Organic Living - Creating your Green Bedroom

Trying to live a healthy and environmentally friendly life can be pretty tiring. There are so many little details in life to keep track of, so making sure that you are doing the 'green' thing requires an awful lot of attention to detail. Sometimes you have to prioritise the most important things in life. The bedroom is definitely 'up there' when it comes to day-to-day importance.

The average night's sleep is 7 to 8 hours, which will be the minimum amount of time we spend in the bedroom every day. If you take into account that many people use their bedroom as an office or space to relax during the day, we can end up spending over a third of the day in just that one room. A third of a day may not sound too much, but when you think of it as a third of your entire life, it makes you realise just how much time you spend in the bedroom.

Going green in the bedroom is, in a lot of ways, similar to the rest of the home. There are certain techniques, gadgets and purchases which work all over the house. However, mattresses and bedding are something which you are exposed to for the whole time you are asleep; this amount of exposure makes it essential that you have a chemical free sleeping environment and, with that, peace of mind. We've made a short list of what we think are the biggest changes you can make for a green, chemical free bedroom:

Low VOC Paint

Paint seems to have always had health issues surrounding it. We may not have to deal with the toxicity of lead paint anymore (it is now legally prohibited in any home paint products in the UK or U.S) but, unfortunately there is a new hazard in that paint industry in the form of VOCs. VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds are used to make most household paint and emit hazardous gasses, even after the paint has dried. Although VOC has the word 'Organic' in it, it is definitely the word 'Volatile' to which you should pay more attention.

Living a green lifestyle revolves around thinking about long term effects, rather than simply viewing everything in the short term. VOC paint is something which can cause illness through long term exposure, so you might not necessarily realise the harmful nature of the paint when it is first applied. These chemical compounds have been linked to cancer, kidney damage, liver damage and many other conditions.

To avoid these long term hazards, there are many alternatives to conventional high-VOC paint. You can actually get paint which is made using milk, eggs, flour and natural dye; this might seem a little too bizarre, but the paint seems to get constantly good reviews. The most popular option is a reduced VOC paint, which has chemical levels which are viewed as 'manageable' for the human body.

Organic Mattresses

The modern organic lifestyle is nothing like the 'hippy' lifestyle which some people might picture. Organic mattresses aren't just glorified straw sacks; they are luxury mattresses, which are made for comfort as well as health. Organic mattresses are one of the most overwhelmingly 'green' choices when it comes to creating a healthy sleeping environment. If a mattresses is certified by organic by either the Soil Association or the Global Organic Textile Standard, you can be sure that it contains none of the potentially harmful chemicals of its non-organic brother.

The most common type of organic mattress is probably a natural latex mattress. Natural latex is the pure sap from the rubber tree, frothed up into a latex foam, and expertly baked into what will become an organic mattress. It is generally viewed as the alternative to petroleum memory foam and synthetic latex; it is important to note that natural latex and synthetic latex are nearly entirely different. Memory foam has steadily become one of the most popular mattress types over the last 20 years, with most mattress stores displaying just as many memory foam mattresses as conventional pocket sprung mattresses.

Natural latex provides a similar level of supportive luxury, without any of synthetic chemicals used in memory foam or synthetic latex. Another area in which an organic mattress will limit exposure to chemical ingredients is the fire safety treatment. Many people have to submit themselves to the idea that chemical fire treatment is an unavoidable necessity, even for a natural or organic mattress. Organic mattresses absolutely do not need to be sprayed with chemical fire retardants in order to pass official fire safety regulations! Organic wool is a natural fire retardant which passes all official fire regulations, removing the need for a single synthetic chemical to be used in the manufacturing process.

Organic Cotton Bedding

Organic cotton is growing increasingly popular in the clothing market, especially with more small retailers able to sell their organic cotton clothing online. The benefits of of organic cotton are not only health benefit, but environmental also. The Soil Association and Global Organic Textile Standard are championing an initiative called 'cotton on' which is aimed at increasing the visibility of the organic cotton industry, as well as helping organic cotton farmers. With the organic cotton industry in such healthy fetter, it stands to reason that cotton bedding, which you are exposed to every night, should be the next logical thing to 'go organic'.

Organic cotton is entirely free of the pesticides which are used on ordinary cotton. 25% of all chemical pesticides are used on cotton, so it's quite a significant problem to avoid. Organic cotton also requires as much as half the water of chemically fertilised cotton, the growth of which is often chemically accelerated.

4 Living are one of the UK's only retailers of high quality organic certified mattresses and organic bedding for a green bedroom. They offer a number of different natural mattresses, providing a healthy alternative to memory foam ad synthetic latex. A selection are available to try in their East Sussex Mattress Showroom.

Natural Latex Mattresses vs Synthetic Memory Foam Mattresses

Natural Latex Mattresses are made using from the quality, non-toxic natural components you would expect, when you consider that we spend roughly 30% of our life in bed. A good, high quality mattress is tremendously important, but is frequently overlooked. A mattress is no longer just some springs encased in fabric, the technology and research as moved on a lot in recent years. A mattress can provide spinal support, regulate your temperature and moisture and specialize in different types of sleeper. A lot of high street retailers will advise you to replace your mattress every 5-7 years, but it is never particularly clear what the actual facts are. Surely it all depends on the mattress?

Natural latex mattresses, along with memory foam, are mattresses which provide comfort and luxury, without the use of traditional springs. Both natural latex and memory foam can be moderately expensive, but the idea is that you are making a long term, quality investment. Despite having a few similarities, natural latex mattresses and memory foam mattresses differ greatly.

Memory Foam (technically 'visco-elastic polyurethane foam') is a soft, yet dense material which has become a household name in the world of mattresses. Usually petroleum based, memory foam is made using a number of different chemical components. Needless to say, a synthetic memory foam mattress is non-organic. Most memory foam mattresses are completely non-organic, and will have cotton, wool and other fibres which have come into contact with potentially harmful chemicals.

Memory foam is is flammable by nature and, consequently requires a chemical treatment in order to meet fire regulation standards. One of the most common chemical fire treatment sprays, PBDE, has been found to bio accumulate, on a small scale, in fat tissue, blood and breast milk. The fact is, these chemicals are designed to stop the mattress burning, not for your personal health.

Natural latex, in an organic wool cover, doesn't require any chemical fire treatment as organic wool is a natural fire retardant, which passes all of the official fore safety regulations. Another benefit to organic wool are its natural temperature and moisture regulating qualities. A common criticism of memory foam is that it is prone to overheating and, although comfortable usually, can cause many a sleepless night

Memory foam mattresses vary greatly in price, and can be produced for much less than an organic natural latex mattress. Natural latex requires more expensive components, which have to go through extremely strict, organically certified, manufacturing processes. You could be forgiven for thinking that memory foam was the more healthy and environmentally friendly mattress because of the angle of its publicity. In actual fact, natural latex mattresses provide comfort, health benefits and are more eco-friendly.

A natural latex mattress (Buyer beware that it is 100% natural latex and not part or fully synthetic latex) is a mattress which uses latex which has not been mixed with chemicals, or grown using chemical pesticides and fertilisers. 100% natural latex mattresses are not not be confused with mattresses which have combined latex with some of the same petrochemicals used in memory foam. Natural latex does not go through the same chemical process that memory foam does; it is simply the sap from the rubber tree (hevea brasiliensis), frothed up, put in a specifically engineered mattress mold, and expertly baked into a mattress.

Organic mattresses, much like organic food, are becoming more and more popular as people start to realise the quality and health differences. Organic mattresses usually carry long warranties (10+ years), which removes the need to buy a new non-organic mattress every 5-7 years. The care and attention to detail required to make an organic mattress provides peace of mind when it comes to making a purchase.

Natural latex provides the core for the mattress, however natural latex mattresses also use other fabrics to add to the comfort of the mattress. The most common, and comparatively eco-friendly, material used is organic cotton. Non-organic cotton, despite being so common, is one of the most potentially hazardous plants to both your health and the environment. Roughly 25% of the world's chemical pesticides and insecticides are used on cotton. In their industrial, concentrated forms, a single teaspoon of these chemicals would be enough to kill an adult. Obviously the version of the chemical which eventually makes its way into retail-standard cotton is seriously diluted, but its worth noting the kind of substances which are involved.

The organic cotton used in natural latex mattresses benefits the environment, as well as your health. Non-organic cotton requires an incredible SIX pints of water to grow just one bud of cotton; it is amongst one of the thirstiest plants on the planet. An effect of this unbelievable water requirement leads to cotton plantations depriving the surrounding area of water and, as a result, destroying entire eco systems. Organic cotton, which hasn't been treated with chemical fertilisers, requires only half the water. The difference in water requirements means that the surrounding area maintains healthy and nutritious soil, sustaining wildlife and enabling other plants to grow alongside the cotton plantations.

4 Living are a retailer of high quality certified organic mattresses. All of their mattresses are made using organic materials, and are designed for comfort as well as health. You can try a number of their mattresses in their Sussex showroom, where their team of experts will happily answer any questions you may have.

Organic Cotton vs Non-Organic Cotton: The Facts

It's strange to think that only ten years ago, the organic grocery industry was only just gaining some form of recognition. It feels like 'going organic' has been an option for much longer than that. Everybody is aware of organic produce nowadays, and the whole organic 'green' lifestyle is a whole industry and way of living in it's own right.

We think about apples, spinach and coffee in a perfectly logical way; exposure to chemicals can't be a good thing. That mindset is exactly the right way to think. However, what we often don't consider is that anything with a natural source can be organic. The largest non-food product with which we come into with on a day-to-day basis is probably. Many people don't think of textiles in terms of organic/non-organic, but cotton is grown in the ground, just like any fruit or vegetable. In fact, cotton might just be one of the most chemically contaminated things on the planet.

The next logical step for the the organic generation is to really explore where else we might be exposed to the chemicals which we try to avoid in food.

Cotton is cotton, right? We wear it, lie on it, sit on it. What else is there to think about? Cotton is one of the biggest industries on the planet, dating back hundreds of years.

Cotton has, more than perhaps any other plant, an incredible history. During the American Civil War, the South even attempted to use cotton as a way of involving Britain and France! They believed that their cotton, farmed by slaves, was enough to draw Britain for fear of a shortage (Britain's industrial revolution heavily relied on the cotton trade). The South eventually lost it's battle and slavery was abolished, decimating the once of thriving economy of the South.

That, and many other countries growing and selling their own cotton, changed the cotton industry forever. There are now far too many countries relying on the cotton trade, churning out huge volumes quickly. This is where one of the biggest questions in the organic/non-organic debate arises: Are the chemical pesticides and fertilisers used on cotton harmless? Or would it simply be too expensive to admit they're not?

Chemical pesticides became especially prevalent during the US outbreak of boll weevils in the early to mid 1900s. Once the boll weevil situation was under control, the pesticide use did slightly decrease, but it set a precedent for global pesticide use. Cotton now accounts for a tremendous 25% of the global annual pesticide use.

The kind of chemicals which are used to make the pesticides used on cotton aren't the same as your everyday DIY store weed killers. Although it sounds pretty morbid, the chemicals used to make industrial pesticides such as aldicarb, are designed to kill the animals with which it comes into contact. Not only is aldicarb designed to kill these insects, it is designed to systematically paralyse them, preventing them from travelling any further. It would, of course, be absurd to suggest that pure forms of the pesticide can make it to your cotton bed sheets, but it is certainly unclear what traces remain. Aldicarb is still used to grow cotton in the US, the third largest supplier on cotton in the world. Certainly worth thinking about.

Organic cotton, needless to say, is not treated with an chemical pesticides, insecticides or fertilisers. Any farm caught using any form of chemical agent on their crops will instantly lose their licence from the Soil Association or the Global Textile Standard, the agencies responsible for the licensing and certification of organic cotton. The strict regulations for organic farming lead to numerous other benefits: There is a constant communication between regulators, manufacturers and farmers, ensuring the highest quality cotton. The strict guidelines also mean that every square inch of organic cotton has to be grown, woven and stitched with immense attention to detail, in order to avoid any chemical contact.

An area where cotton differs from non-organic fruit and vegetables, is that it actually has a significant impact on the environment. Cotton is amongst the thirstiest plants on earth, requiring an incredible amount of water to survive. A non-organic cotton plantation will require even more water, due to the growth acceleration caused by chemical fertilisers. Non-organic cotton plants can require up to six pints of water in order to grow one single cotton bud. The environmental impact of such water consumption is something to worry about. Cotton sucks up so much water and nutrients from the soil, that surrounding plants and wildlife simply can't survive. Organic cotton grows slower, making it more expensive, however far less thirsty. Organic cotton cosumes roughly half as much water, which is the difference between wiping out an entire eco-system, and living side-by-side with other plants and wildlife.

All of the organic cotton mattresses in 4 Living's range are made using an organic cotton certified by either the Soil Association or Global Organic Textile Standard. The mattress range includes organic pocket sprung mattresses, natural latex mattresses and a number of other certified organic materials. You can try their collection of organic mattresses in their showroom, where their mattress experts will be happy to answer any questions.