What Are Mattresses Made of?

“Mattresses are made of stuff...lots and lots of stuff.” That’s likely how a lot of people would describe what’s in a mattress. Or something along those lines. For a product that we spend a whole lot of money and time on, it’s not really an item that a lot of people know the nitty-gritty about.

Years ago, I was waiting for a mattress delivery for me and my friend’s NYC apartment that we fought tooth and nail to get. It was finally going to be our first night in our new place but thanks to me, it went a little different than we planned. No wine, no celebration, and no mattresses. While the delivery truck was on the way, I somehow managed to get locked out and the only time they could come back to deliver the mattresses was the next day. We decided to rough it out and sleep on the wooden floor wrapped in our comforters hoping for the best. And what we got? The worst night of sleep of our lives. Ask us how to describe a mattress the next morning and without hesitation, we would have said “magical heavenly fluff”.

If you’ve recently bought a mattress or started the process by looking online, you know that it is the epitome of “decision decisions!”. With so many different brands and materials to choose from, knowing what’s available can help you buy a mattress that can promote good sleep and that’s healthier for you and the planet.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATTRESSES EXPLAINED

If getting a good night’s sleep is important to you, finding a good mattress is half the battle. What qualifies as “good” for you, may have a lot to do with its basic internal construction, so it helps to get familiar with the different kinds. Here are some of the most common mattress types.

INNERSPRING MATTRESS

When you picture a mattress, you’re probably thinking of a traditional innerspring mattress designed with steel coils. In order to be stronger, as well as to reduce motion transfer and noise, most innerspring mattresses are made with individually wrapped coils. The pricing difference is based on the thickness and amount of coils in a mattress. There’s also a difference in the materials used to encase the coils like wool, cotton, organic cotton, and canvas.

MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS

Different versions were circulating but it wasn’t until the 1990’s when the memory foam mattress really hit the market. By definition, these mattresses have at least one comfort layer made of memory foam, and some also have memory foam transitional layers for added support. And what exactly is memory foam made from? A polyurethane foam – a material first manufactured in the fifties by mixing water with halocarbons or hydrocarbons. Today, memory foam mattresses are generally made from polyol mixed with water and a chemical compound called a diisocyanate.

LATEX MATTRESS

If you want a more natural or organic mattress, a latex one may be for you. Natural latex mattresses are made from natural rubber derived from the Radium Natural Talalay or Hevea-Brasiliensis tree’s milk. Synthetic or blended latex mattresses are made from a blend of natural rubber mixed with butadiene or styrene, byproducts of petroleum refining commonly used in industrial manufacturing. Latex mattresses vary in material construction – with 100% natural organic latex mattresses costing more than the synthetic blends. They can be described as bouncy and cushiony and offer resisting heat buildup. One major advantage of latex mattresses is that they have excellent durability and can be produced more sustainably than most foams.

HYBRID MATTRESS

Looking for a mixture of two or more elements? A hybrid mattress is exactly that. A hybrid mattress consists of two support structures, for example, innerspring and memory foam. In that case, you get the support from the coils and the softness of memory foam. The objective is to create a mix of components to capitalize on the benefits of both to help you get better quality sleep.

TOXIC CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS TO AVOID IN A MATTRESS

Most people spend at least 7 hours a day on a mattress. Imagine what spending that much time on something that contains toxic chemicals and materials could mean?

PETROLEUM-BASED CHEMICALS

Polyurethane foam which can be found in many mattresses is derived from petroleum. Conventional polyurethane foam can off-gas—the term for what happens when volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, escape from the foam into the air. Have you ever smelled that not-so-nice new mattress smell? It could be this. This can also irritate people with chemical sensitivities or respiratory conditions like asthma.

CHEMICAL FIRE RETARDANTS

In 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued new federal guidelines to ensure that mattresses are able to withstand the required 30 minutes of exposure to an open flame. Mattress companies often use chemical treatments to meet these standards but some don’t. If this is a major concern for you, it’s your best bet to buy an American-made mattress. Mattresses made in the United States are subject to strict safety regulations that prohibit the use of harmful or toxic chemicals in the production process.

PBDES

If you’re buying a used mattress or have one from 2005, this is something to know. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are another class of chemical flame retardants—but they’ve been banned in the United States since 2005. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PBDEs have been linked to thyroid disruption and neuro-developmental toxicity in rats and mice. Does this mean you should nix that mattress of yours? Not necessarily but it could be in your best interest to consider doing so.

ECO-FRIENDLY MATTRESS MATERIALS TO LOOK FOR

The materials and construction process for some mattresses are better for the environment than others. If you prefer an eco-friendly mattress, look for these popularly used non-toxic materials.

WOOL

Wool's chemical structure makes it naturally flame resistant. It’s antibacterial and antimicrobial, resistant to dust mites, and hypoallergenic.

ORGANIC COTTON

Soft and breathable, organic cotton is also hypoallergenic. Plus, organic cotton is grown without the use of chemical insecticides or synthetic fertilizers, organic cotton doesn’t contaminate water systems with chemical runoff.

GREENER FOAMS

Conventional foams can off-gas (give off a chemical, especially a harmful one, in the form of a gas). Look for foams that contain plant-based ingredients instead of petroleum derivatives. Shop for foams that have third-party certifications, like CertiPUR-US®, Oeko-Tex, and Greenguard.

LATEX

Made from the sap of the rubber tree, latex is a natural material. Natural latex is hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and does not off-gas. Be mindful that not all latex is natural. Synthetic latex mattresses are made from petroleum-based ingredients.

MATTRESS MATERIAL CERTIFICATIONS & HOW THOSE CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE A HEALTHIER MATTRESS

When shopping for a mattress, look for mattress material certifications to take the guesswork out of the process. Here are some of the popular certifications that can make your decision a lot easier.

CERTIPUR

CertiPUR-US® is a certification program administered by a not-for-profit organization.

CertiPUR-US certified foams are:

Made without ozone depleters

Made without PBDEs, TDCPP, or TCEP (”Tris”) flame retardants

Made without mercury, lead, and other heavy metals

Made without formaldehyde

Made without phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission

Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million)

GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD (GOTS)

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognized as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well.

GOLS - GLOBAL ORGANIC LATEX STANDARD

GOLS outlines requirements for latex products made from organic raw materials, as well as for material from non-organic origins. To label a product as GOLS certified, the product must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic raw material of the total weight.

When it comes to choosing a mattress being informed about what to avoid, and where to invest in higher quality, can help ensure that your next mattress purchase is eco-friendly, safe, and the right choice to help create a bedroom that feels like a comfortable sanctuary.