Switching to organic mattresses can improve your health, as they have been proven to help reduce back pain and allergic reactions. But with so many choices now available, how can you be sure you are using real organic mattresses?
First, check the certifications of the organic mattress you are buying. Certification boards and entities look for certain features and verify certain requirements before certifying a mattress as ‘organic.’
The National Organic Program or NOP (under the US Department of Agriculture) provided a formal policy in 2011 that states all organic products containing fiber must be labeled specifically. A mattress labeled ‘organic’ must meet the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or the NOP organic regulations.
NOP sets the standards for organic agricultural products like wool, hemp, cotton, flax, and other natural fibers, but only with the post-harvest processing standards. An NOP certification makes sure you are getting a high-quality product made of 100% organic cotton. Meanwhile, GOTS has slightly lower standards. They now allow textiles made of 30% recycled synthetic fiber and 70% organic cotton to be called ‘organic.’ This is why—if you are serious about buying real organic mattress—you are better off looking for the NOP certification.
Texas Organic Cotton is used by some products like Royal-Pedic 123. It is certified organic cotton produced, processed, and handled according to the state law of Texas and the state DOA’s Organic Standards and Certification.
The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certifies that the organic mattress has been tested for harmful substances. It is an independent testing and certification system for textile intermediate, raw, and end products. It has its own standards and criteria for testing harmful substances like illegal substances, known harmful chemicals, and legally regulated substances.
