The best mattress materials (such as organic latex, organic cotton, and organic wool) offer key health benefits including reduced chemical exposure, help with joint and back pain, temperature control, and allergy relief.
Organic and non-toxic materials provide a healthier alternative to cheap synthetic materials that release (or off-gas) volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
VOCs are airborne chemicals that harm your health by contributing to poor indoor air quality, breathing difficulties, and long-term health risks, according to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research.
This guide explores the best mattress materials for health, explains how they are used in different types of mattresses, and highlights which harmful materials to avoid, such as polyurethane foam, fiberglass, and chemical flame retardants.
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Organic latex is a non-toxic alternative to synthetic latex and polyurethane foam. It is found in solid latex mattresses, or in the comfort layers, support cores, and transitional layers of hybrid mattress types.
Organic latex offers several health benefits, including the following.
These benefits make organic latex mattresses well-suited for back pain sufferers, side sleepers, hot sleepers, toddlers, and those with sensitivities.
Check for certifications like the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) to verify that latex is genuinely organic.
When used as an outer comfort layer, organic latex is often covered with organic cotton to enhance moisture control and breathability for a cooler, drier sleep surface.
Organic cotton is used for mattress covers, quilted layers, and padding.
It is a healthier, chemical-free alternative to microfiber and polyester blends, and has a softer feel that is particularly beneficial for toddlers and people with sensitive skin.
Organic cotton provides multiple health advantages, including the following.
To check that your cotton is organic, look for certifications such as Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Content Standard (OCS), and OEKO-TEX.
Pairing organic wool with organic cotton enhances temperature regulation and provides natural flame resistance.
Organic wool is used as a natural fire barrier in eco-friendly and organic mattresses. It eliminates the need for fiberglass or chemical flame retardants which are commonly sprayed onto synthetic mattresses.
Regular wool is also a fire retardant, but unlike organic wool, it contains synthetic pesticides, chemical detergents, and toxic processing agents.
Organic wool contributes to better health in the following ways.
Organic wool is an excellent mattress material for hot sleepers, allergy sufferers, and those with chemical sensitivities.
While organic wool regulates temperature for optimal comfort, adding organic coconut coir supports spinal alignment and stability.
Organic coconut coir is mainly used in a mattress’s support core or base layer to add extra firmness and support.
Standard coconut coir does a similar job when required, but it is often treated with synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and chemical binders.
The main health benefits of organic coconut coir are listed below:
Organic coconut coir is popular with back pain sufferers, hot sleepers, and those seeking a firm, hypoallergenic, breathable mattress.
It's a mattress material that pairs well with non-toxic memory foam, which contours to the body while remaining free from harmful chemicals.
Certified non-toxic memory foam is found in the comfort and transitional layers of mattresses.
Memory foam is popular with back pain sufferers and side sleepers because it offers a cradling effect that reduces strain on joints and muscles.
The problem is that most memory foam is synthetic (made from fossil-fuel-derived polyurethane) and contains chemicals such as VOCs, PDBEs, and Isocyanates. That's why choosing certified non-toxic memory foam is critical for your health.
The following health benefits make certified non-toxic memory foam an excellent choice.
CertiPUR-US, OEKO-TEX, GOLS, Eco-INSTITUT, and Made Safe certify that memory foam meets health and safety standards and is free from harmful chemicals.
While memory foam contours to the body, innerspring steel coils provide structured support and increased airflow and create a balanced sleep system.
Innerspring steel coils form a mattress's support core and offer structured reinforcement. Zoned coil systems and edge support are an option on more advanced mattresses.
The main health benefits of innerspring steel coils are listed below:
Innerspring steel coils are popular with back pain sufferers and hot sleepers. Pocket coils, which are individually wrapped, offer enhanced motion isolation. This makes them a preferred choice for couples.
Coils are considered eco-friendly when combined with some of the other materials mentioned in this guide to create an organic hybrid mattress. Recycled steel is more sustainable. It has a lower environmental impact without compromising durability or support.
While these materials provide health benefits, others don't. Some commonly used components contain chemicals that may pose health risks, which we’ll explore next.
The mattress materials most commonly associated with negative health effects are polyurethane memory foam, fiberglass, and chemical flame retardants, due to their emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful substances.
Standard polyurethane memory foam off-gasses various harmful chemicals, according to the study ("Evaluation of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from memory foam mattresses and potential implications for consumer health risk," Beckett et al. 2022).
These can include VOCs (such as toluene, benzene, and formaldehyde) Isocyanates (such as toluene diisocyanate (TDI) or methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)) and flame retardants (including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)).
The same study reports that long-term exposure has been shown to affect the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Regulatory agencies, including the EPA and the European Commission, warn that high exposure to VOCs (like those found in toxic memory foam) causes eye, nose, and throat irritation.
Fiberglass is often used as a flame retardant in mattresses, particularly at the cheaper, non-organic end of the market.
Mattress covers containing fiberglass can cause breathing difficulties if the outer layer is removed and particles are allowed to escape.
Some fiberglass covers contain undisclosed chemical additives, such as modacrylics with antimony and vinyl chloride, which pose further health risks, such as bronchitis and lung cancer. ("Fiberglass and Other Flame-Resistant Fibers in Mattress Covers," Wagner et al. 2022).
Chemical flame retardants are added to synthetic mattresses as a regulatory requirement to slow the spread of fire.
Some, like PBDEs and TDCIPP, have been linked to hormone disruption and increased cancer risk ("Identification of flame retardants in polyurethane foam collected from baby products," Stapleton et al. 2011).
Other factors to consider when choosing a healthy mattress include the use of glues, electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and waterproof layers, particularly in crib mattresses.
Toxin-free adhesives lower VOC exposure, improving indoor air quality. Safer alternatives include water-based adhesives, which reduce harmful emissions.
Some individuals prefer metal-free designs due to concerns about EMFs, though scientific consensus on their health impact remains inconclusive.
Non-toxic waterproofing, such as food-grade polyethylene, prevents liquid damage without the harmful chemicals in PVC-based coatings.
You should consider these factors alongside non-toxic mattress materials to help you choose the right mattress for a safer sleep environment.
