Organic Pillows

Conventional Pillows

Avoid Conventional Pillows that can contain harmful chemicals, petroleum, toxic and unhealthy material, and consequently, they may have a chemical smell! 

The most common beds are made of memory foam  (flexible polyurethane foam), coils, or combinations of these materials.  Usually made with cheap and toxic foams like these: 

❌ Polyurethane Foam: this is the most common foam found in beds. These cheap, unhealthy foams are highly toxic, synthetic, polluting, and petroleum by-products, meaning they are derived from fossil fuels. Polyurethane is made from petroleum chemicals that can emit VOCs—harmful chemicals that can cause respiratory irritation or other health problems. Polyurethane is often mixed with other harmful compounds such as formaldehyde, boric acid, polyvinyl chloride, and other petrochemicals.

❌ Memory Foam: Memory foam (or viscoelastic foam) is another type of polyurethane foam with chemicals added to give it unique conforming properties. Both Memory foam and Flexible polyurethane foam are polyurethane foams. These cheap, unhealthy foams are petroleum products, meaning they are derived from fossil fuels.

❌ Polyester: another synthetic and petroleum product derived from fossil fuels. this foam is toxic and polluting.

Greenwashing Pillows 

Greenwashing is when a brand pretends to be organic, green, natural, or sustainable when it is not! Even if they say natural or even organic without a certification is hard to prove it! That’s why I don’t recommend any brands not disclosing or showing their Organic Certification. These certifications are very rigorous and expensive, so not many want to get through that or can pass their strict requirements!

They may use natural materials and they add controversial materials such as cooling gels, gel-filled, or Latex pillows mixed with other TOXIC ingredients, synthetic latex, or chemicals.

❌ Soybeans Foam: this foam is derived from conventional bean crops and is usually full of pesticides, so avoid that too. 

❌ Plant-based foam: typically produced with a small percentage of soybean oil or castor oil mixed with petroleum chemicals. It is often marketed as “environmentally friendly,” but plant-based foams emit VOCs just like polyurethane foam.

❌ Polyethylene foam: Polyethylene foam can contain fewer contaminants compared to polyurethane foam. It can be made from petroleum-based or bio-based ingredients

​The Best Organic Pillows

Here you will find the safest pillows on the market: Certified Organic Pillows made by responsible brands with organic, natural, and safer material. The best way to shop organic is to check the pillow’s certifications.

The Best Organic Pillow Certifications

✅ GOLS Certification: The Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) is a materials and processing standard for organic latex and finished latex foam. In addition to the use of organic raw material, this standard also concentrates on human health, safety and welfare, and the environment in the manufacturing process of organic latex products.

GOLS ensures that a mattress with latex is made of 95 percent organic latex, with restrictions on the other 5 percent of the mattress’s components. Certified Organic latex mattresses may have both GOTS and GOLS labels. The best certification for a latex foam mattress. 

 

 

GOLS logo, certified organic latex mattress

 

 

✅ GOTS Certification: The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world’s leading processing standard for organic textiles and fibers, including ecological and social criteria, backed by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. GOTS requires that at least 95 percent of the materials in the mattress be certified organic, and it prohibits outright the use of certain substances even for the other 5 percent, such as chemical flame retardants and polyurethane, the chief ingredient of memory foam. (This is for cotton, wool material used in the mattress)

 

 

GOTS logo, certified organic latex mattress

 

Additional certifications:

✅ UL/GREENGUARD: UL GREENGUARD Certification is a certification that less than 1% of all mattresses receive. It is a third-party certification program that tests for chemical emissions from consumer products and materials.

These mattresses are certified to meet the world’s most rigorous chemical emissions standards and are UL Environment GreenGuard Gold certified against PBDE Flame Retardants, Prohibited Phthalates, Mercury, Lead & Heavy Metals, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), 2-Methoxyethanol, Formaldehyde, Chloroform, Methylene, and 10,000 other harmful chemicals that can be found in traditional mattresses. These GreenGuard Gold-certified mattresses are tested and recertified every 90 days. GreenGuard Certificate

Greenguard requires testing of a finished mattress for specific emission limits of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds. The related Greenguard Gold has more stringent emission limits on the above VOCs. Formaldehyde Free Certified by UL Environment. That means the mattresses are scientifically tested for prolonged exposure in environmental chambers to meet rigorous emissions standards for chemical exposure and pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and phthalates.

 

greenguard logo

 

 

✅ Forest Stewardship Council® FSC Certified: The Forest Stewardship Council is an international organization that is dedicated to responsible forestry. They work to protect the environment and ecosystems within forests as well as the communities that surround and inhabit them. It not only works to protect water quality and prevent the loss of natural forest cover, but it also prohibits the use of hazardous chemicals in forests and protects the rights of local communities. Forest Stewardship Council® / Rainforest Alliance practices mission-based principles designed to promote health, limit environmental impact, and support social responsibility.

 

✅ Rainforest Alliance: The Rainforest Alliance is the most prestigious certifier of FSC forests. That little green frog assures consumers that workers and their families enjoy dignified, safe conditions and that wildlife and habitats have not been harmed. Rainforest Alliance Certified farms have met rigorous social and environmental standards. 

 

Rain Forest seal.png

 

 

✅ OCS100: The Organic Exchange OCS100 Certification Program ensures proper tracking of organic material from its source to the finished product. It refers only to the percentage of certified organic materials, not to the presence of flame retardants, VOCs, colorants, or dyes.

✅ Oeko-Tex Standard 100 doesn’t ensure that a mattress’s fiber is produced organically, it does set limits for the emission of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are linked to ozone, smog, respiratory illnesses, and memory impairment. It also bans the use of certain chemical flame retardants, colorants, and allergenic dyes.

 

 

oeko-tex logo

 

 

✅ MADE SAFE®: certifies products with a rigorous scientific screening process that only allows the use of ingredients that are not known or suspected to harm human health, animals, aquatic life, or ecosystems. 

 

 

made safe logo

 

✅ Cradle to Cradle Certified™

CertiPUR-US: The CertiPUR-US® seal is your assurance that the foam in your mattress has been tested and certified by an independent laboratory to meet specific criteria for physical performance, indoor emissions, and environmental stewardship. CertiPUR-US is a certification that verifies the Foam used in mattresses is free of ozone depleters, heavy metals, prohibited phthalates, BPDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), formaldehyde, and meets standards for low VOC emissions. CertiPUR-US Certificate applies only to the polyurethane foam in a mattress. While other standards, such as GOLS, bar this foam altogether, CertiPUR-US prohibits certain substances that are in many foams (such as polybrominated diphenyl ether, or PDBE, flame retardants) and requires testing for formaldehyde and other chemicals. If you see this label that means you are buying a synthetic foam mattress. So avoid that! 

The Best Organic Pillow Materials

✅ Certified Organic Cotton Fiber: organic fiber is the purest form of cotton and a healthier alternative to synthetic fabrics which are often treated with perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) plus various anti-bacterial biocidal treatments and even flame retardants. You’ll also love the feel of this silky-smooth fabric. It’s soft to the touch and easily conforms to your every curve.

 

✅ Certified Organic Latex: Well known for its comfortable pressure-point relieving qualities, latex is also one of the most breathable and temperature-neutral materials available. Best of all, it’s made from the sap of a rubber tree! Unlike synthetic and even all-natural blends, we only source our latex from reputable certified organic suppliers, ensuring purity, fair labor practices, and support for healthy farming to protect our planet’s latex forests. 

 

✅ PLA batting: PLA is a plant-based material and it is a high-performance fiber that is resilient and wicks moisture while offering a comfortable fluffiness. Naturepedic formulates its PLA exclusively from non-GMO sugarcane, which is then fermented in a process similar to making yogurt to create lactic acid (a naturally occurring material that gives the “tang” to yogurt and makes your muscles ache after a work-out). From lactic acid, a molecule called lactide is created. Water is then removed and it gets crystallized to create the high-performance polymer – polylactide (PLA). PLA is used in a variety of industries, including food packaging and medical supplies, and does not contain or off-gas harmful chemicals.

Certified Organic Latex Pillows 

🌿Organic Latex Foam is produced with latex harvested from organically grown rubber trees. It is made without the use of synthetic latex or fillers. Natural latex foam provides comfort, durability, and breathability. It is a plant-based material that naturally contours to your unique sleeping position while providing comfortable support. Additionally, organic latex has been shown to have a quicker recovery time, less motion transfer, and provide natural cooling properties. Certified Organic latex is the best foam option.

Latex foam comes in two versions:

​✅ Latex- Dunlop Foam: a mattress with an organic GOLS Certification means that it has the best foam around for a mattress. Note: Dunlop latex is denser than Talalay-latex.  Note: Dunlop latex is denser than Talalay-latex. Latex foam can be a healthier choice compared to polyurethane foam. Natural latex is a renewable material gathered from the sap of a rubber tree. Unlike polyurethane, latex is less likely to emit high levels of VOCs. It is also highly resistant to mold and dust mites and is more durable than petroleum-based foam. Look for a product that has 100 percent natural latex.

✅ Latex-Talalay Foam: made with natural rubber from trees. Talalay is softer and airier. There is no GOLS-certified Talalay foam but is still a natural choice, you can find Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Talalay Foam like in Savy Rest bed.

​The Best GOTS Certified Organic Pillows

All the pillows listed here are not only Certified Organic, but they carry the most certifications that a pillow can get. 

  • 🌿 GOLS Certified Organic Latex Pillows are soft as a cloud but they still provide just the right amount of lift for back, stomach, and side sleepers. Latex pillows are super-responsive and they deliver the perfect support and gentle contouring for the head and neck, promoting healthy spinal alignment for every type of sleeper.

  • 🌿 Latex Pillows won’t flatten out like conventional pillows,  they are designed to keep that plush-soft lofty support with its bounce-back effect to always retain its pillow form. Plus, they are resistant to mildew and dust mite. A good investment that will last you for years to come.

  • 🌿Latex Allergen-free, Pinhole Design for Cooling, Latex Cushioning, Toxic-Free, and Environmentally Friendly, and certified organic by the best institutions in the world. Sleep well throughout the night with peace of mind that you have the safest and best pillows on earth.

The Best Certified Organic Pillow Brands

Here are listed my favorite brands which are the safest, pioners, and most trusted mattress and pillow brands in the organic bed industry!

The Best Certified Organic Mattress Factories in the U.S.

There are only a few dually-certified Organic Mattress Factories in the U.S.

These five manufacturers’ factories exceed the most rigorous testing and certification standards in the mattress industry. They pride themselves on being certified Organic Mattress Factories by both GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) certifications and verified by Control Union®.

These five manufacturers’ factories are Certified GOTS & GOLS

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These two manufacturers’ factories are GOTS Certified

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​My favorite and number one GOTS Certified organic pillow brand recommendation is:

​🌿Naturepedic is considered the king, and pioneer in its field of safety, eco-responsibility, transparency, and quality! Not only the Naturepedic materials are factory-certified, but the entire finished product is certified as well.

 
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