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Sustainability is a way of living, is a complete lifestyle, and it’s something many people are fighting for. We are destroying our planet with all that trash and industry, and for many years, we weren’t even aware of what we are causing to nature. But now, we all know that plastic waste is the worst enemy for our planet. And it’s all around us – the water bottles, packages, Tupperware, or even straws we use to drink our coffee in the morning.
The problem is getting bigger, but there are people who take care of it, trying to live a sustainable life in many aspects. So, we can see them using glass bottles, wax wraps, recyclable items, etc. But, what about the mattresses? Surely we need them to sleep, and usually, they contain a lot of nylon, synthetic textile, and non-degradable materials. So, the question is – can we turn our sleeping habits into something that is more environment-friendly?
There are so many manufacturers worldwide, and maybe you will have a hard time making the right choice. But, in general, you can use services like www.vsmattress.com/us to check and compare the offers, so you can find the best option for you.
But, what is an eco-friendly mattress? Why it’s important? Can you still sleep well on it?
We will try to answer these questions the best we can.
What exactly means an eco-friendly mattress?
In general, that’s a product that is made of recyclable materials, making it completely sustainable. It won’t damage nature in any way, and the loose and saggy product can be taken back to the manufacturer, so they can recycle it. Also, it means the materials have a completely natural and organic origin, and no synthetics are used to produce that mattress.
But, this doesn’t mean the synthetic ones aren’t eco-friendly. Most of the time, the materials are combined, so the manufacturer can provide the best possible quality to the customers. In that case, they have an advanced program for recycling, and great politics for those who will bring their old mattress, and get a discount on the new ones.
As you can see, there are so many ways to be eco-friendly and sustainable, even when it comes to bedroom furniture.
How to recognize a good eco-friendly mattress?
You can check whether the manufacturer is certified for this type of product. They have plenty of jobs to do, to get that license, and they surely have to use quality materials for that. So, maybe the first thing you need to do is to see if they give you a guarantee about the materials, and what does it contain.
Also, you can check on the declaration of the product. For example, eco-friendly materials are latex, wool, and cotton, while memory foam and polyurethane are synthetic. Usual mattresses are made of 10% natural content, and 90% synthetic materials. So, if a product like this is advertised as natural, it’s probably misleading, so you need to be very careful about this.
Sure, the inner core of the mattress will always be a synthetic material, because of the price and durability, but the rest of it can be more natural than 10%. You will need to visit the store in order to see the real situation. Many sellers will let you know more about the inner core of the product, so you can decide whether it’s worth buying or not.
Note: There is natural latex, and there are synthetic substitutions for latex. Make sure your latex contents are of natural origin. It’s a natural substance that comes from woods, and it’s surely mentioned what type is used.
Have you heard about newer natural materials?
Tencel is a pretty new material made from wood pulp, that is completely sustainable since it needs less treatment than cotton and other natural materials. It became a really popular mattress material recently, and it uses less water to be produced. On the other hand, it takes more energy to be properly treated, so it can be used in a mattress.
There is also a vegetable-based polyurethane, which is more sustainable than synthetic one. There are also cotton-like materials that come from woods, but they still need more research before being used in production.
What does organic wool mean?
The word organic doesn’t define wool. It tells us that the sheep that gave that wool were eating organic food and drinking clean water before it was shaved. The good thing with this material is that it’s supportive, durable, and can maintain a nice temperature for a good night’s sleep. It’s expensive, but it’s worth every dollar invested in it.
What else do I need to pay attention to?
When you shop organic, you have to understand that term. So, make sure you know what it defines, and how it’s implemented in mass production. Also, it depends on your preferences on how organic should a mattress be. As we said, the core will often be synthetic, so it’s important to know what you really want for the outer layers of the mattress.
We also mentioned the certifications, and you have a complete customer right to ask for them when buying eco-friendly, sustainable, and organic products. The manufacturers should fulfill many conditions so they can be granted this type of certificate. So, we can say you can be sure you are getting a real deal in this case.
In the end, it’s up to you to decide how much money you are willing to spend on a mattress, and what sustainability means to you.
Conclusion
It would take much time for all the people to embrace the sustainable way of living. But, surely there are ways to take small steps, until you accept the concept, and start using it yourself. You can start with your mattress, or with any other item in the household. It really doesn’t matter, as long as you are ready for that change. And you will surely sleep better knowing that you take care of the environment in any way possible.
