Organic foods, household cleaners, and cosmetics are more popular than ever—for good reason. They’re free from the toxins, harsh chemicals, and GMOs that have no place in our homes. So why would bedding be any different? We spend one-third of our lives in bed, yet so many bedding brands use toxic chemicals when making their products. That’s because it’s the easier choice: synthetic pesticides make cotton grow faster, formaldehyde minimizes wrinkles, chemical dyes are cheaper than natural ones…the list goes on.
But we take an entirely different approach. From day one, we’ve made bedding the right way, not the easy way. Our organic cotton is grown without any pesticides. We use toxin-free processes from start to finish. We create vivid colors without toxic dyes. These uncompromising standards are better for the planet, workforce, and, of course, our customers—offering a better night’s sleep in the natural, unmatched softness of 100% organic cotton.
Why You Should Avoid Toxic Bedding
It sounds obvious on the surface, but finding non-toxic bedding is harder than you think—because the bedding industry is, in itself, a toxic place. Many manufacturers make bedding in the fastest and cheapest way possible, giving little consideration to the impact it has on the environment, the quality of the product, or the people who use them.
For starters, most bedding brands use conventional cotton grown with synthetic pesticides. This wards off pests and speeds up the growth process, but not without consequence. Synthetic pesticides and insecticides have (time and time again) been linked to acute health effects like skin irritation, and life-threatening ailments like asthma, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. The environmental impact of pesticides is just as daunting—destroying fertile land with soil contamination, killing native plants and wildlife, and emitting greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide.
While many companies turn a blind eye to these atrocities, we face them head-on. Instead of using harsh chemicals to ward off pests, we plant marigolds around our organic cotton fields. These flowers deter insects and animals without destroying their natural habitat or putting farmers in danger of pesticide exposure. Instead of making wrinkle-resistant fabrics with chemicals like formaldehyde, we offer simple tips—like shaking out your sheets between washing and drying—to make our natural fabrics look incredible. Instead of using colorants like AZO dyes, which can be carcinogenic, we use gentle, non-toxic dyes that are all GOTS Certified.
In the end, our organic cotton takes twice as long to grow as conventional cotton does with synthetic pesticides. Our finishing processes are much more considered, prioritizing the health and safety of everyone involved. And our non-toxic bedding feels better in every way, with a rich quality and natural softness you’ll only find with 100% organic cotton.
Certifications for Non-Toxic Bedding
Currently, the USDA doesn’t have much regulation when it comes to toxic chemicals in bedding. So checking for certifications is the only way to truly know what you and your family are sleeping in. Here are the two most important certifications to look for, granted by third-party organizations using the highest level of scrutiny:
1. GOTS Certification
This stands for the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which tracks each step of the manufacturing process to ensure the product meets organic textile standards (no pesticides, harsh chemicals, or GMOs). This covers everything from the harvesting of raw materials to the labels used on final products. It also ensures that the product was made in a socially responsible way, by adults earning fair wages in safe working conditions.
2. STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®
OEKO-TEX®, which stands for the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile Ecology, is an organization that tests consumer goods, in all stages of production, for chemicals that are harmful to humans. They make sure that each and every textile component, from tiny cotton fibers to buttons and zippers, are free from harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and harsh dyes.
How to Choose Toxin-Free Bedding
You shouldn’t buy the first sheet set that catches your eye. You should take some time to look at the quality of materials and how the bedding was made. After all, you’ll be sleeping in these fabrics every single night. Here are a few things you should look for when shopping for bedding—and a few you should avoid.
Things to look for…
- Bedding made with a single organic material, like 100% organic cotton.
- Certifications like GOTS and OEKO-TEX®.
- Commitments to sustainability. Look at what the brand has accomplished in the past and what their goals are for the future.
Things to avoid…
- Bedding with no certifications.
- Synthetic fabrics
- Blended fibers/fabrics.
- Wrinkle-resistant, shrinkage-free, and anti-static bedding, usually treated with chemicals like formaldehyde.
- Chemicals like bleach and AZO dyes.
Our Commitment to Toxin-Free Bedding
From the very beginning, we’ve been committed to using the finest organic materials. Every product, from our sheet and duvet sets to our bath towels, is made without pesticides, harsh chemicals, or GMOs. It’s 100% traceable from farm to finish, so you know you’re sleeping in the very best. Toxin-free bedding is the better choice for our people, the planet, and you—so it’s the only choice for us.