Hi Warder45,
Just to expand on my previous reply and to add to Jeff’s comments … I checked the Control Union website and they are still showing a current organic certification so it’s possible that they just haven’t updated their website (although it’s possible that the Control Union site also isn’t up to date).
Since they told me on the phone that their HeveaPUR mattresses were made with Talalay latex (which appears to be incorrect) … it’s certainly possible that their iChoice HeveaPUR mattresses are also made with Dunlop latex as well. Either way though … both Talalay and Dunlop are both high quality and durable materials.
Every layer and component in a mattress (including the cover and any quilting material) will have some effect on the feel and performance of every other layer and component in the mattress and on the mattress “as a whole” so while they may be in the same general category as some of the Dreamfoam mattresses … it’s unlikely they would have the same combination of materials with the same thickness and firmness levels for each of the layers.
Each mattress category can include hundreds of different mattresses with a very wide range of different designs, different “feels”, different characteristics, and different firmness levels. Every individual layer and component in a mattress (including the cover and any quilting material) will affect the feel and response of every other layer and component both above and below it and the mattress “as a whole” so each mattress category will generally include some mattresses that will be a good “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) and others that use the same type of materials and components and are in the same category may but have a different design or firmness level that may be completely unsuitable for you to sleep on … even if it uses the same general type of materials and components.
I would also keep in mind that ILD is only one of several variables or “specs” that will determine how soft or firm an individual layer or a mattress “as a whole” will feel to different people (see post #4 here). In addition to this the ILD of different materials or different types and blends of latex also aren’t always directly comparable to each other (see post #6 here) so using the ILD of a particular layer or combination of layers as a reliable indication of how any mattress will “feel” or how firm will feel to you compared to another mattress with a different combination of layers can sometimes be more misleading than helpful.
Specs such as ILD/IFD or other specifications that affect the firmness or feel of the mattress are also “comfort specs” and aren’t particularly important to know with a local purchase because with good testing your body will tell you what you need to know about whether a mattress is a good “match” for you in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP and complex combinations of “comfort specs” are much too complex to use as the basis for deciding whether a mattress will be suitable for you to sleep on.
While nobody can speak to how any specific mattress will “feel” for someone else or whether it will be a good “match” in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) because this is too subjective and relative to different body types, sleeping positions, and individual preferences, sensitivities, and circumstances and you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress … outside of PPP (which is the most important part of “value”), the next most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you can’t see or “feel” and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress depends on knowing the specifics of its construction and the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new so I would always make sure that you find out information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase.
If for any reason a retailer or manufacturer you are dealing with can’t easily provide you with all the information you need to know to make an informed choice and make sure that there are no lower quality materials or weak links that could be a reason for concern in terms of the durability or useful life of any mattress you are considering … I would avoid the mattress completely because it would be much too risky to purchase it.
Phoenix