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BANG FOR THE BITE
They're pricey, but if 10,000 people opt for an organic mattress instead of a conventional one, we'll avert the weight of 783 king-sized mattresses in pesticides.
COCKTAIL FACT
The mattress tag warning "Do not remove under penalty of law," was meant for dealers but scared consumers into leaving them on, so the Feds softened the language in '97.
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home › tip library › How to Buy a Mattress
Got a pea under your mattress?
The Bite
Peas, schmeeze - try sleeping on a fatty dose of pesticides. Oh, wait, you probably already are. Next time you're in the market for a new mattress, spring for an organic one.The Benefits
- Sweeter dreams. Organic mattresses are made with pesticide-free materials.
- Organic cotton growers use more sustainable growing methods.
- Mattresses made from wool are naturally fire and dust mite resistant.
Personally Speaking
It's been over a year since we first covered the topic of organic mattresses, and we still can't afford 'em, but Cricket sure loves her West Paw Organic Bumper Bed.Wanna Try?
- White Lotus - wool mattresses toppers ($310), organic cotton mattresses ($1,560/queen) and one for baby, too ($275).
- The Organic Mattress Store - offering Green Sleep, Royal-Pedic and Vivetique for sumptuous sleep ($1,740-$3,364/queen).
- Lifekind - makes even hide-a-ways with natural rubber and organic cotton ($2,495/queen).
- CozyPure - customized and made from natural rubber ($1,979/queen).
- Shepherd's Dream - totally dreamy wool beds ($1,350/queen).
- Debra's Guide to Choosing a Natural Bed - e-book from one of our experts, with even more info.
Mar 06,2007
Sponsor
All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Princess and the Pea
Not sure why, but I've always loved that story. Maybe our green version is Princess and the Organic Pea. I could at least afford one of those. However, eco mattresses just seem too high of a premium. I mean, I spend 30% more for organic food, no problem. I spent $2K more for the popular diesel version of the Jetta so I could run bio-diesel. I invested a few hundred bucks in a pretty piece of eco-wood for my kitchen bar. But come on, more than a 100% price premium for a mattress seems egregious. (I think the least expensive option is about $1500, including shipping. And last I looked, you could get a decent non-eco mattress for about $750.) However, when you calculate what % of your life you spend in bed, you think, "well, maybe it is worth it." And I am coming around to that. I am.
I wonder if I could find my eco-prince charming by getting one, and the moment he laid down his pretty head on the mattress he would get hungry for an organic pea, and then I would know...
Jumping off my high mattress pile now... JB
Biter Comments...
I just want to say that my favorite thing about Ideal Bite and this tip in general is the truthfulness/reality with which you temper your tips. I am not a gizillionaire but I too want to do my part. There are lots of ways to make green choices but there are times when the prices seem way too pricey and unattainable for me.
I cannot express how much I appreciate the fact that you understand this and share it in your tips. It is one of my favorite things about this site...the "real" quality. There's something for every budget on your site and I love it! Keep on bitin'!
We need a new mattress,but don't want our old one to wind up in a landfill.
Thrift stores won't take and no recyclers here will either.
It's not good enough to give away.
Our local shelters use cots.
Any ideas?
I couldn't afford an organic futon, so I chose to buy from a small company that makes their futons in-house. I recently bought a wool topper from them and love the added comfort.
That might be one way of switching to a more sustainable option: if you can let go of a mattress, buy bedding components (futon[s], topper, pad, etc.) when you get the money.
I am thinking of going Ikea. What I would love is what we had growing up in Egypt. They were antique beds which were basically a horsehair base and then a cotton "bag" (almost like a futon, but much much thicker). While I'd love to buy an organic mattress, the cost seems astronomical, and you can't try them out beforehand.
For a used mattress, list 'em on craigslist. I'm sure there is some poor foreign student who would love it.
Apparently Salvation Army is the only place that has the equipment to steam-clean mattresses for resale.
Kathy, I don't know where you are, but up here in Vancouver Canada, you can take your old mattress to the recycling section of the landfill and they take it apart, recycle all of the recyclable components, and landfill the least amount possible. They also fix some up and send them to charity.
I know about Craigs List and Freecycle, but this mattress has real problems and I'd be embarrassed to give it to someone.
Ah....Vancouver.
Been there, loved it.
I know about that recycling there, but I'm in Colorado and don't have that.
There are places that do that in the US, but, alas, nowhere near me.
Hmm, I think I'll stick to my non-eco mattress. I'll keep it out of the landfills for now, and really, there's no way I could afford an eco-mattress. :(
I agree that the prices of organic mattresses are quite high, but I feel that it is money well spent. Since purchasing an organic mattress and boxspring (local company) and a futon and two "snuggle mates" (mattress toppers) and several pillows from Shepherds Dream, I have noticed a HUGE improvement in the quality of my sleep as well as a huge reduction in allergy problems. Guests at my house have also raved about the comfort of the mattresses and the pillows. I consider it to be an investment in something very important that we all get too little of...quality sleep.
We made the price commitment to get a wool mattress topper for our bed in February. It's the best night's sleep that I've EVER had. One night, I didn't get up even once. (Normally, I get up 2-3 times.)
We have a wool topper and wool duvet from New Zealand Nature Company
49 Collingwood Street, PO Box 839, Nelson, New Zealand
www.nznature.co.nz
free shipping. click on your "shop" depending on where you live to see items in your currency. I also bought slippers and a wool pullover jacket. Great stuff, good prices, excellent customer service, and very fast shipping and delivery.
are there any other recommendations for wool bedding companies in the US?
Me and my partner created a website for people interested in green living but short of cash.
40 forum members will receive $19,000 each to improve their ecological living. So it could be quite a number of eco-mattresses don't you think.
Anyway, the website is http://www.ourecohouse.info and everybody who cares about environment is welcome.
One way of lessening your impact on the environment that I put into practice is, getting things that are used. A new item is not produced and the old item doesn't get thrown into a landfill. I love Craigslist and local thrift shops. Have you thought about doing what the Japanese do, and using just a regular futon? The futon is laid out on the floor at night over the tatami (which are padded mats) and during the day they are rolled up and put away. This really saves on room space that gets used up by a regular bed.
Here's what I don't understand: I've spent hours searching and can find plenty green futons and their frames. I can find tons of green sheets and bedding. But I can't find any organic or hemp (which I really want) futon slipcovers. Who has a futon and doesn't have a slipcover? Am I crazy or this just silly? Yes, I could buy some sheets and sew them together, but what pain that is especially since I don't have a sewing machine.
Does anyone know where to get these eco-mattresses and toppers in Toronto? I need some new pillows right now, too. Where should I go? Also, does the Tempurpedic bed qualify as eco?
If you live in Seattle or near here, try Soaring Heart Futons. They use all natural, chemical free materials and they welcome you to their showroom in Fremont so you can try out the bedding before hand.
Hi, For the poster looking for wool bedding companies in the US, Shepherd's Dream is recommended. I've met the owner at their showroom in Northern CA-what a great, down to earth co., they have a web site that well conveys their spirit. For the poster looking for toppers in Toronto, Shepherds Dream has a subsidiary co. run by family members in Ontario, I believe. I'm sure you ca contact them through the main website. Other wool bed companies that I found on my search are KelleyGreen and Holy Lamb Organics...but I don't have experience with them.
I don't think Temurpedic qualifies as eco..It's totally synthetic and I'm pretty sure it off-gases, but i'm not 100%. If you want something like Tempurpedic, look into natural latex.
Good luck.
Being a new mom, and reading the daily bites on organic mattresses, I decided to invest in one. We bought ours from Sovn European Sleep Systems and it is amazing! We got the latex mattress (similar to tempurpedic yet all natural), but they also have the traditional coil mattresses too. They have the Oeko-Tex certification verifying their organic materials. If you're in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, it's definitely worth your while to try them out.
Hi organic mattresses in Toronto are available at Organic Lifestyle (www.organiclifestyle.ca) - retail store with demo beds
Hi there,
First I want to thank the folks at Ideal Bite for recommending one of our CozyPure beds in their organic mattress article ;-)
Now for the comments... Yes, organic mattresses are definitely more costly. Unfortunately this is because our raw materials are also at a premium price. Synthetic foams and polyesters are cheap to produce and to buy, which is why so many mattresses are made from those components. They are derived from petrochemicals so they are clammy, toxic and harmful to the environment. Perhaps with the price of petroleum these days, maybe even foam beds will soon be hard to afford!
On the other hand, as of now, authentic natural and organic materials cost much more to produce and purchase to make organic beds. The benefits are great tho... breathe-ability, longer product life-span, peace-of-mind, non-toxic, eco-smart, safer, healthier, better for the environment AND your bedroom.
If you can visit a local retailer who has organic bedding, I highly recommend folks to at least stop by and have a look at what's available. Ask when they are having their sale ;-) Every day more and more green stores are opening across the country. With luck, you should be able to find one within an hours drive.
I've been in this business for 17 years and so LOVE and appreciate natural fibers I can't tolerate the fake stuff at all anymore. So get prepared to become addicted once you make the switch. Good luck.
Sleep well and chill out naturally,
Cheryl Hahn, Owner
Organic Comfort Zone
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Jean E. Melom | March 06, 2007 at 06:23 AM