Question from Jamie Smith
Hi Debra,
I am looking for an organic mattress. I have never heard of this brand but it claims to be organic. From what you know, does this seem legit?
Thank you so much for all you do!!
http://www.saatvamattress.com/saatva-mattress.html
Debra’s Answer
There is a very specific definition of organic mattress. The only mattresses I know of that qualifies for this definition—established by the Organic Trade Association and the Global Organic Textile Standard—is Naturepedic. They now make adult mattresses as well as crib mattresses.
Saatva is not an organic mattress.
The cover is made from organic cotton.
The foam is “bio-based”. My understanding of bio-based is that it is basically polyurethane foam with a little vegetable oil added. It still would be flammable and require some kind of fire retardant, which is not mentioned.
The coils are made from recycled steel. That doesn’t make it organic, and all steel coils are now made from recycled steel. Virtually all steel in every consumer product is now is made with some, if not all, recycled content.
See Debra’s List: Beds & Bedding for more mattress choices.
I am considering Saatva, which while not all organic is know for not smelling.
Naturepedic is more expensive and I’ve heard here and elsewhere that it’s firm, I guess a topper could be used but then we have to figure that out as well!
Happsy is also a mattress in a box like Naturepedic, I really wish they would offer in home service and not compress the mattress.
Saatva is good in this regard as it’s not compressed and they off free in home delivery and set up
Saatva I heard uses an essential oil product on the cover and some say it smells. so that’s out. Someone mentioned Naturepedic smelling as well
Savvy Rest does too. They basically have the same options as Naturepedic, as well as wool mattresses, and everything is GOTS. The difference is that Naturepedic uses a “poly blend” as it’s fire retardant, while Savvy Rest uses only wool, in its mattress covers. Unfortunately, they aren’t cheap (same basic pricing as Naturepedic), which is why I’m searching more. I almost thought I found some great organic wool mattresses on Etsy from Bulgaria, but they have Okeo Tex certification only, which I understand only tests for about 100 chemicals, so leaves plenty of room for other chemicals. Debra, I’d really love to know, what kind of mattress do you use then? Naturepedic? I have their basic one, and it’s too firm for me, as well as being a beast to move. I would love a wool mattress that costs less than $2000!!
I don’t know why you think Naturepedic uses a “poly blend as it’s fire retardant. In fact, they don’t use any fire retardant at all. Their mattresses contain wool, cotton, and PLA made from non-GMO sugarcane, all of which helps the mattresses meet CPSC flammability standards without needing fire retardants of any kind.
Naturepedic prices are overall less expensive than the certified organic competition products, and, in most cases, significantly so.
I’m not sure which Naturepedic mattress you have. They have many models with a wide range of comfort options.
I sleep on a wool mattress from Shepherd’s Dream, which I purchased many years ago.
It sounds like you might be interested in the upcoming Happsy mattress, which is made from organic materials and considerably less expensive.
http://soaringheart.com/collections/organic-mattresses