How Do I Know It’s Organic?

These days, many products have words like “natural” and “organic” on their labels. How can you tell the difference between hype and genuinely organic? Read on to learn how to know if a mattress is really organic.

Third Party Certifications

The best way to ensure that a mattress really is organic is to check for third party certifications. You can be assured that a mattress contains real organic materials when you see any of the following certifications on the label:

• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): From raw materials to manufacturing, textiles must meet strict standards to earn this organic certification.
• GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard): This certification requires high standards for the entire process, from harvest to the final product. GOLS certified products must be made of at least 95% organic raw materials.
• GREENGUARD Gold: For this certification, a product must meet strict chemical emissions limits. This standard is designed to protect the most sensitive groups, such as the elderly.
• eco-INSTITUT: Based in Germany, this certification requires strict limits for pollutants such as formaldehyde, pesticides, VOCs, and other harmful substances.
• CertiPUR-US®: This certification confirms that foams are free of the most harmful chemicals, such as the flame retardant “Tris,” as well as ozone depleters, heavy metals, and other harmful chemicals. Be aware that it does allow some of the less harmful chemical flame retardants.

Natural Materials

An organic mattress will be made with natural and organic materials. Comfort layers in an organic mattress, for example, are made from natural latex, organic wool, or other natural products. For example, the Saatva Latex Hybrid and the Birch Luxe Natural both contain GOTS certified organic wool and cotton. The best organic mattresses will not contain synthetic or petroleum-based materials such as polyester or polyurethane foam.

Natural Latex

If you’re shopping for a latex foam mattress, look for talalay or Dunlop latex, which are natural latex products. Many memory foams are made from polyurethane, which is petroleum-based and not natural.

The Saatva Latex Hybrid contains natural latex has three third-party certifications:  GOLS, GREENGUARD® Gold, and eco-INSTITUT®. The latex in the Birch Luxe Natural mattress is sustainably harvested and has GREENGUARD® Gold, and eco-INSTITUT®certifications.

No Chemical Flame Retardants

An organic mattress should have a flame retardant that does not contain any harmful chemicals or fiberglass. You’ll find nothing but natural flame retardant in the Saatva Latex Hybrid and Birch Luxe Natural mattresses. Both models have 100% organic wool flame barriers, completely free of chemical retardants.

How to Find the Best Organic Mattress for You

Besides containing natural and organic materials, your new mattress must provide a comfortable sleep experience. Here are some tips for finding the best organic mattress for your needs.

Comfort Layers

You’ll find good examples of comfort layers in the Birch Luxe Natural mattress. Its plush Euro top cover is made of organic cotton. Then there are three organic wool comfort layers and a natural latex pressure relief layer. All of these natural and organic materials cradle your body and relieve pressure in the spine and joints.

The Saatva Latex Hybrid also has a plush organic cotton Euro top and organic wool comfort layer. A 5-zone layer of natural latex provides pressure relief and lumbar support.

Support and Responsiveness

Adequate support is important for keeping the spine properly aligned. In the Saatva Latex Hybrid, the latex layer targets support to 5 zones, particularly the lower back. The pocketed coils respond and adapt as you move, with reinforced support in the lumbar region. Similarly, the Birch Luxe Natural has a responsive layer of pocketed coils. Reinforced coils provide additional support for the hips, which helps maintain alignment. Both mattresses also contain latex foam, which is a highly responsive material.

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Edge Support

When shopping for the best organic mattress, look for a model that offers edge support. This feature prevents sagging around the perimeter and makes it easier to get out of bed. For example, the Saatva Latex Hybrid has a base that provides edge-to-edge durability. The Birch Luxe Natural’s pocketed coils provide reinforced support around the mattress edges.

Firmness that’s Right for Your Sleep Style

The ideal firmness level depends on your personal preference and sleep style. For example, the Birch Natural Luxe has a medium soft feel with the Plush Organic Mattress Topper and medium firm feel without the top. The Saatva Latex Hybrid is a medium firm mattress. Side sleepers may find the medium soft option more comfortable, while back, stomach sleepers, amd combination sleepers may prefer the support of a medium firm mattress.

Temperature Regulation

Organic mattresses are typically made with breathable, moisture-wicking materials, such as the organic cotton and organic wool found in the Birch Natural Latex and the Saatva Latex Hybrid mattresses. Both mattresses also contain natural latex foam, which is a naturally breathable material. These materials allow air circulation to carry heat away from the mattress. Pocketed coils, which are found in the Saatva and Latex models, also keep things cool by allowing airflow. Thanks to these natural materials, getting a good night’s sleep on an organic mattress is no sweat.

Motion Isolation for Sound Sleep

When a mattress adapts to your changing positions, it prevents motion from transferring across the mattress. Both mattresses have pocketed coils that move individually as you move and prevent motion transfer. For couples, motion isolation means that one partner can move around or get out of bed without disturbing the other partner.

Size Availability

Any type of mattress — organic or otherwise— must be available in the right size for your home. Do you sleep alone in a small space? Do you and you spouse need a mattress for a master suite? Here is the size range for the Saatva Latex Hybrid and Birch Luxe Natural mattresses:

• Twin
• Twin XL
• Full
• Queen
• King
• Split King (Saatva Latex Hybrid only)
• California King

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Home Trial

It can take a month or more to get used to a new mattress, even if it’s a top organic mattress. It’s important, therefore, to look for a mattress that comes with a trial period that lets you return the mattress for a refund after you try it at home.

The Saatva Latex Hybrid comes with a generous 365-day home trial, while the Birch Luxe Natural comes with a 100-night trial period. Both companies offer a refund minus a fee for processing and transportation.

Check the Warranty Terms

A top organic mattress should come with a warranty for manufacturer defects. Warranties vary in length, typically from 10 years to lifetime. Warranty terms can change or be updated, so it’s a good idea to read the warranty before you buy a mattress.

The Birch Natural Latex mattress comes with a 25-year limited warranty. The company will repair or replace a defective mattress, with prorated limited coverage after the first 10 years. The Saatva Latex Hybrid comes with a Friends for Life lifetime warranty. After the first two years, the customer must pay a fee when Saatva repairs or replaces a defective mattress.

Final Thoughts on Things to Check When Buying an Organic Mattress

We hope these tips have made it a little easier to shop for the best organic mattress. Important things to keep in mind include third party certifications, natural materials, and the absence of synthetic or petroleum-based products. Both the Saatva Luxe Hybrid and the Birch Natural Latex models contain certified organic fibers and foams. You won’t find chemical flame retardants, polyurethane foams, or other non-organic materials in either mattress.

Of course, you’re buying an organic mattress to have a comfortable sleep surface. Make sure you look at comfort layers, support, temperature regulation, and other mattress features. Both mattresses contain cotton and wool comfort layers, along with responsive natural latex foam. These breathable materials help keep both mattresses cool. You’ll also find targeted support for the lower back and hips in both models.

Once you’ve found the best organic mattress for your needs, make sure it comes with a home trial and warranty. We like the 365-night home trial that comes with the Saatva Latex Hybrid. The Birch Luxe Natural’s 100-night trial isn’t as long but still allows plenty of time to try out the mattress. We’re also impressed with the Saatva’s Lifetime Warranty and Birch’s 25-year warranty.

After researching organic mattresses, we believe the Saatva Latex Hybrid and Birch Luxe Natural are both quality mattresses. We recommend both models as top choices for choosing an organic mattress.

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