interested in a purple mattress.. any thoughts? I

Actually it looks like only the foam is oeko Tex certifies for zenhaven. There is also an adhesive used in the mattress that they couldn’t give me any real assurances about….so bad stuff!

Have you received information? I am interested as well.

Hi Chelsie,
John here…
Thanks for the questions.
Bundle of Dreams mattresses are made from recycled water bottles. Here’s whats in recycled water bottles…
“Dioxin, BPA, Bisphenol B, These products are connected to plastics and that has been associated with a whole host of health issues including birth defects, cancer.”

I do not know what is in Fireflex FR but we are wary of chemical flame retardants applied to fabrics.

We are all for new technolgies but not all are benign.

You can contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org

Thanks

Hi Elizabeth,
Wow… Have you used any sort of EMF meter to show an increase in electromagnet energy on the bed vs ambient energy away from the bed?

I would be very interested to see that.

Thanks

Hi Britney,
John here…
Sleeptek’s GOLS certificate is written to a 3rd party in Sri Lanka…not to SleepTek. While their stuff might be better than some, from a toxins point of view they would not rise to our “Best Stuff” level. You can read more about mattress certifications here… https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/mattresses/

Feel free to email me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org I’m glad to help.

Hi Ryan,
John here…
There is a lot of terminology used by mattress manufacturers to lead us to believe that their products are something that they might not actually be. Words like “green” and “natural” are important marketing tools but have no specific legal definition.
If you go to our Safe Mattress Guide you can read up on it. https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/mattresses/ We have a short review of Avocado there. Avocado is doing some things right but they are far from being demonstrably nontoxic. Their latex is not GOLS certified. They have no certifications for their wool. The European Scientific Commission on Consumer Safety has been unable to establish if Hydrated Silica (fire retardant) is harmful to humans or not. So while Avocado products are likely less concerning than some, they are far from the top of our list. You can contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org Thanks-

Great post. I looked into Avocado Mattresses and since this post was updated I am wondering if Avocado has changed their information.

I am seeing many things pointing to this being a good mattress but wonder if I am missing something. I’ve now read your post twice and am trying to compare your notes to their website.

They are Greenguard and GOTS certified along with a few others. Also they use Dunlop latex, do not blend along with some other positive things.

I am wondering though if they are “Sneaky”. They have now marketed themselves as experts in quality mattresses and have a Buyers Guide listed on their website of what to watch for in mattresses with their mattress always answering to the best solution.

Thanks for your help!

Ryan

Lisa- I totally agree. It is/was very confusing on Gimmethegoodstuff’s part

I know it’s been some time since this was published. I was wondering your thoughts on the Happsy mattress? They claim certifications that look good, but idk how to tell if they belong to them or another company and such.

Thanks kindly,
Ralynn

Thank you!

This “Mattress Guide” is inaccurate and very misleading. PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is an organic mattress with GOLS certified organic latex, GOTS certified organic cotton cover, and OEKO-TEX and GreenGuard Gold certifications on the mattress. Avocado is a natural mattress with Eco-Institut latex and GreenGuard Gold certifications. All certifications are on both of their websites. Gimme The Good Stuff – please update your guide here and VERIFY information before posting inaccurate information!

The new Eco Terra contains 3″ of 100% natural latex and an individually wrapped, pocketed coil core with an organic cotton cover and a 100% natural wool fire barrier. The mattress contains no polyurethane or hydrated silica. Gimme The Good Stuff – you should update your Mattress Guide!

I’m interested in happsy as well. Did you ever get any answers?

Your article specifically states that Tuft & Needle is not claiming to have any certifications other than CertiPur, which does not seem to be true. And since they say that they were the first foam mattress to seek out those other certifications, it does not seem to ever have been true.

Maybe that could be fixed in your article, therefore.

You do have to dig to find that though.

>There are many certifications out there that a company can apply for, and here at Tuft & Needle we sought out the strictest of them. We were the first foam mattress to be certified by three leading independent certification programs.

>This means you can rest assured that you’re not bringing something into your home that hasn’t been through rigorous testing and proven to pass with flying colors. You can read more details about these certifications and the steps we’ve taken to test our mattress here.

>Though we were the first, many other companies have followed suit, making the foam mattress industry as a whole more regulated and standardized than in the the past. Ultimately, the decision between organic and certified foams comes down to your needs, but having a clear understanding is key when you’re shopping.

https://www.tuftandneedle.com/organic-mattress

I was Wondering how Mettabed made it higher up in your list when it’s company uses words to describe it that you caution us about. …..“All natural latex”. Wool that is not organic . (But the cotton is organic. )
The price point is way more affordable than other options-
So it’s very tempting . But I’m skeptical.

I’m wondering specifically why you rate this company much higher than many other choices like avocado green and plush bed.

What am I missing that makes it such a more safer option?

Thank you!!

where do you see the wool is blended with polyester and bleached? website says no.

Hi Scott, Like so many manufacturers, Sleeping Organic falls a bit short on independent 3rd party certifications. They do not make our list of “Best Stuff”. You can contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org
I’ll be happy to help you find a truly nontoxic mattress.

What about Sleeping organic? I was emailing them about there certifications because I did not see on the website. It looks like they are on the up and up. What do you think?

http://www.sleepingorganic.com/

Scott

Hi John,

I noticed that the Tuft and Needle website is saying it is GreenGuard Gold and also the entire mattress is Oeko-Tex certified. I don’t know if these certifications are newer, but would you still consider it to be “sneaky stuff”?

Thanks,

“The Eco Terra has a thin internal quilt backing of super soft foam on the organic cotton cover for added comfort. The super soft foam is Greenguard Gold certified and odor-free, yet provides additional pressure relief. If you prefer an Eco Terra mattress without this additional comfort layer, we will be happy to make this for you. Simply contact us and request that it be made without the super-soft foam quilt backing.” It’s nice that they will customize the mattress the way you want it. Most mattress covers come with the soft foam backing and they do not give you this option of having it removed. I personally love this mattress with the soft foam backing. It’s GreenGuard Gold certified and perfectly safe. Also the mattress has Oeko-Tex and GOTS certifications.

What do you think? And what should I do to protect myself if
I buy from them?
thanks

We didn’t keep ours because we had it for nearly ten years; and I have to say that the smell never bothered us!

Hi Tammy,
I’m sorry about your Savvy Rest! As you know we made the same error about 8 years ago before we had done any in-depth research. We retired that mattress but when we took it apart we found that the latex foam was seriously crumbling…after only 8 years! We threw everything out. It was in no condition to be sold. If yours is essentially new you may find someone on Craigslist etc who might buy it.
We all now sleep on Soaring Heart mattresses and love them. Yes, we had to take the leap of faith because there are no showrooms to try one before buying. The construction of a Soaring Heart is Similar to that of Savvy so perhaps Naturepedic would be a good choice.
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/naturepedic-chorus-organic-mattress/

Have you heard of a latex mattress called Milk bed? http://www.milkbed.com. If so, can you share your thoughts on this? Thank you!

I did some research The Futon Shop seems like they have great organic mattresses with all organic certified ingredients at a cheaper cost then most competitors. https://www.thefutonshop.com/mattresses/organic-mattresses/

Any thoughts?

Do you know anything about happsy mattress? I’m trying to get a new mattress for my 2 year old.

They claim to have GOT and GOL certification. Is it too good to be true?
Thanks alot in advance.

We don’t know this brand but will add to the list for when we update the guide!

You’ll see our thoughts on Essentia mattresses under The Okay Stuff:)

We just purchased Soaring Heart with the OMI latex wave topper for joint pain. Very comfortable and was recommended by Soaring Heart if you have extra joint discomfort.

Hi Maia, curious why is sleep number considered “bad stuff”? Thanks!

This is very helpful… We are looking to get my daughter her first bed. She had a Purerest crib mattress. Which category would you file this company under? Would you say “sneaky stuff” because of the certification you mention? We were also looking at Nest — not a good option? Do you know if it’s true that kids should sleep on firm mattresses? Thanks for any more info.

I love this website and use it all the time for various products, and have purchased multiple times from your shop. I posted a question asking your thoughts on the all organic mattresses at the Futon Shop, but don’t see my question here. I also notice others have posted and asked about the Futon Shop but have not gotten feedback. With no response, I ended up buying a futon mattress from their site for the futon in my office/guest room. I love it. It’s comfortable, no odors. But I’m still wondering how you feel about the certifications on their website and about the product. The link is below. It was on sale and so much less expensive than any other option I’ve seen. I have a Naturepedic in my master bedroom and for my baby’s crib, but just couldn’t see spending so much for the guest bedroom as well. I really look forward to your feedback!!

https://www.thefutonshop.com/catalog/product/view/id/16283/

Don’t know this brand, but will add to our list for when we update the guide!

Thanks!!!

Hi John,

Why is it that you say Sleeping Organic does not have the certifications they claim to have on their website? I spoke with someone at the company and they told me the certifications they have. I would like to know where you are getting your information so that I can be more informed to make the right purchase decision.

Thanks!

I am looking at CozyPure because looks like the best price for a good (not best) mattress that also seems comfortable. I would love organic but leaning towards non organic as more afforadable. Anyone have experience with them? Or others you like in their price range?

Thank all!!
Shira

Hi Ashley,

How have you liked your bed? Comfort? Working with the company? Toxicity? I am looking at CozyPure as well. I would love an organic bed or one off the Best List but can’t spend that much. As long as no fire retardants etc.

Thanks a ton!
Shira

I am ready to buy a latex mattress (since learning I have been sleeping on a toxic one for my entire life =( ). It is a confusing decision! Ideally as inexpensive as possible but not at the expense of health and need enough comfort that I can sleep well on it. I found a few showrooms near me (I live in Brooklyn, NY) and tried a few to feel and see them off line. Helpful. Some way more comfortable than others but some also way more expensive. I lay on an incredibly comfortable bed to then learn was $7,000! Way out of my pricerange (that was OMI which I do not see on your list.) I lay on a much less expensive White Lotus mattress that wa a mix of Latex, Wool and cotton but found it not so comfortable. Seems I would do best with all latex and possible a wool or cotton topper.

So questions are – how important is it that the latex is organic? It would be my preference of course but they are significantly more money (looked at the cozy pure organic and non-organic for example).

Have you looked into Mulligan Mattress? My mother bought one from them in Portland, Oregon.

What have you found the most comfortable mattress? Love to hear from anyone else as well about that!

Thank you again!
Shira

Thanks & keep up the good work!

If the certification links do not work you can find them easily at the bottom of each page of their website.

Hi Trisha,
I recently reached out to Avocado regarding their current certifications and to see if they pursued GOTS/GOLS. Here is what the customer representative had to say:
“At present, our cotton is GOTS certified with organic cotton, and our Dunlop latex is eco-INSTITUT certified. We made a decision early on that if we ensured the purity / quality of our latex (i.e. via the eco-INSTITUT testing standard) that it would have a significant benefit in terms of cost that we pass through to our customers, while ensuring zero off-gassing or negative implications. GOLS certified latex would be much pricier, which would force us to raise our prices rather significantly, so we opted for this route as we’re seeking a balance of true greenness and affordability. We have also received our Greenguard Gold certification as well, which we are very happy to share with you!
In short, we test for chemicals and the purity of the latex. It doesn’t come from a certified organic farm which is the main difference. But similarly it’s tested for any chemicals or emissions, and its 100% natural latex so in terms of integrity and durability it’s the same :)”

I believe that they are an honest and transparent company but for my own home if I am paying 1,000 or more, I’d rather spend slightly more to get one that is certified safe. Hope this helps!

Hi Steve! Latex mattresses are quite durable and will last as long as any mattress:).

Never got a reply from my post on Sept 20th about the longevity and durability of latex mattresses . From owners of a latex matttess or John , if you would be so kind in sharing real life experience with a latex mattress , it is certainly appreciated.

Please remove this if this is not appropriate, but I am thinking perhaps another reader of the site will jump at the opportunity to obtain one of the Best Stuff mattresses for a more reasonable price. I am in the Boston area.

I was looking at the Avocado mattress too. Gosh, why can’t they just be straight forward and honest!

What is your opinion on the Balsa mattress offered by Soaring Heart ? I am little skeptical about it’s quality due to the lower price range compared other soaring heart mattresses.

Thank you
Madhu

Negligible-to-ok? I’m confused— on your guide it’s listed as
“Good Mattress Certifications”: stating,
“Oeko-Tex Standard 100. While this certification doesn’t require any organic materials to be used in a mattress, it does set limits for VOC emissions (such as formaldehyde). It also prohibits the use of dangerous flame retardants and dyes”….

I realize it’s not organic– confusing recommendations though

Dreamfoambedding does not have the certifications to make serious claims about nontoxic mattresses.

Because that mattress is no longer made it is difficult to get full info on it but Simmons is not exactly known for their dedication to building nontoxic products. They have zero certifications that would lead me to believe that they make any truly nontoxic products.

Hi Angie,
You are doing a great job as a consumer. 🙂

Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org and I’ll be happy to help you to the next level!

John

Hi Christine,
Mulligan displays no certifications on their site. They use the word “natural” a lot. “Natural” has no legal meaning. Poison Ivy is “natural” but I don’t think I want to sleep on it. The commonly used flame retardant, Antimony is “natural” and is a known toxin.

They also claim to have “USDA certified organic natural latex”….but this is confusing because, to my knowledge, the USDA does not offer certifications for mattress cores. Hmmm…

Hi Angie,
RIGHT ON!! Many manufacturers make claims. Few can back them up.
Claiming that they don’t actually have a copy of the certification is sheer lunacy. They can’t send you a copy because they likely don’t have the certification they claim. It’s common marketing tactic used by many mattress manufacturers.

I know we all have budgets to consider but even a fully certified $3000 mattress only costs about 41 cents per day…far less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks!

Considering the chemistry found in many mattresses, 41 cents per day starts looking like a bargain…AND you don’t need to spend $3000 to get a fully certified mattress!

Hi Tracy,
Unfortunately Sleeping Organic does not actually have all the certifications that they make it seem like on their site. This is a very common marketing tactic in the industry. Buyer beware!

While those 3 certifications are negligible-to-ok, they are not in the same league as GOTS and GOLS.

Hi Angie,
John here. You can get a fully certified (from the “Best Stuff” section) mattress from Soaring Heart for about the same price as a Savvy Rest mattress (from the second tier “Good Stuff” section.
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/?s=soaring+heart

Why take second best when the cost is about the same?

Hi Steve,
Unfortunately Nolah has exactly zero certifications that would indicate the lack of toxins. Non-toxic does not seem to be their “thing”.

Feel free to contact me at john@gimmethegoodstuff to learn more.

John

In closing, I think I have made my choice! I am probably going to go Naturepedic from the “Great Stuff” section, if I can find one that I love and stay in my price range…OR I may go with a Savvy Rest, from the “Good Stuff” section, which I have already fell in love with one from their Serenity line at a Natural Sleep Shop!

Good luck with the mattress shopping – try to stay sane with all the information! Just do your research and trying to make it more about health than money (if you can!).

Best,
Angie

Sleeping Pure GOTS Certification:

– Body issuing the Cert.:
Control Union – Netherlands
– Seller of Product:
Jacquard Textile (Asia) Limited – Thailand
-Last Processor of the Product:
Jacquard Textile (Asia) Limited – Thailand
-Buyer of the Product(s):
Latex Global – San Ramon, CA
-Country of Dispatch: Thailand
-Consignee of the Product:
Sleeping Pure – California

Still awaiting the Cert. for the Talalay Latex. I find it weird that she said in the email that they “…don’t usually receive a copy of that certificate…” How can they back up any of their claims? This is craziness.

I’d prefer it if a company had the certification, rather than them saving money for the consumers to save money….to me it’s not about the money its about my health, and my family’s health. I am definitely on this bandwagon hard!!!

it has to be certified to that company….what you might see when reviwing the actual certificate (if they can provide it) is that the certification is to the seller of the product, most-likely in Sri Lanka, Belgium, Argentina, etc….otherwise you really don’t know what happened to the materials from point A to point B….before point C (the consumer).

Here is the reply, John and Maia, how would you rate Sleeping Pure?

Hi Angie,

I’ve attached a copy of our GOTS certification for you to see. Our Talalay latex is okeo tex certified but we don’t usually receive a copy of the certificate, I can reach out to them and see if they can send me one. That product is sourced in CT and you can see their website here http://www.talalayglobal.com. Our Dunlop comes from India and is 100% natural. The factory where we purchase it actually uses only organic farms but there is an upcharge for a GOLS certification on the latex and we made the choice not to pay for the certificate and pass the savings on to our customers. I understand your concerns regarding purity, unfortunately there is a lot of green washing that goes on. That is one of the reasons we started our company after working in the organic industry for so many years, we wanted to be able to make healthy mattresses that were more affordable and be completely transparent as to what is inside. If you prefer to have GOLS certified latex I will be happy to refer you to some companies that do offer it. We appreciate your interest in our products!

Hey Karl!

Where can we view these certificates? I have searched for the first one and all I could pull up was that it is a valid certificate.

Thanks,
Angie

How can we actually believe a word that John Goss is saying!? He sells the naturepedic mattresses and makes money doing so… of course he is biased towards that mattress. I wish we could find an unbiased opinion about mygreenmattress that we could trust.

I contacted a representative from Avocado and here is the conversation:

Angie: Hi I am wondering how i can view your materials’ certificates?
Amy: Hi there and thank you for getting in touch with us 🙂
Amy: At present, our cotton is GOTS certified with organic cotton, and our Dunlop latex is eco-INSTITUT certified.
Amy: We have recently received our Greenguard Gold certification, which tests the mattress overall for emissions, and have passed with flying colors!
Amy: I’d be happy to share the certificates with you if you’d like!
Angie: Yes I would like to see them. Thank you!

She sent me the attachments in the chat and here is what they read:
– Green Guard Gold – Certified to Avocado Green Mattress
– GOTS “Certificate” – Showing a Transaction Certificate for Textiles:
Body issuing the certificate: CU Inspections & Certifications INDIA Private Ltd.
Seller of the Product: RED FLAG – OMG this part is covered with white-out
Last processor of the product(s): Bannari Amman Spinning Mills Ltd. INDIA
Country of dispatch: INDIA
Buyer of the prodcut: KC Tex Inc. Charlotte, NC
Eco Institut Lien – Latex Certificate to LIEN A Co., Ltd. VIETNAM

This seems sketchy. They lost me at the white-out….unless it was to protect the name and address of a silent partner? idk.

Hope this answers questions.

Angie

I hope this discussion is not dead and that I am not just on here talking to myself, but oh well I need to sort some things out in my brain before being set on a mattress for this Labor Day Weekend sale!!!

OBASAN
I read further through the comments and saw that someone has mentioned them, but did not see that Maia or John commenting further, so I’ll report on this one:

At first glance, they look like a great product with beautiful craftsmanship…I’m actually in love with how they look, but I will not purchase this mattress for the following reasons:

1.) I have dug deeper and cannot definitively tell if they do, in fact, ship to the US (seems Canada-based only?).

2.) More importantly, I viewed their certifications in which they have linked PDFs of, and I appreciate their honesty and all, BUT
– GOLS for Organic Rubber/Latex was issued to Richard Pieris Natural Foams Ltd., Sri Lanka
– GOTS for Organic Wool was issued to Planta Fuhrmann in Argentina
– GOTS for Textile Standard was issued to LAVA bvba in Belgium

:'( How expensive/difficult is it to just get these materials certified to the facility and/or the owner of the companies who manufacture the products? Ugh. Disappointing.

On to the next one…

SLEEPING PURE
I have been in contact with the representatives on their chat, and here is how the conversation went…

Angie: Is there any way to view material certifications?
Angie: I have clicked on the tab labeled as “Materials & Certifications” and I cannot seem to find a link to view them.
Lance: Welcome back, Angie.
Lance: Let me check the details for you.
Angie: Thank you.
Lance: You are welcome!
Lance: Thank you for waiting. Have you already checked this link, https://sleepingpure.com/about/materials-and-certifications/ ?
Angie: Yes, and I see that you have the logos: GOTS and Oeko-Tex Standard 100, however, I do not see a link to view the certificates.
Lance: Alright. I’ll have my product specialist get back to you with the information on that. Your number and email is, ___________ ____________, am I right?
Angie: I have been doing a lot research and I have read that it is best to see that the material is certified to the company/facility in which the mattresses are constructed, rather than certified in the country of which the materials (latex, wool, cotton, etc.) originate, i.e. Sri Lanka, Belgium, etc.
Angie: …because a lot can happen from the place of origin to the facility…and then to the bedrooms of the consumers of which these mattresses will go to, and that worries me. Thank you so much. I will appreciate anymore information on this.
Lance: I really appreciate your concern about certifications.
Lance: I will forward you the information of this inquiry.

I will post the email, if they ever get back to me.

Figured I’d add these to the list!

Best,
Angie

FYI about Tuft and Needle

They have 3 certifications. CertiPur, Greenguard Gold AND OEKO TEK standard 100 (FIRST Whole Mattress Certified)

That being said…I have spent sometime in a Natural Sleep Shop (been there about 3 times), which is local to me, and they only sell Savvy Rest and Naturpedic. I really am sold on a Savvy Rest, however, I thought before I make the plunge this weekend I would go online and see if I can find a more affordable, and more/just as organic online mattress.

I did not see anyone mention Obasan (still need to see if they ship in the US) or Sleeping Pure (I have been chatting with an online representative about the product). Do you have any information on these two brands? I apologize if I had missed any mentioning of them, in advance.

They state are 100% natural chemical free latex.

Thanks.

Christine

I believe you look to see if the certification is written to the manufacture of the mattress (which I think includes the entire mattress) OR simply just to a supplier of a material they use in the mattress (latex, wool, cotton, etc.)

I believe you look to see if the certification is written to the manufacture of the mattress (which I think includes the entire mattress) OR simply just to a supplier of a material they use in th mattress (llatex, wool, cotton, etc.)

Do we know the status on Brentwood?

Hi Lina,
Brentwood uses a lot of language that would lead us to believe that their products are nontoxic but unfortunately the words and the reality do not always line up.

Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org and I can help you find a truly certified mattress.

Thanks

Hi Hasan,
Thanks for the question. It does not appear that dreamfoam has proper certification. They do not display the actual certificates…among other problems.
The sad fact is that when a Queen mattress is offered at $599 it is very unlikely to be nontoxic.

Hi Sarah,
John here…
The certification shown on Organic Textiles website is not what we look for. It is not dated and it is not issued to Organic Textiles. Feel free to contact me at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org and I can help you get whatever size crib mattress you want. We know fully certified manufacturers that can make anything. Thanks

Thanks for any advice you have to offer

Any thoughts on this mattress, https://www.dreamfoambedding.com/product/ultimate-dreams-latex-mattress. I read your Safe Mattress Guide and this mattress is OEKO-TEX Certified.

Hi Hasan,
I would recommend reading our updated Safe Mattress Guide before purchasing a mattress.
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/mattresses/

Or you can contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org

We bought OMI crib mattress last fall (it was recommended on the site so we felt good about the purchase) and now it has mold EVERYWHERE. We had used the naturepedic waterproof cover on it but the mattress has been bare since late May (my daughter and I are abroad for the summer and we took the waterproof cover and sheets with us). When my husband found extensive MOLD on the OMI mattress a couple days ago and we were in total shock. He ventilates the room AND the AC is on at all times. No other furniture in the nursery OR mattresses (temperpedic, sealy; so “toxic” mattresses) in the other rooms have mold…

When I contacted the company, they said mold isn’t covered by warranty (even though it’s less than one year old!) and told me not to use waterproof cover. Except when we left, the mattress was perfectly fine. Somehow in the last couple of months when the mattress was NOT covered and NOT in use, the mold had been growing.

OMI said Live Enzyme Cleaner should do the job but we aren’t sure if that’s gonna get rid of everything. Have you had any experience with mold issues in the “non-toxic” mattresses? It’s not a big deal if we have to get a new mattress but not sure if we will go back to OMI….

I’m close to making a purchase decision and wanted to get your input! Thank you very much!

Thank you!

Hi Bob,
John here…

Thanks for the question.

We review many many mattress manufacturers. Some of them do not like the fact that their products do not achieve our internal standards for “The Best Stuff”. We have recently published an updated Safe Mattress Guide. https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/mattresses/

You’ll see that we have added more categories in order to address particular issues.

Mr Shevick appears to be the founder and CEO of Sleep On Latex and it is natural that he want’s to shield his brand from less-than-flattering reviews, but his insinuations that we fail to disclose that we are dealers for certain manufacturers are entirely unfounded. Even a brief look through our site renders his opinion as uninformed at best. His accusations of slander are equally silly.

We decided it is best to remain silent to his correspondence because it is so angry and beyond credibility.

We are not trying to harm anyone. We are simply doing research and arriving at conclusions. If a manufacturer changes their products or demonstrates that our assessment of their product is incorrect, we are happy to re-review and publish corrections as necessary. As far as we can tell, Sleep On Latex has neither changed their products nor demonstrated how our assessment is incorrect.

Thanks

Hi Melissa,
First off…”Natural” is essentially a meaningless term. It is a necessary word for marketing but, Poison Ivy and Plutonium are “natural”. I don’t want to sleep on those.

While Eco-Institut and Greenguard certifications are better than no certifications…they are far from the best certification which is a GOLS certificate written to the exact same company you are buying from…not a 3rd party in Sri Lanka or Indonesia etc.

There can be a lot of deceptive marketing in the industry. It’s worth sorting these things out before investing in a mattress.

You can contact me directly at 717 869 6968 and I’ll be happy to discuss it. Or email me at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org

Thanks,

John

So, were these questions from the CEO of Sleep On Latex ever addressed here? I agree that the term “sneaky” is very negative.

I was reading your non-toxic make-up routine and saw this non-toxic mattress guide underneath. I recently purchased a 100% natural latex mattress from a company which you have listed under “Okay Stuff.” I absolutely love my mattress! I want you to know that I did a lot of research before I made this purchase and I know for a fact that this company is 100% better than a few companies that I see in your “Good Stuff” category. Not only are they a manufacturer, but they have all certifications which the others do not have! I wonder if they are aware of your article here. Maia, please explain what your “rules” are for placing a company in “Okay Stuff” v. “Good Stuff.” It is very confusing and misleading to your readers and I wonder if the proper research was done before posting this article. Thank you. Jana G.

Just wondering if anyone knows about the dream mattress https://kalonstudios.com/shop/dream-no-1-mattress/

We have 100% organic latex mattresses made by Habitat Furnishings. Are you familiar with this company? If so, do you recommend? We spent a good amount of money on our mattresses from Habitat, so I’m really hoping they are certifiable.

Thank you,

Brian

Would you be able to respond to the last few questions since June if you have the time?

Thanks so much,

Thank you

did you buy your cozy pure? do you love it? looking to possibly buy one soon….

As a general rule, Bad Stuff is the worst category. We call things Sneaky rather than Bad when they make claims about being natural/organic/nontoxic but use ingredients or materials that suggest otherwise.

Thank you.

Thanks

Hi Karl,

We, and many others, arrive at the conclusion that a GOLS/GOTS certification written specifically in the name of the manufacturer, (not another party) makes for the very best independent 3rd party verification that a latex mattress contains the least possible amount of potential toxins.

You may have missed the box that is prominently featured near the top of almost every page on our website informing our readers of affiliate relationships. It reads:
“This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure page.”

The word “disclosure” is linked to our disclosure page.

For instance, you will see that box near the top of our Safe Mattress Guide.

https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/mattresses/

Our guide says the following about your products…

“This brand does not have GOLS certification, but does have Oeko-Tex, and doesn’t use the most dangerous flame retardants.”
If there is anything untrue about our assessment of your products we will be happy to look into it and make changes as necessary.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Maia,

I just came across this response. I’m not quite sure I understand why you have responded to me with a lecture about the merits of the GOLS certification. My response to John had nothing to do with GOLS.

What I would really like a lecture on from you is the ethical merits of publishing a guide which rates products without disclosing which products you are receiving commission on and how much commission you are receiving.

An apology for John’s repeated slander of our company and products would also be nice.

Karl Shevick
Founder & CEO
Sleep On Latex

Hi, John.

I encourage you to check out our website for My Green Mattress, where all of our certifications are listed. We are also always available by phone to discuss any questions you may have. It seems as though your information is incorrect, and we don’t want to mislead anyone. We are very transparent and welcome all questions about the quality of our materials and products as well as our certifications!

Has any further research been done on Brentwood mattresses? I didn’t see them listed anywhere on the latest mattress update, and I’d really love to hear your thoughts! I purchased a twin from them for my son back in January, and am hoping it is at least ok stuff!

4 years later I decided I should wash the outer cover, it’s generally covered, but I figured I should give it a clean. The inner cover, composed of 100% glass fiber, had degraded over the years from where I slept. I think noticed clumps of loose glass fibers and lots of loose small ones everywhere.

I wondered if the outer cover, which is made of a thin fabric, had been able to contain those little glass fibers from escaping. The answer was no. I found them on my pillow, my sheets, my electric blanket, my sleeping clothes, and basically anything else that had touched my bed or shared the same area. I’ve found tiny glass fibers on my tv screen across my room for example. They are literally everywhere. I tossed the mattress out along with all my bedding and a good chunk of my clothes to get rid of all the reservoirs of the fibers and I’m currently vacuuming every square inch of my room with a brush attachment to try getting rid of as much of the fibers and particles as I can.

I was wondering, can you speak on the safety of the glass fibers used in these mattresses that’s used as a fire barrier. How safe can that material be to breath in over years as the tiny particles escape the mattress? I actually can’t seem to find much information about this and I find that pretty shocking.

Interesting site with a lot of good information.

Thanks.

I’m most concerned about the adhesive in My Green Mattress. The under layer is also conventional cotton. Anyone have any further insight into this? I can’t afford more than $1,600 for a king. Need to make the best choice I can, but don’t feel confident that this company is safe.

Could you please let me know your thought on the brand Kidicomfort and greenbuds? Specifically the PURE crub mattres from Kidicomfort and the Greenbuds Magnolia Pureté 2-in-1 Deluxe Crib Mattress?

http://www.kidicomfort.com/en/products/prestige-collection-usa

https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/greenbuds-magnolia-puret-trade-2-in-1-deluxe-crib-mattress/1045403491?categoryId=32620

Also looking Newton mattress but concerned about the phosphates they call “salt” used for flame retardant as well as the cover. The mattress looks really good but it is listed in your “bad” category and every review I read people are in love with it.

I originally purchase a naturepedic ultra 2 in 1 but the size does not fit in my crib as they say it does so had to return.

Thanks so much!!

Greg

Thanks John, this is Sid and I am the owner of Bed and Wood. My SEO agent seems to have commented on your blog and my apologies. You can remove our comments to your blog if this is meant to be non-product oriented blog.

Just to help provide the facts- we do private label and our mattresses are made by GOTS certified facility. https://www.bedandwood.com/info/ourmaterials

Thank you, Sir and continue to do the service you provide.

How is Zenhaven constructed?
From the top down, Zenhaven consists of a quilt package with an organic cotton cover; a flame-retardant layer of natural 100% organic New Zealand wool; a 1.5” comfort layer of 100% Talalay latex featuring our proprietary 5-zone design; and a 6” base layer, also of 100% Talalay latex. (Please refer to our Mattress page)

Hi Brian,
John here…
Your best bet would be:
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/soaring-heart-organic-latex-support-mattress/

You can select between firm and extra firm. Almost everyone opts for “firm” rather than extra firm…

Feel free to contact me directly at john@gimmethegoodstuff.org

I’m looking for an adult full size, non-toxic, no coil, firmer mattress but a futon might be another option. Any suggestions?

our opinion is that Spindle is just Okay Stuff.

Hi Karl!
I am SO sorry for my very delayed response on this! I wasn’t getting alerts when new comments were posted on this blog. You make some good points here, and I’m sorry that the content of this Guide hadn’t been updated when John was commenting; that no doubt caused some confusion! Since SO many new mattress brands have come on the market, we’ve reworked our categories based on new criteria. The Guide has been updated now, and it reflects our assessment of all of the various certifications, and what makes some mattresses–in our opinion–Best Stuff vs. Good Stuff or Okay Stuff. You’ll find Sleep On Latex listed under Okay Stuff.

The reason that Sleep On Latex isn’t Good Stuff or Best Stuff is because of the certifications you have. The mattresses that we think are the absolute safest on the market are those with GOTS and GOLS certifications. In terms of the latter, here’s where things get tricky (I know you probably know all this, but for our reader education): Many manufacturers display a GOLS logo on their website and some even show actual signed GOLS certificates.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of manufacturers who claim GOLS certification are not actually certified by GOLS. They simply buy some amount of their foam from a GOLS certified producer. So far-so good, but this is not the same as having a GOLS certification written to the same company that makes the mattress.
Why?
Because a manufacturer could buy a few GOLS certified foam blanks from a producer in Sri Lanka and then be allowed to use the GOLS logo. This does not mean that every foam mattress sold from that manufacturer is GOLS certified.

In order to have a GOLS certification in your name you must go through rigorous inspections of every facet of your manufacturing facility and business practices, including your records!

A manufacturer with a GOLS certification in its own name must be able to prove that the quantity of mattresses sold exactly match the quantity of GOLS certified foam blanks purchased. This ensures that the actual mattress you get when you buy from that manufacturer is indeed certified.

On top of that, GOLS must have tracked the foam blanks as they move from the manufacturer to various shipping and warehousing facilities around the world…often crossing multiple international borders. Every country has regulations about what crosses its borders and how various products are to be treated as they enter.

Without GOLS inspections all along the way, the foam could be exposed to any number of concerning chemical agents, and nobody would know.

This also includes inspections of the manufacturing facility here in the USA.

GOLS is a rigorous program. It’s a hassle. It adds costs. That is why many manufacturers either opt to use a less rigorous certifying organization, and/or simply display the GOLS logo of a vendor rather than get their own.

You can see above what we think of Essentia. They are listed under Okay Stuff.

https://spindlemattress.com/faq-items/wool-inside-latex-mattress/

Hi Janice,

You are correct in saying that Sleep Number has toxic foams. The excuse of “proprietary information” is just a way of not disclosing problematic chemicals. It should be illegal to not disclose but…..

I will be happy to help you find a truly nontoxic mattress that suits your needs. Let me know any particulars…size, back problems etc. and I’ll make some recommendations.

john@gimmethegoodstuff.org