Latex mattresses and memory foam mattresses are supposedly more eco-friendly, but some are more so than others. This means that if you’re going mattress shopping, you’ll need to do a fair bit of research to discern the differences among the different products available. It’s not a good idea to make such a large financial investment without knowing as many facts as you can, especially since buying a latex or memory foam bed is a sizable commitment.

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.

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