Seeing as sleep is such a natural thing, many people are looking for affordable eco-friendly mattresses. Finding the best healthy mattress can take a little more work than just finding something comfortable, so we have gathered the top-rated organic and all-natural mattresses on the market to make it easier to compare the best organic and environmentally friendly mattresses.
We want to take a second to clarify a few things. Natural, organic, and eco-friendly all seem pretty similar, but there are some pretty important differences you need to know when shopping for your next mattress. Unfortunately, there are instances of “greenwashing” in the mattress industry, which means that products are labeled “green” without anything to back it up.
- Natural: When you think of natural, it means “derived from living things.” It doesn’t speak to the manufacturing process or additives that are put into the mattress.
- Organic: This is a term reserved for products with the required certifications from the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Eco-friendly: Eco-friendly mattresses use natural resources that result in less pollution. Eco-friendly mattresses don’t harm the environment during the production or the sourcing of components.
Why do natural and organic mattresses matter?
That’s a fair question. Think about it like this: Americans throw out 20 million mattresses each year. That translates to 450 million pounds of waste, which go straight to the landfills. The landfills are bursting at the seams with beds — they’re taking up 100 million cubic feet of space. The components in traditional mattresses don’t break down, not to mention the significant carbon footprint the artificial foam and filings of mattresses have.
Natural and eco-friendly mattresses are also designed to last longer, so you won’t have to replace them as often as you would a traditional option.
How do eco-friendly mattresses impact your sleep?
Eco-friendly mattresses aren’t made with toxic chemicals or flame retardants like other beds, which means they’re also naturally hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. Traditional options have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that slowly release as you sleep. This can have a cumulative effect on your health over the long run.
Eco-friendly mattresses mean you don’t have to worry about VOCs at all. If you can’t tell, we’re big fans and have wrangled up our top six favorite organic beds.
Top 6 Best Natural & Organic Mattresses 2022
- Best Natural Memory Foam Mattress :Brentwood Home OceanoStarting at $999 Shop Now
- Most Comfortable Organic Mattress :Avocado Green Mattress Pillow TopStarting at $1199 Shop Now
- Best Budget Natural Mattress :AwaraStarting at $1398 Shop Now
- Best Natural Mattress :My Green Mattress Natural EscapeStarting at $899 Shop Now
- Best Organic Latex Mattress :PlushBeds Botanical BlissStarting at $2699 Shop Now
- Best Flippable Natural & Organic Latex :ZenhavenStarting at $1595 Shop Now
Compare the Best Natural and Organic Mattresses
BEST NATURAL MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS
Oceano is one of the most popular pillow-top mattresses online. It’s soft, fluffy and yet highly supportive, thanks to the dual layers of coils.
Why Brentwood Home Oceano wins as the best natural memory foam mattress
Brentwood’s Oceano mattress is an eco-friendly hybrid bed that will accommodate all types of sleepers, though we like it best for side sleepers. It’s a hefty, extra durable mattress that offers plenty of pressure relief for your sides. Not to mention, it’s made with eco-friendly memory foam!
Brentwood Oceano’s best features
- The mattress is a whopping 14.5” thick and is made with individually wrapped coils on the bottom, Airlux foam and micro coils in the middle, and gel memory foam on top.
- We rated it around a medium-soft, making it perfect for side sleepers.
- The construction and materials offer both pressure relief and ample support for all body types.
- The Oceano also has a soft, non-removable cover made of plant-based Tencel fibers and New Zealand wool.
- Technically, it’s not a fully natural or organic mattress, but the materials used in the Brentwood Oceano are CertiPUR-US certified, so this is a non-toxic memory foam mattress.
Why we picked this bed
It can be difficult to find a memory foam bed with the certifications this one has, and it’s an incredible mattress for side sleepers. If you like a plush and pillow-like feel, you’ll probably like this memory foam mattress. We think it’s one of the most comfortable mattresses online. Our Slumber Yard member Tharon sleeps on it every night and raves about it!
MOST COMFORTABLE ORGANIC MATTRESS
The Avocado Green Mattress is the most sought-after natural/organic mattress online. It’s supportive, comfortable, and constructed with high-quality materials. Not to mention, it’s decorated with organic certifications.
Why Avocado wins as the most comfortable organic mattress
Avocado is a hybrid mattress made with certified organic and natural materials. We love how it offers an optional pillow top to soften it up, so it offers the benefits of bouncy and supportive latex with a cozy topper. It’s also one of the more environmentally-friendly bedding options we’ve tested here. If you’re looking for a comfy, organic latex mattress, this is a great option.
Avocado’s best features
- It’s constructed with fabric-encased, recycle-steel coils and 100% GOLS certified organic latex to be the best mattress for your health.
- It also includes certified organic wool from India and a certified organic cotton cover. This makes the cover more breathable than standard cotton, and it looks fantastic. It even smells earthy, too!
- For some extra cushion, you can purchase an additional topper to add two more inches of that latex foam, which gives you a softer feel and some extra thickness for anyone who is heavier.
- We rated it around a firm, but with the additional mattress topper, we rated it around a medium-firm.
- Its supportive hybrid construction makes it suitable for all body types, from petite to heavy.
Why we picked this bed
Avocado is a firmer certified organic mattress that’s going to be particularly good for back and stomach sleepers. It’s more expensive than your typical mattress, but that’s to be expected when it comes with organic certifications. But, we love how it comes with an optional pillow top and are big fans of the supportive, hefty layer of recycled steel coils. Not only does it help keep your spine and back supported, but it also helps the environment!
Best Budget Natural Mattress
Why Awara wins as best budget natural mattress
Awara made our best organic mattress list because it’s great for people on a budget. Not only is it supportive, durable, comfortable, and eco-friendly, but it’s more affordable than the other mattresses we added to our list. It also has plenty of certifications showing it’s an environmentally-friendly mattress.
Awara’s best features
- Awara is nice because it’s 13″ thick with 9″ pocketed coils, making it ideal for all body types, including heavy sleepers over 230 lbs.
- It features a 4” natural Dunlop latex layer and is made extra cozy with organic cotton and natural wool.
- It feels bouncy, responsive, and we rated it around a medium-firm. This makes it one of the more pressure-relieving beds on our list (without having to buy a topper).
Why we picked this bed
Awara is one of the most budget-friendly natural and organic mattresses on the internet, but it’s built to be supportive and durable like any other hybrid mattress. If you’re a back, stomach, or combination sleeper on the hunt for an eco-friendly mattress that won’t break the bank, this would be our pick.
Best Natural Mattress
Why My Green Escape wins as best natural mattress
The Natural Escape mattress is an eco-friendly bed that incorporates natural latex, New Zealand wool, and organic cotton. While it’s not the most organic pick on our list, it has a great balance between comfort and affordability.
Natural Escape’s best features
- This bed is a hybrid mattress that measures out to be 11” thick. Its coil layer has three zones to provide more support and pressure relief where you need it most.
- It utilizes certified organic Dunlop latex foam, organic cotton, and wool for bouncy, responsive comfort.
- We rated it around a medium-firm on our firmness scale, making it best for stomach, back, and combination sleepers. It’s a bit more pressure relieving than Avocado!
Why we picked this bed
Given the price point and health-centric design of this mattress, we think this would make a fantastic mattress for people who want a natural bed. It’s not fully organic, but we think it is comfortable and durable for stomach, back, and combination sleepers of any body type.
Best Organic Latex Mattress
Why PlushBeds wins as the best organic latex mattress
PlushBeds is one of the most eco-friendly and organic mattresses you can get online. The materials inside are certified organic Dunlop latex, organic cotton, and organic New Zealand wool.
Why we chose PlushBeds —This mattress is one of the best organic mattresses for side sleepers, back and stomach sleepers, and combo sleepers because of its versatility. This is a comfortable option for nearly anyone wanting an environmentally friendly mattress.
PlushBeds’ best features
- You’re given the choice between a 9″, 10″, or 12″ construction and two firmness levels: medium and medium-firm.
- You’re able to customize the firmness even more by rearranging the layers inside, as each slab of latex is a different firmness level.
- This is an all-foam bed, making it ideal for sleepers under 230 lbs.
- Unlike the other beds on this list, we think side sleepers would be well off on PlushBeds Botanical Bliss.
Why we picked this bed
This mattress is one of the best organic mattresses for side sleepers, back and stomach sleepers, and combo sleepers because of its versatility. This is a comfortable option for nearly anyone under 230 lbs wanting an environmentally-friendly mattress. We also really like how versatile it is, as you can customize the firmness level by rearranging the layers! It takes some effort to remove the cover and take out the latex layers, but we think it’s worth it.
BEST FLIPPABLE LATEX MATTRESS
Why Zenhaven wins as the best flippable latex mattress
Zenhaven is a flippable foam mattress that has soft and firm sides, although we’d rate them as medium-firm and firm, respectively. It’s made by Saatva, which is a brand recognized for its eco-friendly practices and use of quality materials. This bed utilizes natural Talalay latex foam, wool, and organic cotton.
Zenhaven’s best features
- The bed is bouncy and responsive, best for back, stomach, and combination sleepers.
- Latex foam layers include Talalay latex foam and a “5-zone” design for targeted support and pressure relief.
- It’s a 10-inch tall all-foam mattress, meaning it’s best for those under 230 lbs.
- Because this is a double-sided mattress, you can select your firmness preference for each side. We have not seen many brands offer this level of flexibility, and this feature can help your mattress last longer by varying the wear on it.
Why we picked this bed
Zenhaven is slightly expensive for the online mattress realm, but its versatility and comfortable 5-zone latex layers make it a great choice for back and stomach sleepers who are in the market for a very health-conscious mattress, especially if you can’t decide between a medium-firm or firm bed! That’s why it has earned its spot, alongside the other beds, on our list for the best organic mattress.
Why Trust Us
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The Review Team
Benefits Of Natural And Organic Mattresses
Here are a few reasons why you might want to consider an organic or natural mattress:
- Hypoallergenic —A natural mattress, if made with all-natural and organic materials, can help cut back on allergic reactions.
- Antimicrobial —Natural and organic mattresses often have antimicrobial properties, making them a good option for your health. That means the materials prevent the growth of microorganisms, like mold, mildew, and bacteria.
- Pest-free sleeping —The materials used in natural mattresses can also help prevent dust mites. If asthma or eczema is flaring up, there’s a chance it’s due to mites. Getting a natural bed can be a big step towards a mite-free mattress.
- No off-gassing — With a natural bed (and often with non-natural but still eco-friendly beds), you don’t have to deal with off-gassing or the release of gasses and other chemicals found in traditional bed-in-a-box mattresses.
Beds marketed on their natural and organic qualities are attractive because companies that focus on natural materials also focus on eco-friendly manufacturing methods.
Eco-Friendly And Health Mattress Certifications
When you’re shopping for an eco-friendly mattress that’s good for your health, you’ll see a lot of advertising tactics. There are a lot of buzzwords and phrases that get thrown around in the industry, so using an organization with strong certifications can help you cut through advertising and get to what you care about. These certifications are stamps of non-toxic materials and eco-friendliness:
- CertiPUR-US: Look for this certification on petrochemical foam materials, or poly and memory foam, to see if the foam is healthy for you and for the environment. According to the CertiPUR-US website, a certified foam is made without ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP, or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants, mercury, lead, formaldehyde, phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Mattresses also have to have low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million).
- GREENGUARD Gold: This health certification assures that the product is suitable for places like healthcare facilities and schools. It means the product has low VOC exposure and is made with low-emitting materials. That makes the bed safe for children, the elderly, and other sensitive individuals. Many of the organic mattresses we’ve published reviews about having this certification, but it’s not exclusive to them.
- GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard): This one guarantees the product contains at least 95 percent certified organic raw materials in the latex itself, not the whole mattress. In other words, it helps give the bed the title of organic mattress, but it doesn’t make the entire bed organic. There are requirements for the filler materials, too, to ensure that those are safe and have low emissions, as well. A GOLS certification also means that the manufacturers follow eco-friendly guidelines in their production.
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): GOTS is similar to GOLS, but it refers to textiles instead of foams. For an organic mattress, that means the cover material and usually the flame-retardant layer. A GOTS certification means the fabric is primarily made up of certified organic fibers and that—like GOLS—the manufacturers are an environmentally-conscious bunch. This includes organic cotton or organic New Zealand wool.
You can get the lowdown on their testing processes, the specifics of their requirements, and the details of their organizations on their websites.
Pros And Cons Of Organic Mattresses
Pros
- Environmentally sustainable products — If you care about helping the earth, choosing these materials can help you live a greener life.
- Healthier, natural products — Mattresses can sometimes be made of materials that aren’t as good for your health. Natural mattresses are more likely to be made of healthier products.
- Hypoallergenic and antimicrobial materials — Many organic mattresses help keep away allergies and pests like dust mites.
- Vegan mattress options — If you are a vegan or prefer vegan products, natural mattresses are where you can find them.
Cons
- Allergies —The subject of allergies and asthma to latex mattresses is something that sometimes pops up in relation to mattresses.
- Price — Due to all the added certifications, etc., natural and organic beds can be pricer than other options.
- Marketing — Marketing can be tough to navigate because many companies toss around words like natural without proper certifications. You’ll need to do research to find out more.
How To Dispose Of A Natural Mattress
According to the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), more than 50,000 mattresses a day are discarded in the US, and many of those end up in landfills. If you’re interested in sustainable, organic materials, you’re likely committed to re-purposing or recycling your old mattresses. Here are a few options:
- Recycle —Mattress retailers, hotels, and hospitals can drop mattresses off directly at recycling facilities. The MRC was founded by the bedding industry and recycles roughly 1.5 million mattresses each year and partners with companies such as Bye Bye Mattress to offer mattress recycling programs.
- Donate. You can also opt to donate your gently used mattress. If your mattress is damaged or has had bed bugs in the past, it’s likely unsalvageable for charities. Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, and Goodwill are all popular donation-based organizations.
If you can’t find a way to recycle or donate your mattress, it’s typically considered a “bulky item” and picked up in your municipality on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. There tend to be drop-off locations if you are able to haul the item yourself. Visit your community’s trash and sewer department’s website for more information.
A natural mattress is one with natural materials. Most of the time, these will include cotton, tencel, latex foam, etc.
An organic mattress is one with certified organic materials such as organic cotton and organic latex foam.
You want to make sure your bed has the CertiPUR-US certification if it uses polyurethane or memory foam. Perhaps the best certification to see, however, is GREENGUARD Gold by the UL Environment. You might also see GOLS for organic latex and GOTS for organic cotton.
Heck yes! There are plenty of really comfortable beds that use eco-friendly, natural materials. You can find them in all sorts of firmness levels as well.
They are more expensive since they tend to include higher quality materials. On average, a natural/organic mattress costs about $1,500 for the queen size. That’s before discounts.
Check our post above for more information on materials and health certifications.
Like with anything, whether a natural or organic mattress is worth the money is subjective. They are more expensive since they tend to include higher quality materials. They offer the peace of mind of being typically hypoallergenic and anti-pest, not to mention more sustainable for the environment. You have to decide if that’s worth it to you.
You can start by perusing our list above from this post to see some of our recommendations for the best organic mattresses out there right now. Price, materials, which side you sleep on and allergies all play an important role in deciding how to choose an organic or natural mattress.
In our opinion, online mattress shopping takes away the hassle of in-store shopping. If you’re comfortable online shopping for clothes, mattresses are a similar process. They’ll ship to your home quickly inside a box, and you’re offered a generous trial period, free shipping, free returns, and more.
That depends on your specific preferences and the amount of money you’re looking to spend. If you want a fully organic latex mattress, PlushBeds is a good option. Though, if you’re balling on a budget, Awara is a durable latex hybrid mattress option.
