Originally Published May 10, 2013  Those of us striving to live a 
healthier and more environmentally friendly lifestyle pay attention to a list of green ‘To-Do’ or ‘Not-To-Do’. We search out the organic cotton clothing, do not use plastic bottles, recycle, pay attention to properly insulating our homes, use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, and avoid toxic household cleaning products. But in this quest for a greener lifestyle how many of us have considered the environment we spend a large portion of our lives in – our beds. How healthy and eco-friendly are our mattresses?
Choosing a mattress finds most making a decision based on the comfort test. Although comfort and support are to be considered, more importantly is the material the mattress is made from and how that material was produced. The mattress material is of great significance to your health and the health of the environment.
The most prevalent material used in non-organic mattresses today is polyurethane foam. This is synthetic foam that is made from petroleum-based chemicals. The off gases from these chemicals evaporate into the air and fill the environment with toxic particles that cause skin irritation, damage to mucous membranes, asthma, immune system disorders, and can also attack the nervous system. Production of polyurethane foam is energy intensive, increasing our dependency on fossil fuel and resulting in toxic byproducts. It is also not biodegradable. Polyurethane foam mattresses are required to be treated with PBDE – PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ethers – flame retardants that are known carcinogens. Other known toxic chemicals used in the manufacturing process include benzene, boric acid, formaldehyde, xylene, fungicides and pesticides. Synthetic foam holds moisture which creates the perfect condition for dust mites.
A better health and environmental choice is a natural latex mattress. Latex is a milky sticky substance drawn from an incision made in the bark of the rubber tree. A different substance than tree sap, it is stretchy, highly resilient, and waterproof. Trees are not damaged during the ‘tapping’’ process classifying them as a sustainable, renewable, natural resource. As a natural substance, latex is biodegradable and can be recycled and re-used in making eco-friendly cushioning material.
Two processes used to produce latex for mattresses are Dunlop and Talalay. The Dunlop method is the original and is not as state-of-the-art as the newer Talalay method. Two additional steps used in the process results in Talalay latex being talay natural latex mattresssofter and more buoyant. It is chemical free as the method uses natural light soaps and non-harmful curing agents, which are washed out after the process. As no harmful chemicals are used in the manufacture of natural latex mattresses, it is good for allergy and asthma sufferers. Among the benefits, natural latex is environment friendly, hypoallergenic, anti-microbial, and resistant to mold, mildew, and dust mites.
Considering one-third of your life is spent on your mattress brings the realization that what is lurking inside that mattress needs to be questioned. Non-organic and non-natural mattresses contain materials produced with the use of toxic chemicals that are detrimental to your health and harmful to the environment. Mattresses made from natural latex are kinder to the environment as they come from a sustainable natural resource and are biodegradable. Green manufacturing methods eliminate off gas concern as there are no residual chemicals on mattress materials. For a greener lifestyle choice pay attention to your sleep area and go with a Talalay produced natural latex mattress.
