We live in a time of man-made fibres and synthetics. Almost everything we touch, sit on and wear is made from somethings humans have invented, a mishmash of materials that form the shape or texture we like. In theory it sounds great, but the further we move away from the natural state of the world, the more violently it reacts. Our bodies evolved for thousands of years without man-made products, as did our planet. As we throw them away in favour of man-made stuff, how do we know we’re not doing damage?

If you’re concerned about the environment and about your health, choosing natural products is a good idea. Where possible, you should swap out your synthetic items for more natural ones. We’re not saying throw everything out, but we are saying think carefully when something is due for replacement.

We know you might not come to replace your mattress very often, since most mattresses – when taken care of – have a lifespan of up to ten years, but if you are looking to buy a new one, we think you should switch out one made of man-made fibres for one made from natural materials. Here’s why.

Natural mattresses are better for health

We want to do what’s best for ourselves and the ones we love, but you might not know that not all mattresses are created equally in regards to health.

This is especially true if you have asthma or other breathing difficulties. Synthetic mattresses are not as breathable as natural ones, and so can catch dust particles and trap them. They’re also usually not as good at wicking away moisture, which means they can trap and grow mould, which isn’t good if your lungs are struggling already.

Lots of synthetic mattresses also contain chemicals that are not naturally fire resistant, which means they’re sprayed with chemicals. These can smell, especially in the beginning, and this might make breathing difficult for you.

Terrifyingly, there are many things found in mattresses that have been linked to poor brain development, infertility, and cancer, including the following substances:

• Flame retardants
• Formaldehyde
• Benzene

Where possible, it’s a better idea to put natural materials against your skin, especially when the contact is prolonged, such as when you’re sleeping. You’re in bed for eight hours a day. Give your body the absolute best rest possible.

Natural mattresses are better for the environment

We live in precarious times. The survival of the environment – the only environment we have to live in – depends on us all making changes, and one of those is to stop pillaging the Earth, industrialising everything, and destroying the planet in the process.

Non-natural mattresses are incredibly complex to build and take a lot of material and industrial effort to produce.

Natural mattresses, on the other hand, are made from completely natural materials, which means they decompose and disappear at a much quicker rate than an ordinary mattress.

Did you know that every non-natural mattress you have will live around twenty-years longer than you will? Every mattress you have ever owned is out there rotting somewhere. There are billions of people in the world, we throw out uncountable mattresses every single day. That waste has to go somewhere, and it’s usually landfill.

If you’re buying from a company that makes natural mattresses, you’ll probably find they are environmentally conscious, which means there is every chance they’ll recycle your old mattress for you, too. Ely Mattress uses the Furniture Recycling Group to help us safely dispose of old mattresses in a way that does not harm the environment.

It’s not as expensive as you’d think

Often the cost of organic and natural products puts people off, and we can see why. These are difficult times, there is usually a premium attached to anything natural and man-made, but that is for good reason. If you want to buy products that are well-made and fairtrade, you need to spend a little bit more.

But that doesn’t mean that natural mattresses are out of your reach. There are many companies who offer finance options for mattresses, so that you can enjoy the same great product, but spread the cost over a few months, saving you stress about what is in your wallet.

Look for companies who offer long warranties, as this means they are confident your mattress will last you a long time, which means you will get your money’s worth.

Ely Mattresses are 100% natural, and are made with thirteen layers, for extra comfort. We use horse hair and wool, which are naturally fire resistant, wick away moisture, and are springy and comfortable – to create a mattress guaranteed to last you ten years or more.

For more information, read about our thirteen layers. To browse our mattresses, please visit our online store.