Certified organic mattresses are made of natural, organic materials that have been independently tested to meet standards. Not all “organic”mattresses are equal though. We’ve narrowed our search by sticking with companies that have certifications like the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOLS covers latex, which has a pretty complex manufacturing process that is not always the healthiest, but GOLS ensures that the finished results is as free of harmful substances as natural latex can be. See our more extensive explainer for more information on these certifications.
The GOTS certification covers everything from certified organic cotton to organic linen to other natural materials. It's similarly comprehensive, looking not just at how the cotton is grown and processed but also at ecological and social criteria, sustainability and more. It uses third parties to independently verify that standards are being met. If you're curious, you can read version 6 of the standard online.
While we especially like the big-picture approach of GOTS and GOLS, there are other certifications that test the finished product. The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, which, unlike the others, deals with the final product, making sure there’s no potentially toxic chemicals like the polyurethane foam, PFAS, heavy metals, flame retardants, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in many traditional memory foam toppers.
Another thing to look for is the Greenguard Gold certification and UL Environment's Formaldehyde Free label, which both certify that there are no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or formaldehyde in your mattress.
Some organic mattresses are also “needle-tufted.” This means the mattress is sewn rather than glued (assuming it's 100 percent needle-tufted). Since needle-tufted mattresses use no adhesives, you don't need to worry about VOCs.