Did you know that mattresses can be full of all kinds of nasties? For example, memory foam is made using polyurethane foam. That’s right, when you settle down to sleep on a memory foam mattress, you’re actually sleeping on a layer of plastic. As you can imagine, that makes memory foam a bad choice for the planet. Plus, it offers little breathability which can lead to a too toasty bed. Luckily, there are more environmentally friendly alternatives that are just as supportive and comfortable as memory foam. So, what are natural mattress fillings and how can they improve your sleep? Read on to discover more.
Latex
You may be surprised to know that latex is actually a natural material. It’s made using the sap from rubber trees, which thrive in South America and Southern Asia. Every year, these trees help to convert over 90 million tons of CO2 into oxygen, making latex a planet-friendly choice. That isn’t to say all latex is natural. Synthetic latex is widely used and is made using petroleum-based chemicals. So, if you’re in the market for a new mattress, make sure it’s natural latex.
The great thing about latex is that it makes a brilliant alternative to memory foam. It adapts to your shape, weight and movements just like memory foam. Plus, it evenly distributes your body weight across the surface, making it supportive and great for pressure relief. Plus, latex is known to bounce back faster than memory foam and will keep its shape for many years.
Another benefit of latex is that it’s naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites. So, if you find yourself sneezing as soon as you settle down to sleep, a latex mattress could solve your problems.
Cotton
Cotton is a popular choice for mattresses because it’s natural, breathable and supremely comfortable. Cotton is renowned for offering premium levels of breathability. That means it will help keep your mattress cool during summer and warm throughout the winter. Plus, it helps to wick away moisture, keeping your mattress fresh and dry.
Cotton is also a great choice thanks to the comfort it offers. Not only does it feel soft against your skin, but cotton also offers a comfortable layer of support whilst you sleep. That’s why it’s often chosen to cover and help cushion the top layer of mattresses.
Since cotton is a natural material, it has less of a long-term impact on our planet. Commonly used materials like polyester are less breathable and made of plastic, meaning they’re a poorer choice for the environment.
Bamboo
Bamboo is often used to help provide comfort and cushioning to the top layer of an eco-friendly mattresses. Like cotton, bamboo is a particularly breathable fabric and helps to wick away sweat. It’s often used to circulate air around the mattress and prevent you from overheating during the night.
Another great benefit of bamboo is that it’s naturally antibacterial. That means it helps to protect your mattress from bacteria and fungi that can form on it. Plus, bamboo is non-allergenic, meaning it doesn’t contain any allergens that can irritate the skin. It’s also resistant to dust mites, so bamboo is a great choice for allergy sufferers or sleepers with sensitive skin.
Silk
Silk may seem like an opulent choice; however, it has some key qualities that make it perfect for mattresses.
Firstly, silk is a natural material made using fibres created by silkworms. That means it’s biodegradable and better for the planet in the long term. Plus, silk has a natural bounce to it, with a fabric structure that’s like tiny springs, perfect for a peaceful sleep.
Secondly, silk is brilliant at controlling moisture and stopping you from overheating. When you’re asleep, moisture and heat can become trapped between the duvet and the mattress, creating a warm environment. Whilst plenty of other natural materials offer breathability and moisture control, silk is by far the best. It actually wicks away moisture and heat twice as fast as cotton.
Finally, silk is extremely comfortable. After all, we spend approximately 33 years of our lives in bed. So, why not make sure it’s spent in comfort?
Wool
When you think of wool, you probably imagine cosy jumpers or warm scarves. However, wool can be a surprisingly cooling addition to a mattress. It’s highly breathable and allows air to pass freely through its fibres, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer.
Wool is also particularly good at wicking away sweat and moisture. It does this by moving any moisture from the centre of the fabric to the outside. Once on the outside layer of the fabric, the moisture can evaporite easily. Qualities like this are great for preventing the build-up of mould and mildew.
Wool is also naturally fire retardant. That means less chemicals need to be used in your mattress to make it fire retardant. Plus, wool is completely biodegradable so won’t leave a lasting impact on the planet, unlike a plastic-based mattress.
Cashmere
Like silk, cashmere may seem like a frivolous addition to a mattress, but it’s actually incredibly beneficial. Like wool, cashmere is brilliant at wicking away moisture and preventing you from overheating. However, it’s finer fibres mean that it does a much better job. In fact, cashmere is three times better at cooling you down than cotton.
Plus, when used as a fabric, cashmere offers unrivalled levels of softness and texture.
Flax
A hardy, pest-resistant plant, no fertilisers or chemicals are used when growing flax. Plus, it requires very little water to grow it. That’s what makes flax one of the best natural mattress fillings.
Flax is a soft and flexible material that’s lightweight and much stronger than cotton so it’s a popular choice for mattresses. It’s also incredibly breathable and boasts natural cooling properties. After all, flax is commonly used to make relaxing linen suits that stay cool in the summer. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll freeze on colder nights. Flax is also a great insulator and will keep you warm in the winter. Plus, its durability means it’ll help your mattress last for years.
If you’re looking for a completely natural mattress, our Organic Mattress is an industry-leading choice. In fact, it’s the UK’s only certified 100% organic mattress. Discover more here.