As recently as a decade ago, conventional mattresses were the only type available for the average consumer. If you wanted to purchase a healthier option, you had to have an extreme budget and be able to track down one of the very few retailers who offered eco-friendly, organic beds. But today’s reputable manufacturers have married comfort, affordability, and health for the perfect eco-friendly mattress.
Now, finding a comfortable mattress that you can sleep well on can be a priority without excluding being eco-conscious. Going green with your mattress has plenty of advantages you may not have heard about.
Why Investing in an Eco-Friendly Mattress is a Smart Move
Even manufacturers whose primary concern is making a profit have realized that they have to go green to keep up with the demands of the current consumer population. As the consumer habits of past generations are being felt, the pressure is on to create products that reduce our carbon footprint. By adopting an organic mattress you can offset the effects of your carbon footprint by supporting deforestation projects reducing the need in places like Africa to burn unsustainable biomass in order to boil water such as the Burn Stove project, saving lives and forests by making the burning of charcoal in Kenya more efficient and safe.
Mattress manufacturers, as well as those from about every industry, have invested their time and funds into creating organic, eco-friendly products that stand up to a skeptical community. Not only does the product have to do its job well, but it can’t be dangerous, toxic, or harmful in any way. Many of the organic mattresses are manufactured from plant-based materials such as natural latex which is sourced from places like Africa and other countries.
Eco-friendly mattresses from reputable companies have mastered these criteria with benefits that include:
Choosing an organic mattress means you’re not breathing harmful chemicals. Commercial mattresses aren’t regulated as heavily as many people assume. The priority is on ensuring that the mattress isn’t flammable, and manufacturers can use a cocktail of harmful chemicals to get that result.
Eco-friendly mattresses use plant-based ingredients and flame retardant chemicals that pass strict testing to ensure they aren’t harmful to breathe in or sleep on.
Be careful when you see an eco-friendly label, though -- they aren’t all equal. A company can change a mere 10% of its mattress composition into plant-based alternatives and claim that it is eco-friendly. A certified organic mattress must past complex testing regulations and requirements to become certified, so if the label and manufacturer aren’t completely transparent about what’s in their mattress, don’t buy from them.
2. You don’t have to worry about what to do with your old mattress.Most eco-friendly manufacturers have a plan in place to get rid of your commercial mattress. Instead of tossing it into the dumpster, you can recycle it.
The manufacturer will set up a plan to pick up your old mattress and have it broken down into its basic parts. Those parts, like the wood, metal springs, and other components, will be reused and recycled.
3. Your overall health may improve.When you are tossing and turning all night because your old mattress isn’t providing you the support you need, your body isn’t resting well. On top of the physical discomforts you’ll end up with, your health can begin to suffer.
Without sufficient sleep, your brain can’t repair daily damage to your body. Sleep lets your brain regenerate cells, repair injuries, and reallocate new knowledge from your short term stores into your long-term memories.
Conventional mattresses are breeding grounds for allergens, too. The porous spaces in the material that make up the mattress are exactly what many allergens need to thrive, so while you are sleeping, you’re breathing in dust mites, pet dander, and other microorganisms.
Eco-friendly mattresses let you sleep more soundly with the right support and they are made of materials that hinder the growth and spread of allergens.
4. It’s a cost-effective investment with a great return on your health.No matter where you go, you’re going to pay a little extra to be healthy. This fact is evident in supermarkets, department stores, and e-commerce. But the benefits outweigh the cost and your health improves.
If your mattress is causing you to lose productivity, calling in sick due to back pain or illnesses from lack of rest, it’s past time to invest in a healthier option. You need a mattress that will support your body naturally and let you get the sleep you need to feel and function at your best each day.
When it comes to the mattress you sleep on every day, purchasing one made of cleaner ingredients will give you an incredible return on your investment. You’ll sleep better, feel better, and be more productive, letting the mattress pay for itself.
There’s No Arguing that an Eco-Friendly Mattress is SmartIf you don’t invest in your health, you’ll eventually be investing in your healing. Research has shown that preventive care saves thousands of dollars annually, helping you to avoid doctors’ visits, medication, and missed work.
Investing in an eco-friendly mattress is one more step towards a mindful and healthy lifestyle. You’ll sleep better, feel better, and live better when you take advantage of the benefits that these healthier mattresses offer you.