You spend a third of your life in bed, so it stands to reason that you want to be sleeping on the purest, most chemical-free bedding you can find.

Have you ever been bombarded with allergy sensitivity, asthma attacks, or even more troubling medical conditions, and wondered why?

Sometimes these conditions are caused simply by spending time inside.
The interior of our home is often a more toxic and unnatural environment than what we encounter outside because many of the things that fill our homes constantly circulate harmful and invasive toxins.

Since our non-waking hours—quite a chunk of the day—are spent in bed, it’s especially important to take steps toward minimizing the level of toxicity in our bedding.

You may be thinking, Who can afford organic, green bedding options?

Since organic bedding comes without the host of pesticide-smothered fibres, toxic coatings, and dust-collecting qualities, the question is—can you really afford not to?

A conventional mattress may last you for a long time—5–10 years—and during that time, your moisture-trapping polyurethane foam cushioning accumulates its fair share of dust mites, mold, and other allergens.
Your mattress also continues to release toxic fumes into the air of your nighttime haven.

A mix of glues, solvents, fire retardants, and other treatments introduce an arsenal of pesticides, formaldehyde, and other heavy toxins with suspected carcinogenic effects, such as PDBEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) and styrene—a powerful carcinogen found in most carpeting.
Remember, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.

The organic mattress options are antibacterial, antifungal (resistant to molds and mildews), fire retardant, moisture-wicking, and long lasting.

• All-Natural Latex.

Synthetic latex is a petroleum product so if you go all natural with this foam rubber option, it can be a solid investment, literally.
Latex is much denser than other materials, and the size of holes positioned uniformly throughout determines how well the material conforms to and supports your body.
Beware—many natural/synthetic latex blends have been chemically treated and are deceptively advertised as "all natural."

• Wool.

Organic wool is so naturally fire retardant that most organizations do not require it to be chemically treated. In a non-organic process, sheep are dipped in pesticides and given synthetic hormones, while those in an organic process are not.
Pure organic wool-filled mattresses are relatively scarce on the market right now, but they are available.

• Sheets.

Most sheets owe their nice, smooth quality to a wrinkle-free formaldehyde finish that adheres to fibres and acts as a sealant.
These finishes cannot be washed out and they are attributed to a wide range of harmful effects, from birth defects to cancer.
Many people report aggravated respiratory functions, headaches, rashes, and sleep pattern disturbances in connection with the bed linens that comes close to their skin.
Imagine if you could improve the quality of your sleep and the quality of your life by a simple switch of sheets . .

When purchasing bed linens made from alternative fibres, you’ll note that many product labels—such as those on modal products—direct you to wash them in cold water.
We wash conventional sheet sets in hot water to kill collected bacteria, but many of our green options come with inherent antibacterial and antifungal properties, negating the need to heat dirt and moisture out of them.

• Bamboo.

We know it’s one of the strongest "grasses" in the great outdoors, but who knew bamboo had a softer side?
Durable, antibacterial, and antimicrobial bamboo-based sheets are rated as softer, more moisture-absorbent, and quicker drying than cotton. 100% bamboo sheets are available if you look, and bamboo/cotton blends are sold online and by well-known national chain stores—usually these contain approximately 60% cotton and 40% bamboo.

• Modal.

This fiber is derived from the beechwood tree and is currently harvested only from plantation forests in the EU under strict sustainable foresting standards.
Modal is not only a sustainable, pesticide-free fiber—stats confirm it’s significantly more absorbent than cotton.
These extremely soft, silky, and stretchy green bed linens are available online and at well-known national chain stores.

• Organic Percale.

Percale is very smooth, closely woven cotton.
Though cotton is the most heavily sprayed crop, organically grown cotton is not sprayed with pesticides or herbicides and organic cotton sheets are processed without chemicals and resins.
A similar, albeit more costly cloth option, is linen—a soft, vegetable fiber from the flax plant.

The selection and care of pillows is especially important because these are kept close to your face as you sleep.

• Hemp.

Hemp is a sustainable option that offers firm loft—a pillow’s ability to retain its shape and air content.

• Kapok.

This tropical tree species native to West Africa and the Americas is an ultra-sustainable option because of its quick-growth replenishment—it’s often used as a replacement for down.
Natural seed fibres provide a soft, antibacterial filling. The industry provides jobs for indigenous local populations.

• Organic Buckwheat.

Loosely-packed hulls allow for optimal conformity and support for your body. Loose packing helps the circulation of air, which minimizes mildew.

• Organic, Fair Trade Cotton.

Very dense when packed, cotton compresses so it provides a firmer feel than wool does—cotton tends to retain its shape rather than springing back.
Much of the fair trade cotton on the market now bears the FairTrade certification mark, it became the first non-food commodity to be labeled.

• Organic Wool.

Organic wool pillows come in a variety of densities and its moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating properties preserve a comfortable microclimate around the head.
Over time, wool compresses to about 1/2 its size, but the fiber’s durable resilience will have it springing back up.