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These days, it’s hard to tell if we’re losing sleep over the rain forest still being on fire; the smog wafting through our windows; that old, lumpy (definitely not eco-friendly) bedding from undergrad some of us are still using; or some eco-conscious nightmare combination of all three. A good night’s sleep might mean finding a solution for all of these unpleasant realities, as opposed to taking a melatonin, passing out, and forgetting about it. So say hello, or rather, good night to the assortment of eco-friendly (as in products that help conserve resources and/or prevent land pollution) bedding options on the market, which are both easier on the environment and comfortable enough to rely on for a good night’s rest.
Eco-friendly bedding is made with fabrics that boast benefits like moisture wicking and antibacterial properties and are, generally, easy to recycle. They’re fashioned through processes that use less water than traditional practices and don’t require harsh chemicals like pesticides or bleach or inexpensive and dangerous additives like microplastics. These pollutants can end up in our drinking water and soil, eventually infiltrating our bodies. When considering the pollution that comes with nylons and polyesters, it seems like a worthwhile switch to make, but where to begin?
Eco-Friendly Bedding 101
There are certain certifications you should look for when choosing between the variety of eco-friendly bedding options. Guidelines like the Global Organic Textile Standard, Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX, Cradle to Cradle, and Fair Trade give their individual stamps of approval on products, promising that they meet certain markers in order to be considered ethically sourced, organic, safe, and responsibly labeled. To achieve this, fabrics go through rigorous chemical testing, and companies are reviewed throughout the farming and manufacturing process.
Beyond that, companies like the Forest Stewardship Council and Better Cotton Initiative certify the sustainable sourcing of specific materials, like wood and cotton. Many companies practice eco-friendly production by choosing eco-friendly dyes, using less water, and reducing waste through methods like the closed-loop system. In a closed-loop production process, 99% of solvents, chemicals, and waste are recycled and used in the next crop of blankets, sheets, and comforters, limiting the effect that manufacturing has on the environment.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.
The Materials
Organic Cotton
Cotton bedding is probably most familiar to us—after all, it’s “the fabric of our lives.” And if that ad holds any truth, then organic cotton may be the fabric of our dreams. Just like regular cotton, the organic kind is breathable, inexpensive, readily available, and easy to care for, plus it naturally absorbs 25% of its weight in water. The biggest difference between regular old cotton and its organic sibling is in the guidelines manufacturers of organic cotton are required to follow.
In order to use the “organic” label, cotton must be produced without using chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides or genetic modifications which reduce its susceptibility to insects like bollworm. Fewer chemicals means less risk to the people and livestock who come in contact with them and fewer toxins seeping into water and soil.
The only remaining drawback is the huge quantity of water required to yield a healthy cotton crop which is, just as with regular cotton, 1,320 gallons for each pound of cotton produced. Still, organic cotton is rapidly growing in popularity. Chains like Target and Crate & Barrel all offer organic cotton options certified by GOTS, Oteko-Tex, or Fair Trade.
Organic Hemp & Organic Linen
Two more updated classic bedding fabrics are hemp and linen. They’re both stronger than cotton, with hemp being up to eight times stronger. When both fabrics are certified organic, they’re made from 100% natural fiber and manufactured in environments without harmful chemicals. Heavy chemicals are required to achieve bright white hemp sheets, but if buyers choose more natural colors, the impact on the environment is much smaller.
The production processes that these fabrics go through also mean that sleeping in hemp and linen doesn’t have to feel like sleeping inside of a canvas sack (but if you’ve ever owned a pair of linen pants, be prepared for expensive wrinkles). Hemp is hardly any different.
Tencel, Lyocell, Modal & Refibra
Tencel, Lyocell, or Modal by another cool, techy name (because sometimes you just need to reinvent yourself) is a fabric made from wood fibers from eucalyptus, birch, or beech trees. (Thankfully, it doesn’t feel like you’re sleeping between those sheets of paper you sit on at the doctor’s office, unless you’re into that sort of thing. No judgment!) Tencel manufacturer Lenzing AG describes the fabric as having a silky texture. It’s also moisture-wicking, antibacterial, shrink-resistant, and 50% more absorbent than cotton. In the case of Buffy’s eucalyptus sheets, the Tencel is fabricated in a closed-loop system.
In order to make these fabrics, natural, recyclable materials are chosen and processed so that more than 99% of solvents—water, and in the case of Tencel, organic chemicals—can also be recycled to process the next batch of raw material. What results is a textile that’s completely recyclable and has made a much smaller impact on the environment through its production. Because all Tencel fabrics are made the same way, it doesn't matter if you buy 100% Lyocell pillowcases from The Company Store or Bed Bath & Beyond. You're still creating less waste.
And since the fabric is growing in popularity, the price tag for Tencel sheets isn’t going to give you sticker shock. A queen set starts at about $70.
The only downside to Tencel fabrics is that some may feel a bit processed, so take the touch test before you buy. An alternative is Refibra, a hybrid of Tencel and recycled cotton scraps, which may have a more familiar feel.
Eucalyptus
For many of us, the mention of a duvet cover filled with eucalyptus calls to mind memories of grandmother’s potpourri bowl—fragrant and crunchy, certainly not something anyone would think of sleeping beneath. But according to manufacturers, eucalyptus fiber is downy, resistant to irritants like dust and mold, and naturally cooling. Eucalyptus plants also combat congestion, repel insects, and promote relaxation, so perhaps eucalyptus sheets will leave you waking up well rested with sinuses cleared of that smog that’s been drifting into your bedroom. But no one’s making any promises.
When it comes to the environment, organically grown eucalyptus plants have an even smaller impact than organically sourced cotton. An eucalyptus crop requires 10 times less water than cotton to grow, and because eucalyptus is cut and not uprooted, it continues to grow next season without new planting. Companies like Buffy are creating eucalyptus sheets and comforters in a closed-loop system that are Oeko-Tex and dyed with pomegranate, more eucalyptus, and tea, further reducing the environmental effect of bleach and chemical dyes. Due to the way it's manufactured, all eucalyptus bedding is technically Tencel, but not all Tencel is eucalyptus. Most products that are made of just eucalyptus will be branded as such, whereas Tencel can be made from a mix of fibers, but just to be on the safe side it's good to double-check!
There’s only one drawback. For eco-conscious sleepers who are also cost-conscious shoppers, the $200 price tag for a set of queen-size sheets or the $445 they would have to shell out for a duvet filler may be concerning. But don't fret. There's an eco-friendly option for everyone.
Now if you're playing plant word association and wondering about bamboo, here's the quick and not-so-dirty rundown: While bamboo is an eco-friendly resource, the process of making bamboo linen is not. More chemicals go into the production of bamboo sheets than of eucalyptus, so, cost permitting, opt for eucalyptus.
Organic Latex
Like so many other natural bedding materials, on its face, organic latex seems to be a bit of a paradox. Latex makes us think of rubber bands, gloves, even trendy red carpet dresses, not eco-friendly bedding.
Actually, the organic latex used in mattresses is made from certified rubber sap and poured into molds to make a firm foam that fills mattresses. The properties of organic latex make it naturally mold-, mildew-, bacteria-, and dust-resistant—a relief to anyone who has ever watched the late-night news investigations about all the different debris collecting in our mattresses, making us sick.
Organic latex mattresses aren’t incredibly expensive. Options at Avocado Green start around $1,000. Organic latex pillows are also hitting the market, offering up eco-friendly support for your weary head.
A Few More Tips
Why you might want to opt for an organic mattress…
First things first: We spend a third of our lives asleep, and we’re supposed to be replacing our mattresses every 10 years. This means that we’re constantly being exposed to whatever chemicals, or Sriracha chicken ramen stains, or microscopic bacteria that reside in our mattresses, year after year. Gross, but even grosser when we name some of those chemicals—polyurethane, formaldehyde, and petroleum-based compounds like styrene and butadiene. These chemicals have been reported to cause health problems from tumors to hearing loss and depression.
Why you might want to try recycled materials...
The benefit of recycled bedding is that it has no additional impact on the environment, but that doesn’t mean you have to sleep beneath Aunt Deborah’s 30-year-old floral comforter to be responsible.
Some eco-friendly bedding companies fill their comforters with polyester created from recycled water bottles, or create membership programs that allow members to upcycle their used bedding when they receive new products. And if that type of recycling isn’t hard-core enough, quilting is the ultimate recycling project. Urban Outfitters even sells quilts made from vintage fabrics.
We hope that this has taken some of the mystery out of shopping responsibly for your bedroom and you can rest easy knowing that you made an informed choice!
