What’s the Difference Between a Plush and Firm Mattress?

What’s the Difference Between a Plush and Firm Mattress?

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Keep Mattresses out of the Landfill

Article from Green Business Bureau:

Mattresses pose a serious problem when it comes to disposal. These large household products take up more than their fair share of space in landfills because they’re difficult to compact, clog machinery, and create large soft spaces that can turn into sinkholes after filling. The problem of mattress disposal can be confronted from two sides. The first is to recycle old mattresses, reusing their components to make new products. The other side of the equation involves purchasing organic/natural, biodegradable mattresses. For those in the hotel industry, understanding how to make smarter mattress purchase and recycling decisions can help positively impact green programs your organization may be undertaking.

MATTRESS RECYCLING

Mattresses are a complex product with numerous recyclable components. Mattress recycling programs deconstruct the bed, removing the materials that can be reused or repurposed. This process not only prevents the mattress from entering a landfill but also reduces the need to use more natural resources in product manufacturing.

Depending on the mattress type, the components that can be reused include:

  • Foam: The foam used in the comfort layer of the mattress can be compressed to make carpet padding, oil filters, mats, and upholstery stuffing.
  • Fabric: The exterior fabric, whether it’s natural or synthetic, can be shredded and made into other textiles.
  • Metal: Innerspring mattresses can have as much as 25 pounds of steel coils. Once removed, these coils can be melted down to make tools, construction materials, and auto parts.
  • Wood: The wooden frame of a box spring can be used in flooring or chipped to be used as mulch or compost.

Not all recycling facilities offer mattress recycling. Hotels are in a unique position, with the high number of mattresses they require, to develop mattress recycling programs within their local communities for their use and the use of community members.

BETTER MATTRESS CHOICES

The other side of mattress disposal is making wise purchasing choices. Everyone from private consumers to large hotel chains can make purchasing decisions that protect the environment. While there’s not a mattress available on the market today that will completely break down without a trace, there are 95 percent biodegradable mattress options.

NATURAL LATEX MATTRESSES

Natural latex mattresses begin as sap from a rubber tree. Through one of two manufacturing processes, that sap eventually becomes a natural latex mattress. Of the two processes, Dunlop and Talalay, Dunlop latex mattresses are the most biodegradable and won’t create sinkholes in a landfill. These mattresses come with a high price tag, and they will still be composed of anywhere from 5-40 percent synthetic latex.

NATURAL AND ORGANIC MATTRESS OPTIONS

If an expensive natural latex mattress is out of your budget, there are hybrid latex/innerspring mattresses that are highly biodegradable, but don’t carry such a hefty price tag.  In this case, keep an eye out for eco-friendly components like:

  • Plant-based polyfoam
  • Plant-based memory foam
  • Organic fibers in the cover like cotton or wool
  • Wool, cotton, thistle, or Kevlar fire socks

CERTIFICATIONS

Because there are no regulations or standards for what constitutes a “green” mattress, you’ll need to look for certifications from organizations that monitor environmental impact rather than trusting a “natural” or “organic” listing on a sales tag. A few certifications to watch for include:

Taking the time to recycle old mattresses and research your next mattress purchase are both great ways to keep mattresses out of landfills. For an example of a hotel that is currently undertaking a mattress recycling program, check out this recent article on Hilton’s recycling initiative.

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Author Bio:

Rick Blanchard is an expert on sleep product materials and manufacturing for BestMattressReviews.com. His research covers the entire life cycle of mattresses and bedding, including production, wear over time, and disposal. Rick lives in Tarrytown, New York.

The facts about a Savvy Rest Mattress featured at Natural Mattress VT

Savvy FAQs (And Our Answers)

Natural versus Synthetic Latex

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC LATEX

Many people are perplexed to learn that not all latex is created equal. There is a natural form of latex and synthetic.  As a matter of fact, there is a world of difference between natural latex and synthetic latex.

Natural latex is manufactured from sap tapped from rubber trees, then it is either vulcanized (Dunlop method) or frozen, then vulcanized (Talalay method.) I don’t want to get too involved in which method is better, because it’s hugely dependent upon the processing facility and a number of other factors.

The point is, natural latex is an incredibly resilient and durable, clean and supportive material. It is resistant to dust mites, anti-microbial, antifungal, and hypo-allergenic.

The important thing to remember when considering a product made of natural latex is purity – what is the percentage of pure natural latex vs fillers or synthetic material. Look for certification by an independent laboratory such as Oeko-Tex, which tests for chemicals and toxins in the finished product. The Oeko-Tex stamp of approval will attest to the cleanliness and purity of the product.

Some manufacturers add fillers (most commonly clays, calcium oxide, or titanium dioxide) to the natural latex to make it go further (imagine taking one gallon of milk and diluting it with water to create two gallons of milk). While the finished product will be less expensive, the addition of fillers ultimately makes the latex less durable and more apt to rapid breakdown. Here’s where the consumer needs to be very vigilant…the fact is that natural latex with additives such as those listed above can technically still be called “natural latex”.

Synthetic latex (aka polyurethane foam/memory foam) is made of petroleum by-products, sometimes actually mixed with natural latex.

Again, that’s where you have to be careful. There are many manufacturers who tout their product as “natural latex”, when in fact it’s actually a blend of natural AND synthetic. Interestingly, Dunlop and Talalay latex can be either natural or synthetic. Needless to say, Caveat emptor — do your research.

Synthetic latex, being chemically based, has a tendency to break down more quickly than natural latex. If you’ve ever had a warranty issue with a mattress, you’ll understand immediately. Have you ever had a body impression in your mattress measured by your friendly local mattress salesman and told that it’s “normal wear and tear?”

Create a Healthier Non Toxic Sleep Environment

CREATE A HEALTHIER, NON-TOXIC SLEEP ENVIRONMENT

 

Purchasing an organic mattress and/or bedding is a very sensible purchase. As humans we spend 1/3 of our life sleeping. The fact is, our bodies are continuously breathing and absorbing whatever chemicals are used in the products we sleep on. There is growing concern that many of these chemicals widely used in conventional mattresses may be harmful to our health. When you purchase an organic mattress or organic bedding, you’ll be eliminating the hazardous chemicals from your bedroom and creating a healthier, non-toxic sleep environment. A comfortable night sleep is important, but a comfortable, healthy and safe night sleep is essential. BENEFITS OF ORGANICWhen you purchase an organic mattress or organic bedding products, you’ll be eliminating the hazardous chemicals from your bedroom and creating a healthier, non-toxic sleep environment. Purchasing an organic mattress and bedding is not only an investment in a comfortable night sleep, but its also an investment in your overall health and wellness.The great thing about organic mattresses is that there’s no loss or downgrade in comfort or safety vs a conventional mattress.

Organic mattresses are made using the same techniques and as their non-organic rivals, but without the harmful chemicals associated with conventional mattresses. The highest quality organic materials and craftsmanship are present in all products represented at the Natural Mattress Company. The only thing you’ll be losing is the toxicity and potential adverse health risks that conventional mattresses provide.

https://naturalmattressvt.com/brand/ergovea/

DRAWBACKS OF NON-ORGANIC

Over the last few decades, natural mattress materials have been replaced with petroleum-based synthetics. Nearly all mattresses in use today contain polyurethane foam, vinyl (PVC), phthalates, formaldehyde, chemical fire retardants or barriers, and an extensive list of added industrial chemicals, many of which have been untested and approved by our Federal Government.

Natural mattress materials have been replaced with petroleum-based synthetics.

Recent professional studies have questioned the use of these materials. The proven effects of these materials is still unknown, mostly because tracking their long term effects is virtually impossible. The problem with these hazardous and toxic chemicals making their way into our mattresses and bedding is that our bodies are continuously breathing and absorbing whatever chemicals are used in the products we sleep on. Even if we are absorbing these chemicals in low doses, the fact is we spend over 1/3 of our time as humans sleeping, this is a significant amount of time to allow our bodies such close and extended exposure to potentially harmful materials.