It’s a common misconception that natural, green and organic are almost interchangeable. You’ll probably be surprised to find out that they are, in fact, completely different. Especially when it comes to mattresses. So, what is the difference? We’re going to break it down for you and help you understand what each term means and which is best for you.
Natural
Surprisingly, any label which claims to be “natural” has almost no regulation around what is required of the materials put into a product. There are no certifications associated with a natural labeled product; however, this does not mean that there aren’t natural materials in the product. For example, cotton is a natural product grown from a plant. It depends on how the cotton is processed that could make it risky to trust in a product.
Green
Green is often a term now used to describe any action or product that is friendly to the environment. For example, using reusable bags at the grocery store or making sure you recycle. A green mattress typically indicates that the emissions and waste given off during the actual manufacturing of the mattress are minimized for the betterment of the environment. Some natural products may be used, but there are no certifications associated with a green label.
Organic
An organic mattress is made from organic materials that are grown without harmful pesticides or GMOs. In order to be certified organic, it must be processed according to Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which prohibits many commonly used harmful chemicals and requires that the method used to process the cotton is sustainable. There are no flame-retardants, harmful chemicals, bleaches, dyes or synthetic latex. Read our blog on what makes a mattress organic to learn more.
The important lesson to learn from these definitions is to do your research before making a mattress purchase. Just because a product name sounds like it might be a healthier alternative, doesn’t mean it actually is. Natural, green and organic mean different things to different companies. It’s important to investigate behind the scenes. What are the ingredients? Where is the cotton coming from? How is it processed? Are there any certifications associated with the particular mattress you’re interested in?
Of course, we’re partial to certified organic. GOTS, GOLS and GREENGUARD. That’s what you get when your Happsy arrives at your door. We rest easy knowing exactly what certified organic cotton, wool, and latex means and we think you will too.