Hi. I read a lot of the articles here. Really informative site. Thanks for doing this.
There’s just such a vast amount of variety, selection and confusion out there. Truly overwhelming.
Anyway, I’m in need of serious help. I live overseas and in my country, there are ZERO options for natural, organic and healthy sleeping products. I am currently making a healthy lifestyle change including diet and changing as many daily products to natural alternatives. First up is out with the old bed and to get something new with no harmful chemicals, flame retardants etc. but everything is only online because I’m over here far away and there is little to no health-conscious community here - so it’s just so much more difficult. And if I order I can NOT afford any mistakes because shipping, import customs etc. is very high and there would be no way to return, so therefore I am very wary to do as much research beforehand in order to make the PERFECT decision!
Anyway, I decided to try to go for a Dunlop latex 3-layer which I understand is the best bet for someone looking for flexible comfort options in a natural/organic alternative to conventional mattresses (unless someone here can recommend something else that I haven’t heard of??). After a little research I coincidentally found this company -DIY NATURAL BEDDING - and they seem to be totally honest and believing personally/ideologically as well in their products much beyond the norm. Decent prices and exceptionally fantastic customer service.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website styrene butadiene latex.
At the moment, I’m planning on ordering 3 layers (“slabs”/toppers etc.) of their 3" thick “natural/organic” Dunlop latex along with an organic cotton ticking as a DIY kit. (Queen size just for me—I’m 6’ 0" tall, 170 lbs).
My biggest issue is the latex - because it’s tricky to understand and believe what it’s all about. Reminding you that I am EXTREMELY stubborn to get the most natural/organic option out there. They claim their product is GOLS certified ORGANIC Dunlop Latex from the Arpico group in Sri Lanka. I just want to be 1000% sure with what I’m getting and that it’s what I truly want and need.
in your opinion, is this truly the best option out there for the healthiest latex mattress for the home?
I also found a site www.latexmattressfactory.com which is having a crazy sale right now, offering the same 3 latex “toppers” for what comes out to 50% cheaper!!! (about $500.00 LESS) than the DIY Natural Bedding company AND they offer free shipping (DIY is another $250 for shipping) BUT…they say their latex is N-A-T-U-R-A-L but NOT Organic and from the Latex Green company, NOT Arpico. Sorry to say, but I’m honestly much more interested at the moment in saving a whopping 50% and hundreds of dollars off the cost than feeling good about having a possibly worthless certification sticker and worrying about things like unrealistically saving the planet — you know, whether the rubber trees in Asia, from which the latex was extracted, will be turned into a chair in another 50 years vs. just being chopped down and burned, how it was shipped to the port or how much the workers were paid. (sorry about the insensitivity). What is right!!!
See DIY’s article here: Our Manufacturer Memberships :: The Mattress Underground
Also a good read:
Heveya® SingaporeIf you're looking for a mattress made from natural materials, a latex mattress is a fantastic choice. Besides being a natural material, a latex mattress also delivers optimal comfort from its inherent springiness. You have probably noticed...
so if you can say with 100% confidence that both company’s products are EXACTLY the same and that the health benefits of both company’s products are EXACTLY the same-then obviously I would go with the cheaper option. I just need an expert’s opinion.
Thanks so much.
For more information, please visit Styrene-Butadiene Rubber vs Styrene-Butadiene Latex.
JK
Starting in the 1980’s I worked with Englander to develop a line of two-sided, flippable latex mattresses. They made them for our store exclusively. At the time of writing this we had 13 different Englander, 6 Natura and 6 from Organic Mattress, Inc. For the past 30+ years we have been specializing in latex eco friendly mattresses. It is “as close to perfect” for a mattress material I’ve found. For most of those years other retailers either didn’t carry latex or had one or two models. We carried 25. In the last few years that has changed. Therefore, the inevitable cheapening of the product has begun. Rather than maintaining the highest level of presentation, retailers create cheaper and cheaper products. They cut corners to hit price points. Most of these corners should not be cut. Here is what is happening:
Retailers want to jump on the “green” bandwagon. They represent everything as eco, green or natural; even if it is mostly petroleum based synthetics. There are no enforceable standards for what is “natural” or “green”.
Many “latex” mattresses are being made using synthetic rubber. It is known as polystyrene butadiene or styrene butadiene (SBR). Often stores will present this as natural rubber (yes, petroleum is presented as a natural product).
Is a plastic foam. It is roughly 15-20% soy oil, and the remainder is from petroleum. Presented as a natural material by some, it is once again, petroleum being sold as a natural product.
The latest ruse is to present mattresses with an inch or two of SBR latex laminated to polyurethane foam (or “soy foam”) as being a natural latex mattress. This loses almost all the benefit of latex.
Manufacturers manipulate comparisons between synthetic latex and 100% botanical latex. It is done in an effort to present styrene butadiene rubber as comparable or even better than real rubber. They conduct tests at a ridiculous and unrealistic 158 degrees (Fahrenheit) in order to have it perform better than botanical latex. When compared at room temperature, botanical latex excels.
Inevitably, when shopping for latex mattresses you will run into discussions about Talalay and Dunlop rubber. This argument is a diversion from what the rubber is made of, tree rubber or petrochemicals. If the latex is pure botanical rubber, then either process can be good. We have found the Dunlop process, botanical latex, works best for the support cores. While, Talalay process rubber is okay for use as a cushioning top layer. The differences are not minor, however, and both can hold up pretty well. Both can provide good comfort. However, in our store we have experienced a difference in consistency over time. People kept our Talalay core mattresses 5-7 years. Dunlop core mattresses average over 15 years. Therefore we keep latex eco friendly.
So, as it is in many products, it is buyer beware. A knowledgeable consumer is a good consumer. When shopping for latex be aware of the fog of misinformation.
Jeff Garfield
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