In the general world of mattress choices, it’s often a matter of “Buyer Beware.” And when it comes to memory foam and latex mattresses, the situation is the same. Not all of these mattresses are made in the same way, nor do they all live up to the same ecological standards. The last thing you want to do, then, is to make the significant financial investment in a latex foam mattress, or a queen or king size memory foam mattress, and then discover later that you paid so much for something you’d really rather not have bought.
The two basic types of latex mattresses are made either from the sap of the rubber tree or synthetically with petrochemicals. Sometimes the two substances also are blended, often to save money, since a natural latex foam mattress is very expensive. The blending might also be done because natural latex can be less comfortable, so manufacturers try adding some of the properties that petrochemicals provide. Yet a natural latex mattress can be made more comfortable by infusing natural oils and plant extracts, so natural vs. chemical doesn’t need to be a deciding factor when it comes to comfort.
A latex mattress is created in one of two ways. With the Standard method, the rubber sap is whipped into a froth, to fill it with the air bubbles that give memory foam its unique characteristics. After the whipped substance is sealed in a mold, it’s heated and cured into finished form. The Talalay method adds thousands of pin-like spikes to the mold, creating channels for the air bubbles and making the final latex foam mattresses more buoyant and resilient. Both of these processes can use blended foam, though, so you’ll need to investigate further if you’re concerned about eco-friendly mattresses.
Nor is every latex mattress necessarily organic, so that will be the main certification to check out. If a mattress is simply labeled “natural” or “green,” it may still contain some synthetic materials. Having actual “organic” certification, however, should mean that all materials used will be completely natural, and chemical and pesticide-free.
If you want to be sure your mattress meets your own ecological standards, then some research into the available products is absolutely necessary. Labeling can be slippery, and even so-called “green” mattresses might still contain chemicals you’d rather not have in a bed. Read about latex mattresses and memory foam mattresses and learn about each product, what they contain, and even where they are made. Be sure to do your shopping with all the important facts at your disposal, so you can make an informed choice that you can live with for many years.
Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed anxiety therapy as well as tips on the various medications for panic disorder available at anxietydisordercure.com.