The Avocado Green Mattress was my introduction to organic mattresses, and after testing nearly a dozen others, it’s still my personal favorite.
Avocado’s organic, nontoxic mattresses are made in the USA from GOLS-certified organic latex, GOTS-certified organic wool, and GOTS-certified organic cotton. While the sustainable, organic materials and eco-friendly construction were definitely part of the initial appeal, what really stands out about Avocado in all my testing is the comfort.
Construction and Materials
Avocado makes a few different mattresses: the original Avocado Green Mattress, which is what I’ve tested, along with a Luxury version (which adds Hemp and is overall a plusher, softer mattress) and a lower-priced Eco version. Avocado also offers a vegan mattress that is the same as the original, but does not use wool.
One of the standout features of the Avocado Green Mattress is the company’s use of high-quality organic and sustainable materials (see Avocado’s various eco certifications here). The mattress uses 100 percent GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified latex, which is sourced from organic rubber trees. The processing of rubber into latex is not the happy organic process some would like to claim, but at least in working with GOLS, Avocado is meeting the permissible limits for harmful substances and has to test emissions, as well as meet polymer and filler standards. It is, in short, as safe and nontoxic as latex can be.
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Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The latex is really the core of what provides the comfort in this mattress, helping it to shape to the contours of your body but without the suffocating feeling of sinking into a toxic quicksand, which is what I think of every time I sleep on memory foam. Organic, natural latex has the support and softness of foam, but without the chemicals. Avocado uses organic Dunlop latex in the Firm mattress (which is more than 95 percent certified organic material), while the Plush model uses the softer Talalay latex.
Organic latex is also hypoallergenic, making it a great option for anyone with allergies triggered by indoor pollutants like mold and mildew, or dust mites, all of which organic latex is less prone to than chemical foams.
Another way Avocado avoids the chemicals is by using organic wool, which acts as a natural flame retardant, meaning the mattress doesn’t need harmful chemicals or synthetic fire barriers. Wool is an amazing fiber, and here it also helps your body naturally regulate its temperature, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer. More on that in a bit.
