
Safe
Sleep, Sustainable Slumber
By Leslie Fischer
These
environmental claims could be tricking you into thinking you are
buying an organic mattress for your child.
Flame retardants, toxic adhesives, and pesticides: These
are only a few of the questionable additions you will find in
conventional mattresses. Many eco-minded parents choose an organic
mattress for their children to be sure they do not aspirate these
toxins. As environmental values become more mainstream, mattress
companies try to capitalize on this movement by labeling their products
as “eco-friendly.” Specious environmental claims run rampant in the
mattress industry. The following four claims about mattresses are often
associated with greenwashing.
1. “No PBDEs”: These flame retardants were ubiquitous in home furnishings
for many years but were found to be a neurodevelopmental toxin and cause
a slew of other health issues in humans. As of January 1, 2008, products
containing PBDEs could no longer be sold in the USA. They are also
restricted under the Stockholm Convention. So if the product you are
purchasing has been produced in the USA, you can be confident it does
not contain PBDEs and labeling it as such means they are just adhering
to the law.
2. “No Ozone-Depleters”: Chlorofluorocarbons are
onerous substances that are known to deplete the ozone. Like PBDEs,
these are already illegal in the USA and most other parts of the world.
3. “No Heavy Metals”: This claim is often made about the foams that many
couches, chairs, and mattresses contain. Foam, a light and fluffy
substance, rarely contains metals like lead and mercury. Lead is
something that you should be concerned about when purchasing an older
home, but it is not something you are likely to find in foams.
4. “Touting the environmental qualities of just one material used in a home
furnishing”:
Many products that claim to be eco-friendly actually contain only one
organic ingredient. While this is a step in the right direction, it
doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire product is
environmentally-friendly. Many so-called green mattresses are actually
conventional mattresses that have an organic cotton cover.
How does a consumer discern whether a home furnishing is
actually the most sustainable choice? Look for third party
certifications; these organizations test a finished product for key
environmental concerns. However, you cannot trust every certification
program. You must do your research ahead of time. Some of the most
trusted seals are USDA Organic, Greenguard Gold, and Eco-Institut. When
you purchase something with an environmental seal that you can trust,
you can feel good about your purchase for years to come.
Leslie Fischer is the founder of Sustainable Slumber, a
website dedicated to helping people get a good night’s sleep. She
reviews
organic
mattresses, writes about sleep, wellness, and eco living and is
on the hunt for
the
most comfortable mattress.
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