Disclosure: In order to write this review, we were provided a mattress free of charge from Naturepedic. Prior assurances as to the nature of the review, whether positive or negative, were not given. The review reflects our honest, authentic opinions.

When Eco Child’s Play began in 2006, it was difficult to find eco-friendly home products for our family. Not only were we searching for green, natural toys, but we were also concerned about toxic chemicals, such as flame retardants, in our furniture. In that early search, I discovered Naturepedic organic mattresses, but they were out of our budget.

We slept on futons and found an all-organic wool one from Canada for the sidecar crib we used for co-sleeping. It took a lot of internet searching to find, and I had to sign a waiver because it did not contain flame retardants.

When we upgraded to real beds, I dreamed of purchasing a Naturepedic mattress. The company was an early pioneer in organic, eco-friendly mattresses. The natural and eco-friendly market has grown since then; however, Naturepedic continues to be a leader in defining what these terms should actually terms beyond marketing.

There are no regulations from the government that define what an “eco-friendly” mattress is, similar to the beauty industry, thus consumers have to do research and make choices. You have to decide what is important to you: no chemicals, fewer chemicals, zero waste, organically-grown materials, VOCs, corporate social responsibility, etc.

Often eco-friendly mattresses contain “organic”, “green”, or “eco” components. Sometimes it is as little as the top covering made from organically-grown cotton that is used to market a mattress as eco-friendly, yet it still contains toxic chemicals and materials. Naturpedic mattresses are different! They use organic, natural materials in every part.

What makes Naturpedic one of the greenest mattresses on the market?

organic ingredients

From luxurious fabrics to fluffy fill, Naturepedic uses organic cotton throughout its products. Organic wool is also used for its comfortable moisture wicking properties and splendid natural bounce. Organic latex provides pressure point relief and a smooth luxurious feel. Finally, organic cotton encased coils provide an amazing breathable support system. (Naturepedic is actually the only mattress company in the world producing organic cotton wrapped coils.) These sought after materials work together to create a symphony of comfort and offer an excellent alternative to traditional fabrics and foams.

what is an organic mattress?

Beyond organic ingredients, Naturpedic takes social responsibility seriously. Naturpedic mattresses are made by Amish people in Ohio who make a living wage and work in a clean environment. Even the factory is certified organic by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) meeting  “high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain” including “compliance with social criteria as well”

What truly makes Naturpedic stand out is that their entire product is certified GOTS!

Often mattress companies will claim they have GOTS certification for their components; however, they themselves may not have this rigorous authentication. It may simply be that their suppliers have earned this badge of eco-friendliness and not the mattress company itself.

Naturepedic has been certified by many outside organizations and holds themselves to stricter standards than required. All of these independent verifications further prove Naturepedic creates the healthiest mattresses on the market.

• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
• Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)
• Organic Exchange OCS100 Certification Program 
• MADE SAFE
• UL/GREENGUARD Gold Certification 
• UL formaldehyde-free standard.
• Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Chain of Custody for wood and packaging
• Green America and the Green Business Network

Let’s talk about flame retardants

90% of mattresses contain pounds of toxic flame retardants to meet federal safety guidelines; however, these chemicals pose a great risk to human health. Flame retardants are neurotoxins. They have been found in household dust, breastmilk, pets, and human blood.

There are safe alternatives to flame retardant chemicals that offer the same protections and meet safety requirements, and there is no law that requires the use of these toxic chemicals. In fact, the natural materials in Naturpedic mattresses themselves are slower to burn and safer than conventional, petroleum-based materials.

Ironically, even synthetic mattresses with flame retardants burn extremely hot once ignited. That’s because they’re essentially petroleum at their core. Escape times and the toxicity of the fumes can be drastically different for something as simple as materials, and may ultimately make the difference between life and death.

Fire Safety

The Naturepedic EOS Classic Mattress Review

We were sent an ERGONOMIC ORGANIC SLEEP (EOS) Cal King mattress. This customizable mattress comes in four boxes. They were best carried by two people upstairs.

When asked what configuration we wanted for our mattress, I was a little confused. It is recommended you go to a store and try out the different combinations, but that was not possible in my area. Fortunately, you have 90 days to swap out components for free, though you do have to pay shipping costs for the exchange.

I followed advice found on the Naturepedic blog on “How to choose a mattress comfort level”. It was a little hard to find this information but fortunately, the blog has a search bar.

Naturepedic’s comfort levels have been developed with the assistance of chiropractors to focus on proper spinal alignment and relief of pressure points. Our mattresses span four comfort categories: ultra-plush, plush, cushion-firm, and firm. For most people, cushion-firm is the best starting point. A cushion-firm mattress provides good support and enough comfort to provide pressure point relief and a softer surface. 

– Pay Attention to Posture: Your postural alignment is one of the most important indicators of mattress comfort over time. If your mattress is too firm, your hips and pelvis will be raised out of alignment with your spine. If your mattress is too soft, your hips will sink. You know your comfort level is just right when your hips and pelvis are in line with your spine.

Recently, my husband has been complaining about back pain and blamed our old mattress. I was searching for the right comfort level to give him support, also knowing that I prefer a firm mattress.

We chose medium latex over firm coils for EOS Classic Mattress.

The directions on how to put together the mattress were very clear. It took me about an hour, and I only broke one fingernail.

I’ve never had to assemble a mattress before and was worried I would not be able to align the components correctly. The boxes are clearly labeled telling you which one to open first.

The Encasement

The first layer is the encasement (#5 above) made of organic cotton fabric, organic cotton fill, solid brass zipper. At first, I put it on upside down but easily saw my mistake as the walls were upside down. You unzip the top of the encasement and lay it on your bed frame. The directions suggest that you roll up the top of the unzipped encasement, but I just laid it over the footboard of the bed.

The Coils

The next layer in the Naturpedic EOS Classic Mattress is the 8″ encased coils that include edge support and are wrapped in organic cotton fabric. These coils come in two boxes and are can be individualized for different comfort levels on either side of the bed.

glueless encased coils

Our encased coils are individually wrapped for full body-contouring comfort, isolation of movement, and balanced support for proper postural alignment. Also features full perimeter edge support. The coils add just the right amount of bounce while providing excellent breathability and heat dissipation. Made in-house without ANY glues or adhesives (a Naturepedic exclusive).

At first, I was concerned the coils coming in two sections would create a noticeable indentation in the middle of the bed; however, once the mattress is fully assembled, this does not occur. You do not notice the split at all.

The springs come fully compressed, and it is really cool how they expand once released from the plastic.

It’s important to set the first coils in as snuggly as you can to the far edge and corners. I made a mistake and had to do some readjusting when I added the second coils to the encasement. I also discovered you don’t have to be super particular either, as once it all gets zipped together it adjusts appropriately.

Latex Comfort Layer

The last layer before zipping the encasement back up is the 3″ organic latex comfort layer that is wrapped in organic cotton fabric. This comes in two parts, again for customizing, which again concerned me that you would feel a separation in the middle of the mattress. Amazingly, once you zip the quilt layer on, you cannot tell at all!

The comfort layers were easy to place upon the coils and took a little adjusting.

Known for its comfortable pressure-point relieving qualities, latex is also one of the most breathable and temperature neutral materials available. Best of all, it’s made from the sap of a rubber tree! Unlike synthetic and even all-natural blends, we only source our latex from reputable certified organic suppliers, ensuring purity, fair labor practices and support for healthy farming to protect our planet’s latex forests. 

After placing both comfort layers, the sturdy zipper of the encasement makes it easy to put it all into place. The top quilt layer, as previously mentioned, eliminates any feeling of the separation from the individual components below it. The quilt is made of organic cotton fabric, organic wool batting, and pla comfort layer.

The Plastic Waste

As much as I am impressed with Naturepedic’s certification, commitment to creating the most eco-friendly mattress, and the quality of their product, the amount of plastic the components are wrapped in is monumental.

Each part of the EOS comfort system is wrapped in multiple layers of plastic. This plastic is necessary for compression, which in turn does cut down transportation emissions; however, it is not recyclable where I live. I wish there was a way for less plastic to be used or for it to be sent back to Naturepedic for recycling.

The Sleep Experience

Upon the first night’s sleep, my husband’s back felt great, though he complained a bit that the new mattress was too firm for his shoulders. Upon the second night’s sleep, he had the best sleep he’d had in years with no back or shoulder pain.

Naturpedic recommends you try your mattress for 30 days before swapping out parts. For us, it took only two nights for our bodies to adjust.

The bed is supportive yet springy, yet you don’t feel the person next to you toss and turn. My husband is soo in love with this mattress, as am I! Every morning he says how well he slept, which is not usual for him.

It really does matter what you sleep on. Not only does quality and comfort matter, which is found in the more expensive mattresses, but the absence of toxic chemicals and safety is of utmost importance, as well.

The Naturepedic EOS Classic Mattress in the Cal King size retails for $3,599. It is customizable for the left and right sides. It comes with a 20-year warranty, so you know it is designed to last. This mattress is designed to be used without a box spring. Unlike other platform-style mattresses, it has a 12″ profile.

This is truly the nicest mattress I have ever slept on, eco-friendly or not. It supports and cushions perfectly, and from our experience, eliminates back pain. Naturepedic is a company I fully trust and commend for being truly eco-friendly. The company, from the very beginning, has consistently raised the bar of what it means to be green and provide a safe, natural sleep environment.