100% FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS IN THE USA!

Frequently Asked Questions

Bio-Sleep Concept

Q. Manufacturing Process - How do you actually do it?

A. Unless stated otherwise all of Bio Sleep Concept's products are carefully hand crafted. Machines assist our manufacturing process but it is actually the human hand that does a majority of the work creating every one of our high-quality products.

Q. Where does your wool come from?

A. Bio Sleep Concept receives our wool from Natural Felt, a separate independent branch of the Bio Sleep Concept family. The bats of wool are created by carding wool from the Blackface Sheep breed, raised in the north west of the USA. The wool from this breed has a larger stable length fiber and undoubtedly makes the best filling for bedding articles. We personally visit each wool grower to assure that the wool comes from healthy sheep raised sustainably on managed lands. We also pay a premium for the best fleeces of their flocks from the collaborating growers; the fleece is cleaned and carded which produces the finest known woolen batting available. When you purchase a bio sleep concept futon, mattress, or wool article made with wool from natural felt, know you are assured that the following are true:

Earthsake

Q. Why is my mattress damp with sweat when I wake up?

A. Moisture control is one of the most important qualities of wool. Our bodies give off up to 1 pint of water vapor as perspiration during our night's sleep, and wool quickly and efficiently wicks it away. The natural wool fibers are very absorbent, so your mattress will not feel damp or clammy when you wake up. If your mattress feels that way, most likely your bedding is made from materials other than wool. Synthetic mattresses are extremely ineffective when it comes to wicking moisture away from our bodies.

Q. Why do I sometimes wake up clammy?

A. Initially, when lying down for our night’s sleep, we relish the warming properties of our comforter. Unfortunately, during the night, the area underneath the covers will often become uncomfortably warm. Due to the deficiencies in the breathability of down and synthetic fillers, our bodies can become overheated during sleep. We sweat to cool ourselves, but down and synthetics handle moisture inefficiently. Our body's natural reaction to this hot, damp environment is to kick off some of the covers in an attempt to quickly cool down. The shock in temperature will often cause us to wake up feeling clammy. Try a wool comforter as a solution to this problem: wool is valued both for its ability to regulate body temperature (keeping you warm In the winter and cool in the summer) and for its high absorbency, keeping you dry throughout the night.

Q. Why do I sometimes feel sore or achy when I wake up?

A. Body soreness can often be caused by uneven pressure points in your mattress. Because mattresses compress and shape over time, it is not uncommon for uncomfortable points or ridges to emerge. In addition to this, the height or firmness of your pillow could also be a problem. Sleeping is really a custom job, and it's important to have a pillow suited to your body and sleeping style. If your mattress has become a problem, consider purchasing one of Earthsake's Natural Mattresses... or our Natural Bedroom mattress pad utilizing PureGrow Wool(TM) is a great solution.

Q. It seems like I'm sleeping ok at night. Why am I tired during the day?

A. The most restful period of sleep is sub-REM sleep, the time prior to rapid eye movement. If is very important for deep-tissue relaxation and overall rejuvenation; without it, you'll find yourself tossing and turning more. The end result will be fatigue the next day. Inadequate sub-REM sleep is most often caused by high humidity or heat underneath the covers. If either of these levels is too high, heart rate and blood pressure rise, resulting in shallow sleep. Wool comforters and wool mattress pads, with their superior ability to handle excess moisture and heat can help you achieve a more restful sleep.

Q. Has your mattress become lumpy, or formed to your body's shape?

A. Mattresses wear out, due to sagging springs, flattened filling and most of all, use over time. After sleeping on your mattress for a few years, it will often begin to conform to the shape of your body. This might sound desirable, but actually it is quite the opposite. Ridges develop, limiting the area on your bed in which you can comfortably sleep. Partners will be separated by a sizeable ridge in the middle of the bed, reputed to be an extremely negative development in the teachings of Feng Shui. Earthsake mattresses utilize a heavy-duty coiled innerspring and layered filling to keep pressure points from developing. They are handmade with superior craftsmanship to ensure against premature lumps or ridges, and our phenomenal latex mattress serves you ergonomically as well. We guarantee you won't find healthier, sturdier, more comfortable mattresses anywhere. Our mattresses are warranted for a minimum of 10 years.

Gotcha Covered

Q. Do your sheets wrinkle?

A. Anything made of 100% cotton - from bedding to clothing - WILL have some wrinkling. It's unavoidable. "Wrinkle free cotton" requires harsh chemicals which wash out eventually causing the wrinkles to return. A couple of suggestions to REDUCE wrinkling is to 1) never over stuff the dryer 2) dry on medium or low heat 3) remove immediately after the drying cycle is completed 4) use a "wrinkle guard" dryer setting if available.

Q. Does higher thread count mean better quality? 

A. Simply put, no. Thread count is relative to the WEIGHT of the fabric, not the quality. Thread count perception is commonly used as a marketing ploy to charge inflated prices. Quality is determined by the construction of the fabric. "Ply" is where some thread count confusion lies. The number of yarns entwined into a single yarn make up the "ply". The most common types of ply found in most bed sheets are single-ply and two-ply. Single-ply fabrics use one yarn, while materials with two-ply consist of two yarns entwined. The ply of the sheet fabric may mean the difference between a stated 250 and 500 thread count — with the 250 coming from single-ply and the larger 500 coming from two-ply. However, counting the entwined two-ply yarn as double the thread count is misleading, as it just means the yarns are more twisted together, not softer or improve the feel of the fabric. At Gotcha Covered, we proudly only use single-ply and true thread counts in long staple yarns for the softest hand.

Q. Is your cotton pre-shrunk?

A. Our 100% cotton sheeting is NOT preshrunk. We cut our bedding to allow for the expected shrinkage. Count on approximately 5% when following washing instructions. Pre-shrinking cotton requires chemicals which we like keeping to a minimum.

Q. What's the differnece between SPLIT HEAD & SPLIT?

A. Split HEAD (or Split Top) Beds are only split approximately 34" from the HEAD -- or TOP -- of the mattress. Our split head bedding is designed specifically for these special mattresses.

Split Beds are two individual adjustable mattresses that can operate independently but are together to form one bed. Our split bedding always has two fitteds, one for each mattress.

Q. Why aren't your organic sheets offered in colors? 

A. Our organic philosophy: keep it simple. The cotton is scoured with hot water. That's it. As with most natural products, natural cotton fabric will have slight imperfections or "flecks" which are pieces of the cotton pod deposited during production. Don't worry, you can't feel them at all, in fact they are a nice reminder that the fabric is undyed and natural.

While "low-impact dyes" sound great, and will withstand the rigours of laundering, they are synthetic and petro-chemical based. "Natural dyes" also sound great, but still require mordants (chemicals) to be affixed to fabrics and are not colorfast (can fade quickly).

Q. Why GOTS Certification? 

A. Organic certification assures the buyer what they are buying and adds credibility to the final product. With all the interest and demand now for organic bedding, there's a lot of misinformation and bogus promises of organic products.

Holy Lamb Organics

Q. Does the fabric have any type of sizing or chemical finish on it?

A. No way, there is no chemical sizing or finish used on any of our fabrics. This is in contrast to the harsh chemicals used in finishing conventional fabric that you would find, for example, on textiles in a fabric store.

Q. Will my bedding compress and how much?

A. Some wool bedding products may naturally settle with the weight and the heat of your body.

For example, if you take a wool batting pillow and press your pillow between your hands (this mimics the weight of your head) this is how much the pillow will settle over time from the weight and heat of your body. This process may take a few months. However, the Woolly “Down” pillow (filled with small wool puffs), will settle less than regular wool batting pillows.

Settling is not an issue for comforters. For toppers, there may be a slight nesting effect, but it does not change the amount of comfort it provides in bed. In fact, we receive more comments about what a difference our toppers make in our customer's experience than any of our other products.

Q. Is it true that wool comforters lower your heart rate when you sleep?

A. Yes! According to two studies at the Polytechnic Institute of Wales and the Hohenstein Institute in Germany, scientists discovered that the human subjects who used a wool comforter were not only kept drier by wool’s moisture wicking properties, but were amazed that their subject’s heart rates were lowered indicating a more restful deeper sleep.

Conversely, those with other fibers had a higher heart rate than those under the wool comforters.

Q. Are there chemicals in any of your products?

A. No way! Our wool has no chemicals added nor has it gone through any chemical treatments.

Our fabrics have no added chemicals nor have they gone through any chemical process. Our mattresses do not have any flame retardant chemicals added to them as required by law because they are naturally flame retardant and pass all of the fire tests. Our facility is also a chemical and fragrance-free environment.

Mother Sheep Organics

Toddler Pillow Organic Wool

Q. Are any components of this pillow imported from China? Made in Canada does not exclude this possibility.

A. Great question! Short answer: No, no components of this pillow are imported from China or other areas of Southeast Asia!

Please note: ALL materials are certified through GOTS, the strongest independent Organic Certifiers in the World. Hope this helps!

Q. Is the wool certified organic? why there is no label for this? it is missing the USDA label.....by law there should be

A. USDA label proof.

USDA label is required for organic wool grown in the U.S. Our organic wool is from a sustainable sheep farm in Argentina, and is processed in Canada. We use the G.O.T.S. label (Global Organic Textiles Standard) for our certification.

Q. Whats the smell coming from the pillow? I've aired it out for a few days and it's still there.

A. That smell is natural lanolin (sheep) oil. Because the wool fabric is only washed in hot water and soap, (no harsh chemicals are used to strip the fibres) there could still be this smell. It will eventually dissipate.

Q. Can you tell me if the sheep/wool underwent "flea dipping" or the use of chemicals to treat moths, etc?

A. Nope, no treatment or chemicals are used in the wool (or on the sheep). Just a hot water bath and natural soap to clean off dirt.

Q. Does a standard size pillow case fit this pillow or is it smaller than that?

A. It is smaller. You can put it in a standard size cover and wrap it around, but it really needs a smaller one. We sell one specifically for our toddler pillows here.

Q. What is the pillow case made of? Is it also organic?

A. The pillow case is 100% organic cotton sourced from cotton-growing co-operatives in Peru. No chemicals or industrial processes are used when growing and collecting the cotton. The cotton is then woven into fabric in either Peru or Belgium.

Q. Do the wool pearls contain any other material other than wool?

A. Nope, just organic wool! We use a special machine to wrap them into comfortable "pearls".

Q. Do you need to use an additional pillow case over the cover? Is the pillow cover soft enough to use as a pillow case by itself?

A.Yes, I use another one over top. The cover that comes with it is thick and contoured, and is washable, but I prefer another soft cover over it.

Toddler Pillow Organic Shredded Rubber

Q. Where is this organic toddler pillow made?

A. The pillow is hand-made in Canada. The rubber is sourced from a plantation from Sri Lanka or Malaysia and manufactured at the source the same day it's harvested to avoid spoilage of the rubber sap (since we use no chemicals in the process to keep the rubber sap stable longer). The rubber is then specially shredded in our Canadian factory and filled in an organic cotton cover.

Q. What is the manufacturing process used to create the rubber?

A. We use the Dunlop process - this is the most traditional form of manufacturing, and is less energy intensive than the alternative process (Talalay). The rubber sap is whipped into a foam in a centrifuge, then poured into a mold. It is then baked (vulcanized) and hardened by adding 3-6% zinc oxide. Finally, it is washed with hot, soapy water and left to dry before being shipped to our plant in Canada.

Toddler Pillowcase Organic Cotton

Q. Does this pillow case have an envelope closure?

A. No, it doesn't.

Ogallala Comfort

Q. HOW DO I CLEAN MY COMFORTER (OR PILLOW)? CAN I WASH AND DRY MY COMFORTER (OR PILLOW) AT HOME?

A. Yes; however, the more you clean your product, the more you will actually cause breakdown of the natural product. Therefore, spot cleaning is the best practice for cleaning down products. Also, the do-it-yourself approach is at your own risk and voids the warranty coverage. A key sign that your product needs to be laundered if it is flattening, clumping, or separating. In the event that you need to do a major cleaning, we highly recommend a professional launderer familiar with down. DO NOT DRY CLEAN. The chemicals used actually break down the composition of down fiber. When professional laundering is needed to keep your Ogallala product luxurious, we recommend Blanc Plume French Laundry +1-800-307-0229 for guaranteed cleaning results.

Q. I HAVE HAD MY PILLOW FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND IT ISN'T AS FLUFFY ANYMORE. IS THERE A WAY TO FIX THIS?

A. Down has natural enemies. For instance, the humidity in your house, lotions, hair conditioners and the perspiration from your body all weigh down the filaments in down. If your pillow or comforter seems to be going flat, clumping, and/or separating, it is most likely moisture or oil robbing it of its original loft. Laundering the product should adequately clean it and bring back its original fluffiness; however, this is not a guarantee. (We recommend Blanc Plume French Laundry +1-800-307-0229 for guaranteed cleaning results).

Q. DO I NEED TO PUT MY DOWN COMFORTER IN A DUVET COVER OR SOMETHING TO PROTECT IT?

A. It may be tempting to use your down without covering it, but it needs protection. Duvet covers protect your investment and are like a big pillow case for your comforter. It helps keep the “Loft Bandits” from getting into the down. Please note that improper care will cause a shortened life span for your products and voids all guarantees

Q. HOW DO I FIGURE OUT WHAT SIZE DUVET COVER I NEED FOR MY OGALLALA COMFORTER?

A. You have probably discovered that there are many different sizes of down comforters and duvet covers but, more often than not, they don’t seem to match up?? For example, a Full/Queen down comforter can measure anywhere from 80” x 88” to 92 x 96. Therefore, it may seem very overwhelming to figure out what size of duvet cover will work for you!

Look for a duvet cover at least 2 – 4” smaller than your down comforter (length and width). That’s right, you want your comforter to be larger than the duvet cover! This will help prevent the comforter from shifting and will make your duvet cover fuller without the pesky, loose fabric at the edges.

Please note: duvet covers typically shrink between 3 – 5% once washed. We recommend a 100% cotton or linen duvet cover for breathability.

Ogallala’s comforters come with loops on the corners; therefore, we highly recommend looking for a duvet cover that has ties sewn on the corners to fasten them to the loops!
If you are having trouble finding a duvet cover 2 – 4” smaller than your down comforter, don’t fret! A few of our own Dream Team members have comforters that are 6 – 8” larger than their duvet covers! It creates a REALLY fluffy look, and thanks to our comforter loops, it doesn’t move around. This also helps avoid unwanted bunching inside of the comforter.
At Ogallala, we have always been a little different – it works for us!

Q. I AM HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO DOWN. WHAT IF I HAVE AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO YOUR PRODUCTS AS WELL?

A. Allergens come in many forms. If you have not had an allergic reaction to our Hypodown® products in the first 30 days of use, we believe the problem is from some other culprit in your environment. Hypodown® products have been allergy tested and should remain reaction free. Rest easy, knowing that our signature Syriaca fiber is not a synthetic, nor is it used as a down filler. It is the natural fiber from the milkweed plant and is non-treated. Milkweed traps and suppresses allergens found in down that cause allergic reactions; making the product naturally hypoallergenic!

Q. I WORRY ABOUT DUST MITES GETTING INTO MY COMFORTER (OR PILLOW), IS THERE A WAY TO PREVENT THEM?

A. All down products have to be in encased in a “down-proof” fabric that is so tightly weaved, it ensures that the down doesn’t come pouring out of it. (Please note you will have some natural “shedding” with any down product). Due to the fabric having such a tight weave, this also means that it is very difficult for dust mites to pass through the fabric. Besides that, dust mites are not attracted to down and feathers - they are attracted to humid environments and shedding skin of humans & pets. Even though they won’t be attracted to your bedding, you can place your comforters and pillows on medium heat in the dryer every few weeks to take additional precautions.
We do not recommend getting dust mite protective covers because these generally won’t allow the product to breathe - defeating the purpose of our luxurious, moisture-wicking bedding.

Q. WHAT DOES FILL POWER MEAN?

A. Fill power is the amount of space one ounce of down will occupy. The larger the down cluster, the higher the fill power is; taking up more space or volume. Therefore, your fluffiness, durability, quality and warmth also improve.

Q. WHAT DOES FILL WEIGHT MEAN?

A. Unlike fill power, fill weight has to do with how many ounces of down go into the product itself. The higher the number of ounces of down put into a comforter - the warmer, more voluminous, and fluffier your comforter will be.

Soaring Heart

Q. What is a futon? It sounds like a simple question, but there is still some confusion about what constitutes a futon. Is the futon a couch? Is it a folding sofa frame? Is it just a bed without springs?

A. The answer to that question is actually fairly simple: the Japanese word for a traditional bed is futon, so, technically, futon simply means "bed". The parts include the shikibuton - the mattress; the kakebuton - the comforter; and the makura - the pillow. The shikibuton is the ancestor to what Americans call a futon. Traditionally, the cotton-filled futon is only about three inches thick, which makes a good firm bed, though they are generally too firm for side sleepers.

The common American idea of a futon is a sofa that doubles as a guest bed. This along with construction are what differentiates a futon from a standard mattress. Futons are made up of compressed layers of material, such as organic cotton, wool, and latex. These layers are then tufted in place to keep all the batting secure and insure a long lasting product. Being made of all natural fibers and with little latex, if any, futons require more maintenance, and need to be flipped at least once every other week. A futon mattress is generally on the firm side of the mattress spectrum and with proper care should last between 8 and 15 years.

We handcraft both shikibutons (the traditional Japanese style thin futon) and classic futons with various organic fills right here in our Seattle workshop. We make our futons with only the finest, locally sourced, organic and natural fibers; organic cotton, Eco-Wool, and natural and organic latex. We use no synthetics and no chemicals of any kind and the reason is simple, organic materials are better. A futon made with resilient organic cotton, wool, and latex will outlast the cheaper synthetic models by years, while maintaining their comfort and support.

Some companies offer futons with spring cores. These futons generally do not last very long as springs don't hold up to the riggers of folding and unfolding a futon set-up. If springs are desired, we recommend buying a traditional innerspring mattress, such as the Soaring Heart Signature Mattress, the Aspen, which is built to much higher standards and with superior organic and natural materials.

Finally, we will caution you that a futon is not a cheap substitute for a couch or a bed. Futons have earned a bad reputation as a cheap alternative to real furniture. As with everything else, you get what you pay for. Over 100 hours of artisan craftsmanship goes into every one of our organic futons, from the organic carding mill to our builders and they make great mattresses or couches. They are not cheap, but they will provide you with long lasting comfort and support.

Scentsual Eye Pillows

Q. What are eye pillows and why should I use one?

A. With or without aromatherapy, gently weighted eye pillows can help relax the muscles behind and around the eyes and nose which can then trigger a relaxation response in the muscles in the cheeks, jaw, chin and neck. Since eye pillows block out light and relax muscles, they are ideal for a variety of therapeutic uses including yoga, massage, nap therapy, meditation, or simply resting fatigued eyes. The gentle weight of the flax seed allows the pillow to smoothly and comfortably adapt to individual facial contours. Different essential oils may provide relief from stress, anxiety, or headaches.

Q. Why should I use a flax seed neck wrap or cramp relief pillow instead of an electric heating pad?

A. Flax seed pillows and wraps provide the added benefit of weight along with the heat. The gentle weight can mimic the experience of acupressure allowing release of tight mucscles. In addition, flax seed pillows are the more eco-friendly choice and you don't need to worry about access to an outlet.  Finally, flax seed pillows offer the additional benefit of aromatherpy by adding essential oils of your choice.

Q. What is flax seed and why is it better than other fillings?

A. Flax seeds are the seeds that come from the beautiful blue flowers of the flax plant. They are soft and maleable and high in oil content which makes them an excellent choice for products such as eye pillows and other body wraps. The high oil content allows eye pillows and wraps to hold heat longer than other fillers. Why not rice? Rice is not a good choice as it tends to "cook" fairly quickly when heated and gives off an unpleasant odor.  Because of the high oil content in flax seed, your eye pillow or wrap may feel a bit moist after being warmed, but this is normal and does not detract from the use or life of your product.

Q. Can I chill and warm my pillows?

A. Yes. Keep in sealed in a plastic bag to protect it from freezer odors. Depending on the product, you can warm all flax seed pillows in the microwave for 30 seconds or more. Products should be warm, not hot.  All microwaves are different so start with a short burst and increase in short increments until you are comfortable with the heat. 

Q. How should I store my pillows?

A. If you keep your scented pillows stored in a the zippered vinyl pouch or in a plastic bag they will keep their scent longer.

Q. What are buckwheat hulls?

A. Buckwheat hulls are the hard outer shells that house the seeds of the buckwheat grain.

Q. Why are buckwheat hulls a good choice for yoga and travel pillows?

A. They are considered desirable as pillow fillers because they are light and airy and will adjust to the individual form and weight of your head and neck, while giving continued support. Buckwheat pillows support the cervical spine and conform to the contours of the head and neck, soothing tired, achy muscles. Many people find buckwheat pillows help relieve neck pain, headaches, and muscle tension. In addition buckwheat hulls provide natural air circulation resulting in ideal temperatures for comfortable sleeping or rest.  Hulls will compress slightly over time with normal use.  However, it is easy to purchase additional hulls should you find the need.

SwaddleDesigns

Q. What is Swaddling?

A. Swaddling is an age old art of snugly wrapping your baby in a blanket for warmth, comfort and feeling secure.

Q. Why is Supine Swaddling Important?

A. A 2002 Washington University study proved that infants sleep better when swaddled

Swaddling helps infants sleep better and longer by reducing awakenings caused by the startle reflex.

When babies sleep better and longer, parents get more sleep, too

Swaddling helps infants stay on their backs, and when baby sleeps better on his back, parents are less likely to use the unsafe tummy position for sleep. Always place swaddled babies on their backs for sleep.

Other benefits of swaddling:

The Right Pillow

Q. Health Benefits

A. Benefits for...ALL Sleepers:

Turns out, the majority of us complain about tossing and turning.  Turns out most of us CAN'T find the right pillow- until now...

Tossing and Turning

Enough!  Rest. Sleep. Be still.  Allow the comfort and cradling of The Right Pillow to greatly decrease tossing and turning when sleeping.  This pillow is amazing for kids too! 

Pregnancy

Tossing and turning searching for a stable, comfortable position?  Left side isn't your natural sleeping position?  Don't want to sleep on allergens, chemicals and outgassing fill?  This pillow supports the shoulders and upper back when turned as an upside-down L for side sleepers. Once the baby comes, use your pillow to sleep on and support your baby during feedings.

The benefits of Back Sleeping:

Better Overall Health

Back sleeping can prevent neck and back pain as it makes it easy for your head, neck, and spine to maintain a neutral position. Back sleeping reduces acid reflux, decreases lower back pain, minimizes wrinkles and can aid in maintaining perky breasts. Researchers have linked poor sleep to a number of health ailments, from short-term memory loss and behavioral problems, to weight gain and diabetes. The Right Pillow provides you better sleep and a better chance for overall wellness.

Wrinkle Prevention

Sleeping on your side or stomach every night puts incredible pressure on your face, neck and chest. Crush lines and wrinkles form as a result. The Right Pillow will keep you on your back, reducing the appearance of crush lines and wrinkles.

Pre-Op Preparation

The Right Pillow can be used in preparation for a surgical procedure, encouraging improved circulation and better health.

Post-Op Benefits

More comfort. Less pain. Quicker recovery experience.

It is said that the body is in trauma for up to 6 weeks after a surgical procedure.  The Right Pillow can be used to facilitate faster healing time post surgery.  The Right Pillow will gently resist your body's natural tendency to roll or turn to your side while sleeping, greatly reducing waking in pain from in-sleep movements.  The Right Pillow cradles your head, neck and shoulders keeping you in place so you don't have to fight multiple pillows, blankets and other things propped around you. Better rest means your body can recover quicker.

The White Lotus Home

Q. Do your raw fibers have an odor? What is the earthy scent in my mattress and pillows?

A. All White Lotus Home products, from our pillows to our mattresses, are crafted from raw, untreated fibers. Many customers notice the raw cotton in particular, whose sweet smell can smell a bit like cooked rice. Depending on the style of your mattress, you may be picking up on the mild scent of our natural latex or virgin wool as well. Because our fibers are is minimally processed, they maintain their original odor --- some may notice it, others may not. If left out in the open, the smell should dissipate within a week or two, depending on your sensitivity.

Our handcrafted mattresses and toppers are made with minimally processed fibers and unbleached cotton, while our pillows contain only your selected fill and an exterior case of Organic Cotton Sateen. As many of our customers experience chemical sensitivities, no added chemicals, dyes, or fragrances are added at any point in our production to either the interior fill or exterior case. We take our customer's medical needs very seriously and would never purposefully add undisclosed ingredients to our products.

Q. What is the difference between Green Cotton & Organic Cotton?

A. Organic Cotton is exactly as it sounds --- 100% USDA-Certified Organic Cotton. The entire lifecycle of the cotton plant can be certified, from soil to seed to the final harvesting. Green Cotton is conventionally grown, so it may or may not have been treated with pesticides in its lifecycle. After harvesting, however, our Green Cotton is not sprayed with any further dyes or chemicals. The end result is purely unbleached, untreated, raw cotton.

Vivetique

Q. What is your policy on materials?

A. We pledge to use only natural and/or certified organic materials in the manufacture of our products. We refuse to include materials that use synthetic chemicals; and never use petroleum- or other chemical-based materials either as base or filler products. We are proud of our relationships with materials brokers who source only the purest materials possible.

Q. Where are your materials from?

A. Our organic cotton is sourced from American farmers, mostly in California, but sometimes from Texas and Mississippi. Our 100% Natural Dunlap latex is from Sri Lanka and our 100% Natural Talalay latex is from Belgium. As 100% Natural latex grows in popularity, we plan to partner with domestic producers of latex when it becomes cost effective.

Q. Regarding latex, what is the difference between "100% Natural" and "Certified Organic"?

A. Both designations are similar in that both mean that no man-made chemicals have been used in the growing process. "Certified Organic" simply means an independent 3rd party has inspected and attested to that fact. All the plantations we partner with are in the process of transitioning from "100% Natural" to "Certified Organic", a process that takes at least three years.

Q. What is Pure Grow Wool? Why not Organic Wool?

A. We are experts in organic and natural materials and we believe that our Pure Grow Wool product and system is superior to organic wool. Only sourced from California, Oregon and Washington ranches, Pure Grow Wool comes from sheep who are not only fed organic feed, but are also free range and raised in a cruelty-free environment. Our partner ranchers are land stewards, which means that not only is the wool a sustainable material, but the ranching itself is healthy for the land and the ecosystem. Pure Grow Wool is a trademarked product owned by Vivetique Sleep Systems and applies to all mentions of the product throughout this website.

Q. What other sustainability measures are in your factory?

A. We are constantly striving to improve our environmental impact here at our facility. All of our foundations and box springs are made with Forest Stewardship Council certified wood. All of our inner-spring coils are made of recycled metal. We use paper-free invoicing and we recycle paper in our office and factory. Our shipping supplies are recycled and bio-degradable cardboard and recycled plastic. We are a styrofoam-free factory. We partner with the Mattress Recycling Council when removing customers' old mattresses. Our workers all earn a living wage and work in a safe and clean environment.

Q. What should consumers look for when shopping for organic bedding?

A. "Green-washing" or using meaningless terms that SOUND good is a serious problem in our industry. Words like "Eco" or "Green" can be attached to anything without consequences. Many mainstream manufacturers say they sell an "organic mattress" because one layer of the product is organic and the rest is petroleum-based materials. Only individual materials inside a product can be certified at the moment--not finished products. Regarding latex, a manufacturer may legally call their product "Natural Latex" when only 30% of the latex is natural. The rest is usually benzene and styrene. Always look for 100% Natural Latex or certified organic products. Every mattress, by law, must have a tag listing it's component materials. Some terms for synthetic materials you may want to avoid are: acetate, polyurethane, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyamide, rayon, polyester, viscose, synthetic polymers, benzene and styrene.

Q. Do you use any man-made chemicals or petroleum-based materials in your products?

A. No. The Natural Bedroom is strongly committed to a true, natural and organic sleep experience. We never use any materials made from petroleum, polyester, polyurethanes, or anything man-made. Our base materials, our support materials, our threads and piping are all natural and/or organic.