How to Choose a Healthy Mattress

The mattress market in the United States offers a bewildering array of options, with hundreds of brands claiming to offer their customers the latest in ‘mattress technology’ from ice fabric through to advanced sleep-tracking sensors. Sadly, many of these claims are nothing more than hyped marketing packaged up with a thin veil of pseudoscience – and won’t result in a better night’s rest. So, we thought we’d speak to some friends to decode the market and get the lowdown on how to go about choosing the best healthy mattress for your home.

The three main types of mattresses are innerspring (also known as pocket-sprung), foam, and hybrid (a mix of foam and springs). Despite the messaging from many mattress retailers, there are only two types of foam – synthetic polyurethane (of which memory foam is a subset), and natural latex. 

Comfort and support

“The most important factors to look for in a new mattress are comfort and support,” explains Mark Tremlett, co-founder of organic bed and mattress-maker, Naturalmat. “You don’t want the mattress to cause pressure to your body, which causes tossing and turning, which means you wake up tired. And you want the mattress to hold you in proper alignment from head to toe, so you don’t wake up with a backache.” There are some other factors to look for too, including motion transfer, edge support and temperature.

Your mattress should keep your spine in its natural S curve and allow you to sink into the surface just the right amount to relieve pressure points across your shoulder and hips. Broadly speaking, firmer mattresses are better for back and stomach sleepers and for people weighing more than two hundred and thirty pounds, while softer mattresses are recommended for side sleepers. Of course, the only way to know what a mattress’ “firm” or “soft” description really means is to lie down on it.

Natural vs synthetic foam

There are few who will disagree that plant derived natural latex is healthier and better for the planet than synthetic foam. Synthetics are almost exclusively plastics derived from fossil fuels that require an abundance of chemical processing in order to exist. Their production sees by-products created, while residual toxins are left in the sheets of foam, which can release into the air over time.

Conversely, natural latex is made from liquid extruded from rubber trees and it requires no inputs of toxic by-products or chemicals during production. The trees should be sourced from sustainably managed forests, and they aren’t harmed in the process; for them, it’s like giving blood. The liquid is whipped until frothy and then baked. The resulting material can be both biodegradable and recyclable.

Latex is denser and heavier than polyurethane foam, in addition to being more durable, and often cooler. “Synthetics absorb heat and moisture. Natural fibres do the opposite,” says Tremlett. Memory foam mattresses are designed to mold to the body in response to heat and pressure. But by retaining that heat, you’ll sleep hotter than you would with a spring or natural fiber alternative. Latex foam is more expensive than synthetic foam. It is also bouncier, which puts it on many ‘Best Mattresses for Sex’ lists.

Healthy materials

Despite the hundreds of players in the industry, across the US, there are five mattress companies who do an estimated 65 to 70 percent of manufacturing. They will sell the same product to various retailers, who may adjust small design details, before adding a proprietary name and deeming the mattress an exclusive. Most mattresses sold across the country (estimated at eighty percent) still use only synthetic polyurethane foams. 

However, a select number of independent manufacturers, including Naturalmat and Naturepedic are pushing against the tide and offering products that use natural materials; typically varying mixes of sheep’s wool, latex and coir (coconut fiber), selected for their environmental, health and sleep-enhancing properties.

Sheep’s wool is a natural wonder material. An insulator that will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. Its fibers wick away excess heat and moisture, but not all sheep’s wool is the same – finer fibers will dissipate heat better and will be more breathable. Wool also has natural antimicrobial and flame-resistant properties, which allows it to pass fire standards without the addition of toxic fire retardants. If practiced correctly, sheep that are bred for their wool are unharmed in the annual shearing process, which typically takes place in spring.

Natural latex is hypoallergenic, dust mite, mildew, and mold resistant. If you are sensitive to dust mites, choosing a natural latex mattress can often relieve allergies and let you have a much sounder, less congested sleep. It has good elasticity and durability.

Highly sustainable and versatile, organic coconut fiber is stripped, soaked, dried and twisted to create a miniature coil, and is then pressed into breathable sheets in a specified density. This bouncy material is known as coir and in a natural fiber mattress, it mimics the job traditionally done by springs.

Off-gassing

New mattresses, especially synthetic foam models that have been boxed or wrapped in plastic, often give off an unpleasant smell for a week or two after delivery. This is the mattress off-gassing or releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you opt for a synthetic foam mattress, look for those with foam that’s CertiPUR-US certified, which gives you the assurance that the foam is free of harmful chemicals, including TDCPP, PBDEs and flame retardants. An added benefit of natural materials is that they do not off-gas.

Environmental considerations

The final thing to keep in mind when choosing your mattress is that synthetic foam will not biodegrade. Coupled with a proliferation of low-quality products, 100-day sleep guarantees and changing preferences, people have been replacing their mattresses much more frequently than they used to, meaning millions of old mattresses are ending up in landfill each year. “This is creating a mountain of waste – and an environmental disaster,” says Tremlett. “We need to close the loop and move to a mattress industry without waste; considering the materials we choose, our commitments to repair rather than replace; and how we upcycle or recycling mattresses that are no longer wanted.”

You should expect a good mattress to last at least 8 to 10 years, after which it may need repair (this is a service that Naturalmat now offer their customers in Europe). It’s useful to turn or flip your mattress a few times per year, and to be conscious of lumps or indents over time, or if you are experiencing trouble sleeping or pain when waking.

Our verdict

Selecting a mattress is a personal choice and an investment, so it's worth doing your homework. Following research and testing for this article, our preference is towards natural fiber mattresses (we have also slept on a Naturalmat model for six months). Naturalmat was established back in 1999 and has been a pioneer in the manufacture of healthy and sustainable mattresses since. They are our favorite as far as quality is concerned and have excellent health and sustainability credentials, including B Corp certification.

An earlier version of this article included mention of Avocado Green Mattresses. But following the claims brought in the recent lawsuit, we don't feel WLLW can endorse their products.