14 March 2019
What a headache 🤕 right? Well we decode what GOTS, GOLS, Greenguard, Organic, Certi-Pur USA and more mean to make your shopping process a bit easier. Link in bio to find out more.
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Label Education: Decoding what GOTS, GOLS, Greenguard, Organic, and more mean
Choosing the right mattress is so important for sound sleep and health, yet with so many options the shopping can be confusing and stressful! Obviously you want to take comfort and pricing into consideration, but there are some chemical ingredients you might want to consider too. Standard synthetic foam mattresses can contain various harmful chemicals we don't want to be sleeping on. And these chemicals can evaporate into the air, or collect in house dust, which is yucky and no good for your family's health.
The great news is that there are a bunch of healthier alternatives, and these labels below can help you find them. We also have a roundup of 12 non-toxic mattress brands if you just want a quick guide to organic mattresses and natural mattresses you can buy.
One tip as you look at these labels: while avoiding synthetic foam altogether is best, if that isn't possible for you, there are three certifications (Certi-PUR, Oeko-Tex, and Greenguard) that can help you find the healthiest foams. For natural materials like latex or cotton, GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) or GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) have got you covered.
Wondering about VOCs (volatile organic compounds)? These are unhealthy chemicals that slowly leak out of foam and other materials and end up in the air you breathe. Many of the labels restrict VOC emissions, but just so you know, the strongest restriction for total VOCs is GREENGUARD Gold. If you are especially concerned about VOCs, look for mattresses with that label.
Good luck, and once the hunt is done, enjoy sleeping on a mattress that is not only comfy but also healthier for you and the planet.
What is it? Certifies the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, trading, and distribution of mattresses and textiles made from at least 70% certified organic natural fibers. There are two label grades: 1) "organic" (over 95% organic fibers) and 2) "made with X% organic materials" (70-95% organic content). See our article, what does organic mean?
Read details on standards or search the product database (select Retailing or Mail Order).
Environmental Health: Many toxic chemical restrictions, including any chemicals linked with cancer, reproductive problems, genetic defects, or organ damage, or are harmful to the environment. Mattresses cannot be made of polyurethane foam. Natural latex mattresses can receive GOTS certification.
What is it? Certifies that mattresses and textiles do not contain or release certain harmful chemicals. Every component of the mattress (all inner and outer materials) must meet the chemical restrictions to earn the certification. Search the product database (look for the three mattress categories under Product Type).
Environmental Health: Many toxic chemical restrictions, including limits on emissions of total and specific VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Read details on chemical standards here. Synthetic foams are allowed as long as they meet the chemical restrictions.
What is it? Certifies latex mattresses containing at least 95% organic latex, with chemical restrictions for both the latex and non-latex parts. Read details on the standard.
Environmental Health: Emissions of total and specific VOCs are restricted. Use of certain toxic flame retardants and other chemicals are banned. Cotton fills and coverings must be certified by GOTS or Organic Content Standard-100 (see below). Synthetic latex and other synthetic foams are not permitted. Synthetic fabrics and fibers are permitted in interiors of products.
What is it? Restricts emissions of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from mattresses and other products. There are two labels: 1) GREENGUARD and 2) GREENGUARD Gold (previously called Greenguard Children & Schools Certification)
Environmental Health: Emissions of total and specific VOCs are restricted. GREENGUARD Gold has stricter restrictions. Read details on the emissions limits (see p.3). Search the product database (select the certification type and the product type in sidebar). Read more details on the standard (registration required to access free PDF). Some certified products have an additional formaldehyde-free verification.
What is it? Certifies that polyurethane foam in mattresses (and other products) meet standards for chemical ingredients, emissions of VOCs, and durability. View a list of companies selling products containing certified foam (including but not limited to mattresses).
Environmental Health: Requires that polyurethane foam be made without heavy metals and without certain types of phthalates and flame retardants. This does not mean the products are completely free of potentially harmful phthalates or flame retardants. Emissions of total and specific VOCs are restricted. Read about the chemical restrictions.
What is it? Verifies that mattresses and other products contain the stated amount of organic material, ranging from 5-100%. There are two seals: Organic 100 (for 100% organic) and Organic Blended (for all other amounts).
Environmental Health: Assures presence and amount of stated organic content. Organic materials must be grown and processed per established standards like USDA Certified Organic. Chemicals added to raw materials during manufacturing (dyes, finishes, etc.) are not addressed. View a list of companies certified to the organic standard.
What is it? USDA seal verifies that agricultural products are grown and processed per organic standards. "Certified organic" means at least 95% of the ingredients are organic. "Made with organic" means 70-94% of ingredients are organic. Only "certified organic" products can bear the seal. Fiber materials in mattresses can include cotton, wool, hemp, and linen.
Environmental Health: Fiber materials must be grown and processed per USDA Organic standards for food, without use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. GOTS and GOLS (see above) both meet USDA Organic standards. Note that USDA Organic does not address toxic chemicals that may be found in the non-organic components. Read What Is An Organic Mattress? from the Organic Trade Association.
Why a non-toxic crib mattress is really worth it
Setting up your nursery is one of the most fun (and adorable!) parts of nesting. It means you have the opportunity to design a whole room of tiny baby items that will be full of baby's firsts. While that's exciting, we also know filling a nursery with everything a baby needs can be tough on the budget. And on top of that, if you're trying to go non-toxic and eco-friendly, it isn't always easy on your wallet. So, if you are going to prioritize one thing to spend a little extra on that will dramatically reduce the amount of chemicals around your newborn, make it the crib mattress. We looked at the research and found that getting a non-toxic, crib mattress is definitely worth it.
Even though you may not be sleeping as much as you're used to, your baby will be sleeping a lot. In the first year, babies spend on average 228 days sleeping (1). It might take a lot of rocking, bouncing, and shhhing and it might only be in short stretches, but eventually they will sleep! And even though at the beginning they might spend more time sleeping in your arms or in other places like a carrier or bassinet, most babies will eventually spend a lot of time in their crib.
As a parent, you don't need to be told that the first couple of years is a special time for development and growth for your child because you see it firsthand everyday. It makes sense when babies are so small with rapidly developing organs that they are at a greater risk of being impacted by toxic chemicals. So, if they are going to be spending the majority of the first few (especially vulnerable) years of their lives sleeping on a crib mattress, it makes sense that this is an area where you might want to go all out and find a safe and non-toxic place for them to sleep.
Maybe you're thinking, well it's just a crib mattress. What else besides fabric, padding, and springs are in there? It turns out that there are some chemicals of concern that can show up in crib mattresses. To avoid these, we have the top three things you want to look for when shopping for a non-toxic mattress.
Chemical flame retardants, which are linked to neurodevelopment and hormonal disruption in children are often added to meet flammability standards, which can be different for children's products as compared to products made for the rest of the population. But, there are lots of ways companies can meet these flammability standards without adding harmful flame retardant chemicals. Other common added chemicals to crib mattresses are antimicrobial treatments. Even though it may sound nice, antimicrobials are not going to prevent your baby from getting sick and doesn't mean that you have to wash the bedding any less. Plus, they are linked to developmental and hormonal health issues.
There are certifications and labels like GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard), GOTS (Global Organic Texile Standard), Greenguard Gold, or OEKO-TEX that can help you find a non-toxic mattress. You can learn more about what these certifications mean and others to look for in our label education piece.
If you want specific suggestions for crib mattresses, we have a roundup of some great non-toxic crib mattresses.
(1) https://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-do-bab...
(2) https://link.springer.com/article/10.2478/s13382-011-0022-2
Choosing the right mattress makes all the difference. If it's not comfortable, sleeping soundly and feeling well rested is a no-go. But, did you know that mattresses are also one of the items in your home that can expose you to the most chemicals? Partly because you spend so much time around them. The average person spends a third of their life asleep in bed. Or, if you're like me and find any excuse to stay cuddled up in the comforter and have people bring you food, then it's probably more like half your life! With this huge fraction of our lives spent on mattresses, there is ample opportunity to breathe in any fumes or teeny particles it may be releasing as you toss and turn.
When it comes to choosing a non-toxic mattress, the multitude of options can be a little overwhelming. Our basic advice is to look for two things. First, no added chemicals such as flame retardants and antimicrobials. Second, as many natural materials as possible. By looking for these two things, you've got your bases covered on indoor air quality, not causing future health problems, and being good for the planet. You can also check out our mattress roundup where we helped you out by doing some of the research for you.
The main chemicals that are added to mattresses are flame retardants. No one wants their mattress to light on fire, but there are now other ways to meet flammability standards without chemicals. Using raw materials like wool that are naturally flame resistant, and other materials like silica are non-toxic ways to prevent your mattress from going up in flames.
"[Flame retardants] are not chemically bound, they are just added. They evaporate from products and can pass right through fabric," explained Dr. Courtney Carignan, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University. As they escape from products, "they stick to our hands and get into our bodies."
Because they are able to get into your body, that is how they start to impact your health.
"In adults, some flame retardants have been associated with changes in thyroid function... There are also a number of studies showing flame retardant exposure prenatally can affect child neurodevelopment…. In my study, I found declining trends with exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and measures of female fertility…. Some flame retardants can also act as obesogens," shared Dr. Carignan.
This list is not exhaustive, but it does give a pretty good idea of why we recommend avoiding flame retardants when you can.
Even though know all of this, flame retardants are still added to some mattresses. Because we all spend so much time sleeping on mattresses, and in rooms around them, they are one of the most common ways we introduce flame retardant chemicals into the dust throughout our homes. By choosing a mattress without added flame retardants, you can easily reduce the amount of these chemicals in your everyday environment.
Antimicrobials are another chemical thing that sounds good, but just aren't. While we know some microbes can make people sick, antimicrobials that are added to things like mattresses and mattress covers often don't really do much. We are living in a world where everyone is over-sanitizing and actually getting to a point where we are only breeding stronger bad bugs. It is better just to clean your mattress (you can sprinkle it with baking soda and vacuum it easily) and make sure it is aired out and fully dry. This is healthier for everyone, and actually works!
Look for mattresses that are made of organic materials. Wool is actually flame resistant naturally, and both wool and cotton have wicking properties that will help keep them from holding any moisture if you get warm at night. These are better options for fillers than the standard polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam is used in a lot of mattresses and is also used to make memory foam. You want to avoid polyurethane foam, if you can, for two reasons. The first is that this is usually where the flame retardant chemicals are added and escape from. Second is that the foam itself can release gases known as volatile organic compounds (also known as VOCs). You end up breathing these in, and they can irritate your airways and cause other problems similar to those caused by flame retardants.
Latex also comes in a few different types. Natural latex comes from the sap of rubber trees, sort of like maple syrup comes from maple trees. If minimally processed, latex foam is renewable and doesn't emit VOCs like polyurethane foam does. This is a safer option for squishy fillings in your mattresses. Be aware though, not all mattresses with natural latex are free of synthetic foam. Some use a mixture of both natural latex and other foam to reduce cost or get the desired firmness more easily. Bottom line, read the tag all the way through and don't just assume that if it says natural latex you're in the clear. Look explicitly for it to say 100% natural latex.
To help you figure all of this out, there are a lot of different third-party certifications for mattresses. The best certifications to look for to help you find a mattress without chemicals and with as much natural material as possible are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard), or OEKO-TEX. All of these certify the products that are used in making the mattresses and mean they meet a third-party standard of high quality. You can learn more about what these certification mean, and others to look for, in our mattress label education piece.
Good luck in your mattress search! May you have many sweet (and healthy) dreams.