you are going to Sleep on mattresses for about 23 years of your life (on average), so it makes sense to think carefully about what you lie on. Unfortunately, mattresses often contain questionable materials. Everything from formaldehyde and TCEP (flame retardants) to phthalates can end up in inorganic mattresses. How these materials affect you has not been scientifically settled, but one way to avoid potential harm is to get a mattress made from natural and organic materials. As a bonus, these mattresses are usually less harmful to the environment. Most eco-friendly mattresses are made from a blend of wool, natural latex, and cotton. The construction is similar to a traditional mattress but without the chemicals.
The members of the WIRED Gear team have been testing mattresses for several years, and we’ve slept on every mattress on this list. We’re always testing more, but this is our favorite right now. In general, we recommend hybrid mattresses that have individual coil springs, because they feel more supportive and have better airflow, so they don’t sleep as hot. All prices shown are for Queen-size models unless specified.
Updated April 2023: We’ve added several organic bedding options to complement your mattress and updated prices throughout.
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The Avocado Green hybrid mattress is the only mattress my wife and I approve of. She loves a soft mattress, and I prefer a firm one. This model is somehow able to be both without being too much. After nearly two years of sleeping on it, there is no sagging or other issues. Wired mattress contributor Jeffrey VanCamp tested avocados and liked them.
If you prefer a soft feel, there’s a pillow-top option, or you can add a mattress topper, like this luxurious (and sustainable) Alpaca fur mattress topper (see below). Avocado also sells a natural latex organic foam mattress without spring and a vegan hybrid model that doesn’t use wool, but we didn’t test those models.
The Green Avocado measures 11 inches thick and is made of organic latex, organic wool, and organic cotton. It is also not toxic. It contains no polyurethane, fire retardants, memory foam, or chemical adhesives, according to the company. Avocado owns its own sheep farms and latex farm and co-owns an organic latex processing facility, all in India. Mattresses are assembled in California.
There’s a one-year trial, a 25-year warranty, and free shipping on all Avocado mattresses. Like other box mattress options, the avocado arrives compressed. The company is also a Certified B Corporation that purchases enough offsets to be able to say it is operating as a carbon negative company.
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The Awara mattress is also made of latex foam, organic wool, and individually wrapped springs. It wasn’t as comfortable as the birch (see below), but it’s remarkably affordable. The Awara mattress is supportive and bouncy, but the springs can be felt more easily than other mattresses, while the edges are quite firm. (The top can help level things out.)
Awara’s one win was, according to WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe: Vacuum-sealed mattress unpacking as soon as it arrived resulted in very little odor—much less than other brands. There isn’t a lot of motion transfer, and the soft mattress fabric wasn’t too hot or too cold. For a hybrid mattress that’s easier on the budget, this is a solid choice.
My entire quest for an eco-friendly mattress began with my kids. I care a lot more about what they sleep on than I do. However, as much as I love the Avocado Green mattress, it’s not cheap. For my kids, I purchased the affordable Kiwi Mattress from My Green Mattress. Kiwi looks like an avocado. It’s a hybrid mattress with pocket springs and natural materials: certified organic cotton, wool, and latex.
One of the great touches that makes kiwis so attractive to kids is the two-sided cucumber. They cost a bit more but being able to flip them over extends their life, which is useful if your kids see the beds as being, in fact, trampolines in disguise.