Latex Mattress in Canada

[MFC]

Hi John667,

Thanks Mario. This video of a 50 year old latex mattress is something to watch, indeed, but what about loss of support over the years? Wouldn’t sleeping at the exact same spot night after night (and it’s worse for a side sleeper because of the pressure points) would make it too soft without good enough support even if the mattress is still looking not that bad? How much % of support would such a mattress lose after, let’s say, 10 to 15 years?

Yes, the dunlop latex will loose some support over the years, but you will still get over 20 years of use out of it. The advantage of our Presto customizable mattress is that each individual loose latex layer can be rotated and flipped, therefor increasing the support longevity of the mattress.

Yeah I think the cotton is not necessary, but from what the guy told me it helps because there shouldn’t be too much humidity on latex.

Did you notice that when they opened the 50 year old mattress it did not have a separate cotton lining encasing the latex core under the cover yet it still was in good condition and we can only imagine what that mattress has been through…Plus most organic dunlop latex mattresses are covered with cotton and wool, that does an amazing job at regulating humidity in the mattress. We suggest getting a quality mattress protector to cover the wool quilted organic cotton cover, and that will provide all the protection your mattress requires.

BTW, do you offer some warranty or something? Do you have a physical address? Price looks better than GreenSleep at Matelas Bonheur, but what if something goes wrong with the wool cover in 5 years. Would I be able to buy such a cover anywhere else?

Yes, our product is covered by a 25 year warranty from “Nature’s Embrace”. Our physical address can be found here There’s not much that can go wrong with the cover, but if ever you do get a mishap, its easy to buy a new cover from us, Nature’s Embrace or any other manufacturer of organic latex beds.

BTW, do you know the ILD difference between your Presto and GreenSleep mattress?

Ours is listed below but It should be the same as Greensleep
S 2" 20 ILD
S 2" 20 ILD
M 3" 30 ILD
F 4" 40 ILD

Do you think 2 X 2" soft layers on top could be a bit too plush if I want the mattress to last and if I need good support (even as a side sleeper)? I also need pressure relief, but I wonder if 4" of soft material wouldn’t be too much and create some problems for the back (sleeping like a banana). How to choose the right ILD? Would it be possible, for example with your Presto, to use (from top to bottom): 2" S, 2" M, 2" M and 4" F, with only one layer of soft and two mediums or is it mandatory to get 2 soft layers and only one medium? I know it’s easier to deal with a mattress that is a bit too firm than one that is a bit too soft… I’d like to find a way to know what the correct mix would be for me as I know just laying in the showroom isn’t that great a solution.

We’ve experimented with our Presto bed for 2 years, and the way it’s set up now with the 4" firm core, 2" medium and 2 x 2" soft is the most popular with our customers. You can always firm it up the bed by simply placing a softer layer under the firm core. The closer you place the core to your body, the firmer the feel. If you want to see how this is actually done, please scroll down this page and look at the 3 animated gif’s that show how it’s done.

Did I answer all your question?
Please let me know if you need any further information.
All the Best!

Mario

[John667]

Hi Mario, two more questions:

First one.

I asked GreenSleep for their mattress ILDs and here is their reply:

The only way to measure pure natural rubber is this way, it goes per firmness.

Soft Greensleep natural rubber is 65kg/m3
our medium is 70kg/m3
our firm is 85kg/m3

If you are quoted a different way to measure natural rubber, it isn’t pure and has been blended.

From what I now undestand, after somehttp://www.ergoflex-usa.com/ergoflex/377/What+does+the+ILD+rating+of+a+memory+foam+mattress+mean%3F research, it’s that ILD only apply to foam:

ILD stands for Indentation Load Deflection. In simple terms it is a measurement of how hard or soft a foam is. In more accurate terms it’s the number of pounds of pressure required to indent 4" of foam by 25% using a 50 square inch indentation. You may also see it referred to as the 25% ILD rating.

So how do you calculate the ILD of your layers and wouldn’t that mean that you don’t have pure latex but blended?

Second question:

I don’t understand how it would make sense to put a softer layer below a firm one. Does it mean if I buy the Presto I can’t have two medium layers and would absolutely have the two soft one? Wouldn’t it make sense to make it more customizable? I mean: it’s not a one size fits all from what I understand… Some people need more softness and others more firmness…

[MFC]

Hi John667,

The Presto was designed by MFC and is made exclusively by Nature’s Embrace.

Here are the details of their organic Dunlop latex firmness options:
SOFT = 20 ILD approx. 65 kg/m3
MEDIUM = 30 ILD approx. 75 kg/m3
FIRM = 40 ILD approx. 85 kg/m3

At the factory level they use both ILD and density to formulate the firmness. This is explained in detail by Nature’s Embrace in this article on The Science of Sleep

I don’t understand how it would make sense to put a softer layer below a firm one. Does it mean if I buy the Presto I can’t have two medium layers and would absolutely have the two soft one? Wouldn’t it make sense to make it more customizable? I mean: it’s not a one size fits all from what I understand… Some people need more softness and others more firmness…

By placing a softer layer below a firm one you are creating a new sleep surface. Some sleepers enjoy a firmer sleep surface with a little less support, which creates a softer pocket under the hips and shoulders and therefor reduces pressure points with a firmer sleep surface.
Yes, you can choose to have 2 x medium layers if you want, however in our experience, it’s better to have 2 x soft layers as this gives you more soft options. If ever you need to firm up the mattress, you simply move up the 4" firm core by placing the softer layers under it, and only use a 2" layer of soft or medium over the firm core.

So yes, the Presto offers 9 comfort and support options all in the same mattress. Please see the animated gif’s on this page that show you how to adjust the Organic dunlop customizable mattress from soft / medium / firm.

The advantage of a customizable mattress is that if ever you need to soften up the mattress even more, you can buy soft layers at cost for up to 1 year after your purchase. You can’t do this with a standard mattress.

So how do you calculate the ILD of your layers and wouldn’t that mean that you don’t have pure latex but blended?

The way we quote firmness has nothing to do with the fact that we only use pure organic latex. The reason is simple, our latex is GOLS certified:

The only way to guarantee a latex rubber is free of additives is through GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certification.

Under the GOLS content standard all latex rubber must:
1- Contain at least 95% organic latex content
2- Not contain any synthetic latex

In addition to the purity and performance standards GOLS standards also includes many other important health and social guidelines.

Some of the other important parameters included in the certification include:

VOC and harmful substance testing
forest stewardship practises
waste and pollution management
water management regulations
renewable energy requirements
living wage guidelines for workers
child labour is prohibited
When taken in totality, no other certification ensures you’re getting the full health and performance benefits that latex offers while protecting the health of our planet, workers and you.

Hope this helps you find the mattress that’s right for you!

all the best

[John667]

Thanks for the explanation as for ILD vs. kg/m.3

I really enjoyed the Greensleep mattress with only 2" soft on two layers of medium. I’m not sure if I understand correctly, but would it be possible to buy your Presto with 2 medium layers and only one soft layer? Would the price be the same?

It’s really difficult to buy on the net without trying. 2 X 2" soft can be too soft and 1 X 2" soft on 2 mediums might be too hard. I don’t know. However it seems to me that it’s easier to get more softness than to make a mattress harder.

[MFC]

Hi John667,

I really enjoyed the Greensleep mattress with only 2" soft on two layers of medium. I’m not sure if I understand correctly, but would it be possible to buy your Presto with 2 medium layers and only one soft layer? Would the price be the same?

Yes, we can make the Presto any way you like. If you want to get 2 medium layers the price would be the same. We can even make a replica of the one you liked from Greensleep.

It’s really difficult to buy on the net without trying. 2 X 2" soft can be too soft and 1 X 2" soft on 2 mediums might be too hard. I don’t know. However it seems to me that it’s easier to get more softness than to make a mattress harder.

It’s actually more difficult to make it softer, since you need to buy another soft layer, if the ones provided are not soft enough. To firm up the mattress all you need to do is move up the core.

All the best

[John667]

It’s actually more difficult to make it softer, since you need to buy another soft layer, if the ones provided are not soft enough. To firm up the mattress all you need to do is move up the core.

This is the part that I don’t understand. So far I used to believe that there is two important things : pressure relief and support and that you need softer layers up and firmer down. What would be the difference having the firm on top of soft vs. having only the firm one? I don’t see the point of putting the firm layer on top of soft layer. I’m sure there is a logical explanation but I don’t get it… yet.

[MFC]

Hi John667,

What I’m trying to explain is that it’s easier to firm up the Presto mattress than to make it softer. We send out the mattress with 2 x 2" layers of soft latex that are placed on top, placed over a 2" medium and 4" firm core. This is the softest arrangement with the current configuration of the loose latex layers. If for some reason you find that the mattress is not soft enough, you’ll need to purchase another 2" soft layer and replace the 2" medium layer, which will give you 6" of soft latex as a comfort layer. This scenario is quite extreme, and in the 3 years since we have sold the Presto organic only 2 customers have done this. Most people like a bit more support and are happy with the current configuration of the mattress.

Firm it up
However if you want to firm it up, you have 9 comfort and support options that you can choose by simply rearranging the layers and moving up the core as explained in a previous post. You could actually sleep on the 4" firm core if you wanted too, but for most that would be too hard. That’s why I say that it’s easier to firm it up than to make it softer.

Make sense?

[John667]

Yes, thanks, it makes sense to sleep on a firmer layer if I want a firmer mattress, but I just don’t understand (yet) what’s the difference between sleeping, let’s say, on a 4" firm layer alone vs. on a 4" firm layer on softer layers. I don’t see anyway softer layers below firm layers, but I’m a newbie so there must be a reason.

Anyway if I buy two medium layers that would solve the problem.

I think I still need to test or think about what is best for my needs. 2 soft layers and I fear my body wouldn’t be aligned enough (too soft) and 1 soft layer and maybe I wouldn’t have enough support. I know there is a study somewhere that says that trying isn’t better than pure science, but I’m not sure what to do.

[MFC]

Hi John667,

what’s the difference between sleeping, let’s say, on a 4" firm layer alone vs. on a 4" firm layer on softer layers.

There’s no difference, because the 4" firm core is predominant and will not be affected by a soft 2" layer underneath. However a 2" medium layer placed over a 2" soft layer will have a different feel, and may just right for certain sleepers.

Good luck in your search!

All the best
Mario

[John667]

Thanks

[Brewer]

Hi Mario,

I recently bought a 8" Maoli from you, received and setup with 3 nights in so far! First time for latex and the quality and support, both incredible, at an incredible price. Thank you!

A couple questions…

Support really is most incredible but I feel like I want the top to be a little more plush (so far, again only 3 days in) so I’ve been thinking about a soft 2" topper, Talalay perhaps? Or what do you think a 2" soft Dunlop would do for me? (knowing there’s already a 2" soft on the 6" firm core) I sleep all of the ways, more side and back I suppose.

I had a 3" Costco memory foam topper on my last very firm coil spring mattress. It was very plush, a bit more than wanted or needed and a bit too cradling but I slept on it for 6 years that way, it was fine but not supportive enough. I like the looks of your 2" 5 lb memory foam topper but I’d really prefer to stay away from the chemicals and all that at this point which is a lot of what led me to the natural latex in the beginning down the rabbit hole of study about 9 months ago.

I also feel like I should protect the mattress with a protector/cover/pad of some sort. The waterproof option seems like a really good idea, but is it really? I want reasonable price and quality but don’t want to effect mattress performance. I’m not worried about wetting the bed really (haha) but you never know what sort of accidents can happen.

I’ve been reading and studying up on toppers and protectors and am still confused. Maybe a pad that is the topper and protector in one?

Lost in Halifax, help!

[MFC]

Hi Brewer,

Support really is most incredible but I feel like I want the top to be a little more plush (so far, again only 3 days in) so I’ve been thinking about a soft 2" topper, Talalay perhaps? Or what do you think a 2" soft Dunlop would do for me? (knowing there’s already a 2" soft on the 6" firm core) I sleep all of the ways, more side and back I suppose.

Personally I would wait a few months before adding anything on the mattress. Our bodies take time to adjust to a new mattress, and since organic dunlop is one of the most supportive sleep surfaces, we need time to adjust to it. Later if you feel the need, I suggest getting 2" organic dunlop latex topper to help relieve pressure points. Talalay is also great, but make sure you get 100% natural (vita Talalay) if you want to keep sleeping on a all natural mattress. MFC who is an expert and site Member here has a collection of Toppers and the organic dunlop latex toppers are discounted for TMU consumer members.

I also feel like I should protect the mattress with a protector/cover/pad of some sort. The waterproof option seems like a really good idea, but is it really? I want reasonable price and quality but don’t want to effect mattress performance. I’m not worried about wetting the bed really (haha) but you never know what sort of accidents can happen.

We suggest the Merino Wool Mattress Protector It’s our best seller because it protects the mattress (ok for small spills) it regulates body temperature and humidity, and is machine washable.

Did I answer all your question?
Please let me know if you need any further information.

All the Best!
Mario

[Brewer]

Thank you for the advice and sharing of knowledge. I will certainly give it longer before grabbing a topper but will jump on a protector straight away. 6 nights deep - amazing mattress, feel the quality and support each night and morning. A world of difference from any other type of mattress I’ve used.

cheers

[MFC]

Hi Brewer,

I’m happy you’re pleased with your Maoli latex mattress. One more thing to remember is that latex does soften during the break in period, and the mattress will feel slightly softer in a few months.

Thank you for your confidence in our products.

All the best

[WhyIsMattressShoppin]

After so many hours looking on so many websites (and some in-store visits, but none of them had latex mattresses) I am finding shopping for a mattress way more difficult than it should be.

What is the most cost-effective way to buy a natural latex mattress in eastern Canada?

I am looking to buy a

• king-sized mattress
  and I am fairly certain I want one containing only
• natural latex (100% natural, but that should be obvious. marketing pollutes language),
• cotton or maybe bamboo, and
• maybe organic wool. (I’ve read that being as close as possible to the latex is better.)

I am a 165-lb stomach and back sleeper. My wife is a 125-lb side sleeper. As far as I can tell that means I should go for:

• medium or firm support on my side,
• medium support on her side, and
• maybe a soft layer on the entire top.

So far the best option seems to be a ‘Green Apple’ mattress from Naturelle. It has just 6 inches of latex, but we are not heavy, and (according to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji3zfNBvMA8) apparently people slept comfortably for decades on 6-inch latex mattresses. Also, after calling I confirmed that

• It does not have to be 6-inch-thick blocks, but can instead be two 3-inch layers and
• the mattress cover could accommodate an extra 2-inch layer (or maybe more) if we ended up needing to add thickness.
  It is listed for 1199 CAD, which makes it the lowest-price mattress that fits my criteria. They also have an 8-inch model, the Lavender, listed for 1699 CAD, which is lower than any other 8-inch model I have found. Even better, the latex is not just natural, it’s organic.

I did find some discussion on this website about problems with Naturelle, but I can’t see any reason to trust any seller over any other since in the end it looks like I have to do this at a distance (by internet or phone).

Please help!

[MFC]

Hi WhyIsMattressShoppingSoDifficult

[quote]and I am fairly certain I want one containing only

• natural latex (100% natural, but that should be obvious. marketing pollutes language),
• cotton or maybe bamboo, and
• maybe organic wool. (I’ve read that being as close as possible to the latex is better.)[/quote]

“Natural” is mostly used for Greenwashing. The word is thrown around to make you think you are buying something that is good for you. Tar sands and cyanide are also natural, but are they good for you?

Most 100% Natural Latex advertised, is a blend of natural rubber and synthetic latex aka “styrene butadiene rubber” (SBR) which are two petroleum-based chemicals, and each listed as VOC’s. To be sure your getting what you pay for, ask for the GOLS or ECO-Institut certifications, which tests for VOC’s, including styrene and butadiene. If either of these compounds are found in the latex sample, even in fraction amounts, it will fail and not receive the certification. A red flag should be considered if a company does not post their certificates online for you to inspect.

Did you know that cotton can be labeled as “Organic” even if it only contains 10% organic cotton! The remaining 90% can be polyester or other synthetic materials. When in doubt ask to see the actual GOTS organic cotton certificate. As for bamboo fiber, it’s no more “natural than rayon”

Wool is a wonderful product. It regulates temperature and humidity and is the finest flame retardant available. As for organic wool a key point to remember about the USDA and OTA organic wool designations: the organic certification extends only to livestock –it doesn’t cover the further processing of the raw wool source and Potentially harmful processing methods

[quote]I am a 165-lb stomach and back sleeper. My wife is a 125-lb side sleeper. As far as I can tell that means I should go for:

• medium or firm support on my side,
• medium support on her side, and
• maybe a soft layer on the entire top.[/quote]

The first question we ask our customers is have you ever tried an organic Dunlop mattress? We always suggest to our customers to try one first and see if you like the feel of this unique material. In our experience, 6" is great for back and stomach sleepers, but it’s not thick enough for side sleepers. Dunlop latex is dense and extremely supportive, we would suggest 8" as a minimum for side sleepers.

Even better, the latex is not just natural, it’s organic

They state that they are GOLS certified , however, no certification is posted and without actually viewing the certificate how can you be sure?
Next, they label their ECO-institut certificate with “Global Organic Latex Standard” which actually stands for the GOLS organic certification. This labeling can confuse the customer in thinking that this is an organic certification which in fact ECO-Instut is not an Organic certifier and furthermore this certification is expired.
Remember that there are no regulatory agencies that oversee the organic latex mattress market in Canada, so you must exercise due diligence when shopping. Here is an example of what has been exposed in the past by TMU.

I did find some discussion on this website about problems with Naturelle, but I can’t see any reason to trust any seller over any other since in the end it looks like I have to do this at a distance (by internet or phone).

I’m sorry, but I don’t understand your statement. You come to this forum seeking advice on buying a “natural” mattress, and when presented with cautious advice from the moderator of the forum and previous customers you see no reason to not trust this seller? Wouldn’t you rather buy a mattress from a company with a long standing trustworthy reputation? Or are you simply looking to buy at the lowest price?

I understand that shopping for a “natural” mattress can be a confusing, frustrating and that the information can be overwhelming. Yes, authentic natural/organic mattresses do cost more than conventional mattresses, but if you figure the average cost per night for the comfort and quality you are getting, you’re looking at about $0.25 cents a night over a 20 year period. (most organic Dunlop latex mattress will last over 20 years)

We always suggest that our customers set their mattress budget to get the best Quality / Price ratio, because “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”

Here is a list in alphabetical order of Canadian organic latex mattress retailers(manufacturers) we recommend:

en.memoryfoamcomfort.ca (Trusted Member of this site)

Latex Mattress | Natural & Organic Latex Mattresses | Vancouver Store

Organic Latex Mattress Vancouver l Nature's Embrace Canada

obasan.ca
tmasc.ca [/indent]

Good luck in your search and please let me know what you decided to buy in the end,

all the best

[WhyIsMattressShoppin]

Hi. Thanks for the reply. One step closer to figuring this out.

[quote=“MFC” post=79325]“Natural” is mostly used for Greenwashing. The word is thrown around to make you think you are buying something that is good for you. Tar sands and cyanide are also natural, but are they good for you?

Most 100% Natural Latex advertised, is a blend of natural rubber and synthetic latex aka “styrene butadiene rubber” (SBR) which are two petroleum-based chemicals, and each listed as VOC’s.[/quote]

How in the world can petroleum-based chemicals be considered natural? That should just not be allowed. Marketing is out of control, and yes, apparently regulation is needed. If petro-chemicals are natural, then what would be considered unnatural?
Maybe a better question is: How can I buy a mattress that is entirely made from the sap of the rubber tree but that is not necessarily organic? Surely there exists such a thing. If a tree were sprayed with a chemical pesticide 10 years ago, its sap would then not be organic, but latex made from it alone would still be far, far better than any with SBR.

As for bamboo fiber, it’s no more “natural than rayon”

Good to know. I had no idea about bamboo materials other than that some may involve harsh chemicals in their processing.

Wool is a wonderful product. It regulates temperature and humidity and is the finest flame retardant available.

I am interested in how much wool can help keep latex in good condition (‘breathability’ etc.). I am not at all concerned, however, with my mattress being flame retardant. The ridiculous US requirement for mattresses to be flame retardant (leading to added harmful chemicals in most cases) is half the problem with the mattress industry, from what I can tell. A person would die of smoke inhalation long before the mattress caught on fire unless the mattress itself were the first thing to be set on fire…and I don’t plan to generate flame or handle extremely hot materials in the bedroom! Who would??

The first question we ask our customers is have you ever tried an organic Dunlop mattress? We always suggest to our customers to try one first and see if you like the feel of this unique material.

We’re back to square one. There seems to be no way to try a latex mattress where I am (Nova Scotia). If I spend much longer researching this industry maybe I should just open my own showroom.

In our experience, 6" is great for back and stomach sleepers, but it’s not thick enough for side sleepers. Dunlop latex is dense and extremely supportive, we would suggest 8" as a minimum for side sleepers.

Shouldn’t weight matter here? There must be some weight of person below which 6 inches is enough. …and again, it seems like 6-inch mattresses used to be common. (and again, I like the idea of adding 2 inches later if we find we need it.) I do appreciate the advice, though, and getting 8 inches at one time could be simpler.

[quote]They state that they are GOLS certified , however, no certification is posted and without actually viewing the certificate how can you be sure?
Next, they label their ECO-institut certificate with “Global Organic Latex Standard” which actually stands for the GOLS organic certification. This labeling can confuse the customer in thinking that this is an organic certification which in fact ECO-Instut is not an Organic certifier and furthermore this certification is expired.
Remember that there are no regulatory agencies that oversee the organic latex mattress market in Canada, so you must exercise due diligence when shopping. Here is an example of what has been exposed in the past by TMU.[/quote]
This is the kind of detail I can’t believe I have to dig into and wrap my head around just to not get burned. Thank you for the info. I still don’t understand how to check this for any seller, though. I do think I remember seeing that the Naturelle website mentions its certificates are available, but I don’t know how you found them.
Honestly, I find the certification paper trail thing to be difficult to follow. I wish I could just order a mattress, tear off a tiny piece of the latex while it’s still in the box on my doorstep and do chemical testing on it right then and there to actually see proof of it being natural (my meaning: all rubber tree) or not, and send it right back and ring the alarm bells (here, and anywhere else it makes sense to) if it isn’t!

I did find some discussion on this website about problems with Naturelle, but I can’t see any reason to trust any seller over any other since in the end it looks like I have to do this at a distance (by internet or phone).

I’m sorry, but I don’t understand your statement. You come to this forum seeking advice on buying a “natural” mattress, and when presented with cautious advice from the moderator of the forum and previous customers you see no reason to not trust this seller? Wouldn’t you rather buy a mattress from a company with a long standing trustworthy reputation? Or are you simply looking to buy at the lowest price

Please try a little harder to see it from my perspective. Since Naturelle looked like the best option, I went in search of feedback on the company, and I did find some worrying comments here but I found positive comments too. Here’s the important part: I then looked into one of the companies recommended on this site and again I found a mix of positive and negative feedback…on the BBB website, on yelp, etc. I have to say that detecting a ‘long-standing trustworthy reputation’ is not as easy as you make it out to be. I could imagine this site providing better feedback than some others, given its focus on mattresses, but it’s hard to discount the positive or negative about any company. I’m trying here. I do appreciate your advice of course. Is there a specific model you would recommend? Again I ask (paraphrased based on what you said about the word “natural”): What is the most cost-effective way to buy a latex mattress, with latex made only from rubber tree sap, in eastern Canada?

[MFC]

Hi WhyIsMattressShoppingSoDifficult,

How can I buy a mattress that is entirely made from the sap of the rubber tree but that is not necessarily organic? Surely there exists such a thing.

It must exist, but how do you know what you’re buying without a third party certification?

As far as I know, only GOLS test for synthetic latex
Under the GOLS content standard all latex rubber must:

1-Contain at least 95% organic rubber content
2- Not contain any synthetic latex

In addition to the purity and performance standards GOLS standards also includes many other important health and social guidelines. Some of the other important parameters included in the certification include:

VOC and harmful substance testing
forest stewardship practises
waste and pollution management
water management regulations
renewable energy requirements
living wage guidelines for workers
child labour is prohibited

There seems to be no way to try a latex mattress where I am (Nova Scotia).

Maybe contact https://www.naturelleorganicbeds.ca as they seem to have a warehouse in Nova Scotia as per their website (bottom of homepage).

This is the kind of detail I can’t believe I have to dig into and wrap my head around just to not get burned. Thank you for the info. I still don’t understand how to check this for any seller, though. I do think I remember seeing that the Naturelle website mentions its certificates are available, but I don’t know how you found them.

Like I said before: there are no regulatory agencies that oversee the organic latex mattress market in Canada, so you must exercise due diligence when shopping. It’s simple, trustworthy retailers / manufacturers will post their organic certification on their website for you to inspect. All the retailers we suggested in our previous post, do list their certifications online.
In the USA The Federal trade commission does oversee false advertising and charged 3 companies (1 Canadian) from advertising mattresses as free from VOC’s

What is the most cost-effective way to buy a latex mattress, with latex made only from rubber tree sap, in eastern Canada?

Look for GOLS certification retailers (make sure you view the actual up to date certificate), and do some comparative shopping with the retailers we suggested in our previous post.

Good luck in your search

[WhyIsMattressShoppin]

All the retailers we suggested in our previous post, do list their certifications online.

Thanks for this. It is actually extremely helpful to finally lay eyes on a certificate. I think I saw on Naturelle’s website that their certificates are available on request, but now I see it can be easier. I have also been looking at buying from Bio-Beds Plus, by the way, and I could not find anything about their certificate (especially for their in-house ‘Casuarina’ natural (100%, I think it said) latex mattress).

Looking at the Dormio certificates still leaves questions, though. If I am trying to be vigilant here (not accusing that specific seller of course):

1. How can I make sense of certificates that list some party I don’t know instead of the actual place selling the mattresses? (The Dormio certificates name some entity other than Dormio.) How do I know that is their supplier, and even if I did know that, how could I know if the mattress or mattress materials I would get would be one from that specific one and not a different, non-GOLS supplier?
2. IHow can I be sure that a give certificate is legitimate? (I’m sure I could doctor one in MS Paint in about 5 minutes.)

On that second point, the obvious answer to me is that a person should be able to go to the organization that doles out the GOLS certifications, and get from it a trustable list of certificate holders. Sadly on the website I found I could not find any such list or even way to inquire about a single seller.

So, even if I trust GOLS certification, I don’t know how to verify one for a given seller.

Also, specifically about Dormio,

1. I notice that they have a certificate for their organic latex (GOLS), but the also have a certificate for their non-organic 100% natural latex mattresses. It seems like whate you said earlier is that GOLS is the only certification that matters when it comes to latex (even with respect to it just being 100% natural). Is that the case here or is there some value in Dormio’s non-organic natural latex certificate?

Thanks again.

[WhyIsMattressShoppin]

Actually, in addition to my general mattress-shopping questions above, I am also specifically interested in a mattress sold my MFC: The Maoli.

The website seems to refer to the latex in it as natural, 100% natural, and organic in various places. I am guessing that if ‘organic’ appears at all it must be that, but I just wanted to make sure it is that. Actually, I did just find elsewhere on the site that the Maoli is GOLS-certified, so I guess that answers that (though as per my post above, I am not exactly sure what to make of the fact that the certificate is for “Signature Foam Private” and not “Memory Foam Comfort”.

The other question I had was the ‘why’ on tencel fabric being used in the mattress cover. I see that it’s not GOTS-certified, but that in itself might not be a problem. I just haven’t heard much about the material. Why tencel? Thanks.