Most people don’t think about what’s in their mattress, much less how it’s made. The fact is, the vast majority of beds include wool, feathers, and sometimes harsh chemicals. Vegan mattresses offer an alternative way to sleep that’s free of chemicals and other toxins. Not only are vegan mattresses cruelty-free and environmentally friendly, but they can actually benefit your health.
If you’ve been searching for a vegan mattress, then you’ve probably noticed there aren’t a lot of options out there. It’s true. Right now, only a handful of environmentally friendly and vegan mattresses are available. To make your dream-bed search that much easier, we’ve pulled together a list of the best vegan mattresses. We’ve tested and researched each of the beds presented. All of the mattresses on this list are certified vegan beds.
What certifications should you look for when shopping for a vegan mattress?
Okay, you’re looking for a vegan mattress. And you’re flooded with a webpage full of eco-friendly mattresses. You’re not fooled; you know that eco-friendly and vegan don’t mean the same thing. To ensure you’re getting a real vegan mattress, you should keep a handful of third-party certifications in mind. There are more than what is listed; these are the most common.
We should note that some of the certifications on this list will also be on eco-friendly mattresses. But some are reserved for only vegan beds.
- GreenGuard Gold Certification –– A mattress with this certification has been tested and proven to have extremely low VOC levels.
- GOTS or Global Organic Textile Standard –– This textile certification ensures that the fabrics and textiles used in the mattress were made without toxic chemicals and dyes.
- GOTS Certified Organic Cotton and Wool –– As the name suggests, these two certifications ensure that the cotton and the wool in the mattress meet environmental and social responsibility standards.
- USDA Organic Certified Organic Cotton and Wool –– Another certification for wool and cotton. However, the USDA Organic certification is the most stringent organic standard.
- GOLS or Global Organic Latex Standard –– (organically grown natural rubber latex)
- PETA-approved Vegan –– If you see a PETA-approved vegan logo, then you know the product you are purchasing is truly vegan. Keep in mind that it isn’t on every vegan product on the market.
- Vegan Society Approved –– The Vegan Trademark ensures that the product is free from animal ingredients.
Why Should You Buy A Vegan Mattress?
Vegan mattresses can be better for your health
There isn’t a ton of regulations for what mattress manufacturers can use in their mattresses. Yes, third-party certifications require chemical levels to be below a certain threshold, but there isn’t much to ensure manufacturers disclose what’s in their beds.
Mattresses are known to release small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when triggered by your body heat. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that VOCs can be associated with health effects like eye, nose, throat irritation, and headaches. Keep in mind that research has suggested that the released levels are well below the amount needed to impact your health on a large scale.
Vegan mattresses do not contain wool, which not only they’re cruelty-free, but people with wool allergies don’t have to worry. Those living with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) don’t have to worry about vegan mattresses’ chemicals or potential allergens.
Common VOs found in conventional mattresses:
- Formaldehyde –– Yes, your read that right. Formaldehyde is used as an adhesive in mattresses. According to the EPA, it’s known to irritate your skin, throat, and nose.
- Boric acid –– Boric acid is a powder used to kill roaches and pests.
- Flame retardants –– No suprirse, but mattresses are flammable. Because of this, they are treated with a significant amount of flame retardants.
- Polyols –– Used to help bind polyurethane foams, most polyols are made from petroleum. However, some can be made from natural sources like soybeans.
For people who do not want any harmful chemicals in their lives, vegan mattresses offer an alternative way of sleeping. Vegan mattresses made from organic cotton and natural latex have almost no risk of chemical off-gassing.
Vegan mattresses help the environment
Besides the health advantages vegan mattresses offer, they’re also good for the environment. Sustainably sourced and manufactured means that the production of the mattress did not harm the environment from start to finish. The carbon footprint of the mattress industry is huge –– with foam and fillings, textiles, and metal being the main driving factors. Eco-friendly and vegan mattresses have smaller carbon footprints because of their sustainable materials and production means.
Also read: Eco-friendly mattress alternatives.
Eco-friendly mattresses are also easier to recycle. Landfills are overrun with old mattresses –– taking up 100 million cubic square feet in landfills every year. Most of the materials in mattresses can be recycled. Instead of petroleum-based products, some eco-friendly mattresses use PLA fiber, which is biodegradable plastic. It’s not non-toxic and degradable in industrial composting locations.
Resources like Earth911 or Bye Bye mattress can help you locate the nearest recycling center for your old mattress.
4 Best Vegan Mattresses
- Best Firm Vegan Mattress :Avocado Vegan MattressStarting at $899 Shop Now
- Best Budget Vegan Mattress :Nest Bedding QuailStarting at $499 Shop Now
- Best Flippable Vegan Mattress :Brentwood Home Crystal CoveStarting at $899 Shop Now
- Best Luxury Vegan Mattress :PlushBeds Natural BlissStarting at $2499 Shop Now
Compare the Best Vegan Mattresses
Best Firm Vegan Mattress
The Avocado Mattress is probably the most familiar vegan mattress brand out there. With hypoallergenic and antimicrobial properties, it’s not hard to see why. The foam used in the Avocado hybrid mattress is made by baking sap from rubber trees. It features Dunlop latex foam and organic latex foam and an organic cotton cover that’s button-tufted by hand.
The standard Avocado hybrid mattress is a truly firm bed best suited for back and stomach sleepers. You do have the option to add a pillow top, which brings it down to a medium-firm. That still might be a little too firm for some side sleepers. Avocado is not the type of mattress you go for if pressure relief is the top priority on your list. That’s why we think it’s the best firm vegan mattress out there.
Admittedly, the Avocado mattress is more expensive than the average bed. A queen costs around $1,499. The high quality and sustainably sourced materials are the reason it’s a bit more expensive. But if you’re someone who puts a lot of value on natural and organic materials, then it’s worth it. The Avocado hybrid mattress is a durable, long-lasting vegan mattress.
Avocado Hybrid mattress best features:
- It’s a truly firm mattress, which gives back and stomach sleepers the support they need.
- Avocado is the most well-known vegan mattress brand.
- The Avocado hybrid mattress is made from high-quality and sustainably sourced materials.
Best Budget Vegan Mattress
The Nest Love & Sleep mattress is CertiPUR-US certified, GreenGuard Gold certified, and is made without any chemical fire retardants. Love & Sleep is an all-foam mattress that comes in two firmness options: medium and firm. We’re suckers for beds that give you the option to choose your firmness option.
The queen Love & Sleep mattress retails for around $999. That’s an affordable price point for vegan mattresses, which is why it takes out the spot for the best budget vegan mattress on our list. Add that to the comfort and versatility, and you can see why it’s one of the best vegan beds out there.
The Love & Sleep bed features Nest’s Energex hybrid foam. This gives it a similar responsive feel as latex foam, just without the hefty price tag. This bed also has Nest’s Thermic Phase Change Cooling Fabric. This fabric is supposed to wick away heat and release it slowly if you get too cold at night. While we agree that the material might keep you from overheating, but we wouldn’t say it is cooling enough to be categorized as a cooling mattress.
Nest Love & Sleep mattress best features:
- It’s a budget-friendly mattress. Vegan mattresses aren’t exactly known for being cheap, so it’s a big plus for Nest Love & Sleep.
- You get to choose your firmness level –– medium and firm.
- The memory foam used has a similar springy feel to latex foam without costing as much.
Best Flippable Vegan Mattress
The Brentwood Home Crystal Cove mattress is PETA approved, completely vegan, and GREENGUARD Gold Certified. It takes our pick for the best flippable vegan mattress, thanks to its option of luxury plush and firm sides. We like the amount of versatility this bed offers; it really lets you decide which side is best suited for you.
The Crystal Cove bed is the type of mattress that’s good for people who want a vegan mattress but have no other preferences. It’s a really good starting place because a wide range of sleepers can sleep on it comfortably. It’s essentially a memory foam and latex foam mattress in one. You don’t get that type of versatility from other beds. Crystal Cove is a hybrid mattress, which means it has the durability and support needed for heavier body types.
A queen Crystal Cove mattress retails for around $1,295, which is relatively affordable for vegan mattresses. It’s not the cheapest you can find; however, it’s a really solid mattress that just about anyone can sleep on.
Crystal Cove Mattress best features:
- It’s a flippable mattress that offers two firmness levels –– Luxury plush (medium-soft) and Firm (medium-firm).
- Thanks to its hybrid design, the Crystal Cove bed has support and durability that all-foam alternatives just don’t have.
Best Luxury Vegan Mattress
If you’re someone who really values natural and organic construction and sustainable sourcing, Natural Bliss Mattress from PlushBeds should be on your list. Even with the high price tag, we think it’s worth the money.
PlushBed’s Natural Bliss Mattress takes our pick for the best luxury vegan mattresses. It carries a ton of certifications –– GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, GOTS Certified Organic Wool, and GreenGuard Gold Certified, just to name a few. Unlike most beds, the PlushBeds Natural Bliss mattress is available in a split queen. That’s unusual in the mattress industry. Most mattresses that offer a split option are only available in king and California king.
The Natural Bliss bed is available in two firmness levels –– medium and medium-firm –– so you get to choose the firmness level that best suits your preferences. The bed’s comfort layers are certified organic latex foam, giving the bed a nice bouncy feel. It’s not slow to respond like traditional memory foam, and it’s naturally temperature neutral.
We do have to mention the price. The PlushBeds is the most expensive mattress on the list ranging from $2,599 – $3,698. It’s not exactly affordable, but if you’re looking for a split vegan mattress and have no price limit, it’s worth it.
PlushBeds Natural Bliss mattress best features:
- Available in a split queen. This is a rarity in the mattress industry.
- The Natural Bliss bed has a ton of eco-friendly and vegan certifications, the most on the list.
- Made with certified organic latex that’s comfortable and responsive.
The Bottom Line
Vegan mattresses are a great way to lower your carbon footprint and make healthier choices. They are sourced in sustainable ways and are free of harsh chemicals or animals products. Unfortunately, they are not the cheapest mattresses in the world; however, there are beds available at several budget levels. Sleeping green isn’t out of reach for anyone.
Meta des: The fact is, the vast majority of beds include wool, feathers, and sometimes harsh chemicals. Vegan mattresses offer an alternative way to sleep that’s free of chemicals and other toxins. Not only are vegan mattresses cruelty-free and environmentally friendly, but they can actually benefit your health.
How We Test Mattresses
There are only a handful of true vegan mattresses available. Many are considered eco-friendly. However, vegan mattresses are free from all harmful chemicals, animal products and are made in a sustainable manner. Our favorite vegan mattresses are Avocado, PlushBeds Natural Bliss, Brentwood Home Crystal Cove, and Nest Love & Sleep.
On the surface, memory foam mattresses seem vegan. However, just because they are not derived from animal products does not mean they are considered vegan. It must also not include any chemicals that have been tested on animals. Vegan mattresses are also sustainably sourced and made in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible.
Yes, many of the best vegan mattresses are made from natural latex. Avocado mattresses, for instance, have natural latex foam layers that are made from boiled rubber tree sap. Cool, right?
Vegan mattresses are intentionally made. That’s why most mattresses on the market are not vegan. Most are made with materials like wool and feathers or use chemicals that have been tested on animals.
Why Trust Us
Get the kind of sleep you’ve only dreamed of with some help from our team of mattress experts. We personally test more than 150 of the best sleep solutions from over 60 leading brands on site, so you can be sure you’re getting unbiased reviews, fair comparisons and personalized recommendations.
