SAY
NO TO FOAM
Natural
latex mattresses are the healthier alternative to the ever-popular
memory foam mattress. Natural latex is a 100% natural material, where
as memory foam is made from synthetic petrochemicals. You sleep for
roughly a third of your life, so it's pretty important that you know
exactly what you are lying on. Memory foam is prone to overheating,
causing significant discomfort. Natural latex is a far more
breathable material.
Memory
foam (visco-elastic polyurethane foam) was originally made by NASA
researchers in order to improve seat safety. The first thing to not
is that memory foam wasn't designed for mattresses. Long term
exposure to its chemical ingredients was never considered when it was
first invented. The fact is, memory foam is an entirely man-made
substance, full of potentially hazardous chemicals. Memory foam has
only really been a big part of the mattress market since the mid to
late '90s, so it's impossible to tell what the long term health
implications of it are. Nobody has been lying on memory foam mattress
every night for the last 30 years; that's where the problem lies.
(excuse the pun!)
Natural
latex is simply the sap from the rubber tree. That's all! The sap is
extracted from the tree, put into a mattresses mould and baked at a
high temperature in order to create a natural latex mattress. Latex
itself serves no long term health risks and, partly due to the expert
techniques with which it is baked into a mattress, has a very long
life time. You can expect a natural latex mattress to last well over
30 years, barring any extreme conditions.
COTTON
ON
You'd
be hard pushed to find an organic mattress which isn't made using
organic cotton. Organic cotton is possibly the single most beneficial
piece of any organic mattress. It's not that organic cotton has
hidden healing properties, but more that it is free from all of the
chemicals which non-organic cotton comes into contact with.
Approximately 25% of the world's pesticides are used on the cotton
plants, making it one of the most chemical-heavy plants on the
planet.
Some
of the chemical pesticides used on cotton have been known to
exacerbate asthma, cause nausea and headaches. Aldicarb, an
incredibely strong chemical pesticide is used in the US, which is the
third biggest cotton producer in the world. A single teaspoon of
Aldicarb is enough kill an adult, if the skin comes into direct
contact. Of course, the pesticides used on cotton have been diluted,
but it isn't this something you want to avoid. These chemical are,
after all, designed to kill animals. It's not friendly stuff.
WOOL,
WOOL, WOOL
Just
like cotton and latex, organic wool is a very important part of the
overall composition of an organic mattress. A common problem with
mattresses and sofas is that they have to meet the strict criteria of
UK fire regulations. Fire regulations are, of course, in place for
the purpose of safety. However, that doesn't mean that your mattress
has to be sprayed with chemical fire retardants. Organic wool is a
natural fire retardant, and has passed all of the official UK fire
regulation tests. A mattress with a thin organic wool cover is the
only way to avoid the potent chemical sprays which cover most sofas
and mattresses.
When
you hear that a mattress is made using wool, your first thought might
be that it would be too warm for everyday use. Organic wool is
actually exceptionally good at regulating moisture and temperature.
The natural structure of wool will help to keep you warm in the
winter and cold in the summer, as well as adding to the luxury of the
mattress. Organic wool is great for anyone with allergies as it will
prevent their skin from overheating. The feeling of an organic wool
wrap (underneath a cotton cover) is very similar to the kind of feel
which conventional mattresses try to achieve with artificial fibres.
As well as regulating temperature and protecting from fire, organic
wool really does add to the comfort of a mattress.
MATERIAL
VALUE
As
well as natural latex, organic cotton and organic wool, a number of
other unique and innovative materials, fibres and fabrics are used.
These include organic rubberised coconut, organic mohair, organic
horse hair and wild silk. All of of these natural components will add
to the comfort of a mattress, giving your far more choice when it
comes to the particular feel of your mattress.
4Living are retailers of natural, organic mattresses with absolutely no chemical ingredients.
Their Welsh and German mattresses are all officially certified, and
are made from entirely natural fibres and materials.
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