A latex mattress is the only truly organic bed mattress. Despite their high price tag, sales of latex mattresses have shot through the roof in the past few years, for excellent reasons. Latex is 100 percent organic, and it’s naturally flame resistant and insect resistant, without the addition of potentially harmful chemicals. Not only that, but latex is every bit as comfortable as the popular visco elastic memory foam, minus the chemical stew found in this synthetic foam product.

100% Pure, Harvested by Hand

Many people think that latex rubber is a synthetic (man-made) material. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Latex comes from the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), a South American native that has found its way to plantations in Southeast Asia and Africa. Today, the biggest producer of latex rubber in the world is Malaysia.

The rubber tree is unique because it reacts to having its bark cut by secreting latex. Cultivation and collection is conducted carefully so the trees live a long time and put out rubber consistently over the years. The bark is scored in a spiral pattern with wire and taps are inserted so the latex drips into cups. Treating the rubber for commercial sale is done by hand using formic acid to coagulate it, following by pressing and drying for shipment. If done properly, rubber tree farming is a sustainable method of income production for developing countries, so it can be a green choice for consumers.

Who Buys Latex Mattresses?

Latex mattresses have been manufactured and sold for many years, but their mass popularity is a recent phenomenon that coincides with the public’s interest in organic foods and natural clothing fibers. Concerned parents make up a sizeable part of this buying demographic. Childhood allergies and asthma have steadily increased in the past two decades, and parents aren’t liking the answers they get when they ask what materials go into the mattress their child sleeps on—if they can get any answers at all. Crib mattresses make up a large segment of the latex mattress market, because babies are more sensitive to synthetic chemicals than adults, and they spend most of their early lives sleeping. Adults with allergies and autoimmune illnesses, as well as general health concerns, also buy latex bedding.

Advantages of a Latex Mattress

Latex has:

• natural resistance to dust mites and mildew
• natural hypo-allergenic properties
• natural flame resistance
• no confusion over what materials and chemicals were used in manufacturing
• organic materials and manufacturing
• may be harvested from organically grown rubber trees

Pricing and Money-Savings Compromises

Make no mistake: latex mattresses are expensive. If you go with a no compromise organic mattress, you’re looking at a minimum of $400 for a crib mattress. Twin size latex mattresses start at $1,250; full size at $1,600; queen at $1,900; and king at $2,200. The best quality king size latex mattress runs $3,000.

If all this seems a bit much for your bank account, there are alternatives. Many people opt for a latex mattress topper, which goes over a conventional mattress and acts as shield between the synthetic fibers and chemicals, and your body. These cost a more reasonable $700 or so, depending on the size. For babies, a “wrap-around” mattress consisting of a latex core for softness, wrapped up in organic cotton and wool fibers, are available, but their pricing is similar to the all-latex models.

The Ultimate in Comfortable Sleep

Many users report that latex is comparable to a visco elastic foam mattress in comfort. Both materials react to the human body by wrapping around its contours instead of simply compressing like a conventional mattress does. However, latex is far less sensitive to body temperature than memory foam is, so you don’t have to wait for your bed to warm up before it starts to compress.

The biggest difference between latex and other mattress materials is that there’s no need to add flame retardant chemicals and insect repellents. In many states, health regulations make it illegal to sell a synthetic mattresses without these additives. Although science hasn’t proven 100 percent that these chemicals are harmless, studies are still in progress, so somebody thinks it’s enough of a concern to commit money to research on it. Most people’s concerns center around the fact that we spend eight hours a night in bed, up close and personal with these chemicals.

If you can deal with the price tag, a latex mattress is an eco-friendly, comfortable, and very safe bedding choice.