Organic vs. Natural Latex Mattresses
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Environmentally-friendly latex mattresses have become hugely popular in recent years. As the market expands with more and more companies advertising their profits, the organic vs. natural latex mattress debate has unfolded.
Which rubber mattress is better?
Mattresses made of latex have been inspiring fierce loyalty in its owners for decades. As new technologies have developed, the latex mattress has become a serious contender for customers in the marketplace shared with memory foam and innerspring mattresses.
The new generation has touted for their eco-friendly properties, in addition to health benefits for the user. But when exploring a latex mattress for purchase, confusion can be the result of the information overload available to consumers.
What's the difference between organic and natural latex mattresses? For the U.S. Department of Agriculture there is a big difference.
There are currently very few options available for consumers who want a truly organic rubber mattress. The vast majority of available products are “100 percent Botanically Derived Natural Latex” or some variation of that verbiage.
When considering organic vs. natural latex mattresses, the difference comes in the use, or disuse, of fertilizers. Non-synthetic latex mattresses are derived from the milky sap of the rubber tree. The sap is siphoned from mature rubber trees via an artery under the bark.
The USDA mandates that, in order to be certified organic, no fertilizer is allowed to have been used on the rubber tree for at least four years prior to it being tapped for latex harvesting. In most latex harvesting, the trees are gradually weaned from fertilizers once they are self-sustaining and are being tapped for latex production.
For some people the extra dollars for a truly organic latex mattress are worth it. But for most, the minute differences don’t justify the added investment.
